IB ESS Topic 8.4: Human Systems and Resource Use

Significant Idea 1: Human Carrying Capacity

• Definition: Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

• Challenges in Quantifying Human Carrying Capacity:

  • Diverse Resource Needs: Humans require a wide range of resources beyond just food and drink (e.g., aircraft, metals, textiles, oil).
  • Resource Substitution: Humans substitute resources (e.g., wood for coal, solar for oil) to extend carrying capacity.
  • Varied Resource Use: Resource use varies greatly between individuals and countries (e.g., meat consumption in the US vs. India).
  • Resource Importation: Importing resources increases local carrying capacity but affects global carrying capacity.
  • Technological Developments: Advances can alter resource use (e.g., solar panels reducing fossil fuel consumption).

• Approaches to Increasing Carrying Capacity:

  • Eco-centrists: Minimize use of non-renewable resources, aim for self-sufficiency.
  • Techno-centrists: Rely on technology to solve resource constraints (e.g., genetically modified crops).

• Historical Theories:

  • Malthusian Theory (1798): Population growth is limited by food supply, leading to famine and conflict.
  • Ehrlich's Prediction (1976): Predicted disaster at 3.5 million population, which has not occurred.

Significant Idea 2: Ecological Footprint

• Definition: The area of land and water required to support a human population at a given standard of living.

• Components:

  • Resources needed by the population.
  • Assimilation of wastes.

• Comparative Analysis:

  • Global Variations: Ecological footprints vary greatly by country and individual.
  • Example Comparison: Netherlands vs. United States.
    • Netherlands has a smaller footprint due to environmental value systems favoring cycling and sustainable agriculture.
    • US has a larger footprint due to car-centric culture and higher electricity consumption.

• Factors Influencing Ecological Footprint:

  • Lifestyle Choices: Transportation methods, agricultural practices.
  • Environmental Value Systems: Beliefs about resource usage and sustainability.

Conclusion

• Impact of Unsustainable Practices:
  • Degradation of the environment and finite resource utilization could limit human population growth.
  • Importance of sustainable living to prevent exceeding carrying capacity and risking collapse.

Additional Resources

• Lecture slides created by Dr. Nina Markham.
• IB ESS textbook, available in hardback or online.
• Image citations available in lecture slides.

This concludes the lecture on IB ESS Topic 8.4: Human Systems and Resource Use.