EUS 202 Lecture Notes - Biocapacity, Ecological Footprint

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Environment and Urban Sustainability
• Course: EUS 202
• Professor: Christopher Greene

Document Summary

Component 2 part 1 - context for cities and sustainability. A high proportion of people live in cities/ urbanized areas. Urban residents tend to exhibit higher consumption and contribute substantially to globally environmental problems. Globally cities cover 2% of earth, linked to ~78% of carbon emissions related to human activity, consume ~76% of industrial wood use and account for ~60% of water use by people. Securing means for human survival, improving environmental conditions, improving overall quality of life, promoting equality and participatory decision making. Sustainability about more than maintaining communities, goal for improving them. Movement towards sustainability doesn"t mean it will be achieved. Increasing population challenges include food production, land for human use, freshwater resources, ecological integrity. Population growth of global south less of a concern; higher concern is the impact of consumption and consumption trends (ipat equation) Wealthiest 20% countries consumed over 75% of global resources. Poorest 20% consumed only 1. 5% of global resources.