Excessive population demands on the environment

The ecological footprint, or the imprint human activities leave on nature, shows quantitatively the demand made on the Earth's resources. This can be calculated by, amongst other methods, looking at the volume of imported raw materials, products, fuel and food and the claim that these demands place on the area of available land (and water) on the globe.

1. Developed countries, as a rule, have ecological footprints the size of giant boots.

2. The amount of available space and resources divided by the total number of Earth's inhabitants indicates how big everyone's maximum share should be.

1. Excessive consumption of resources in industrialized countries
2. Environmental stress of natural systems

1. Excessive land usage
2. Excessive agricultural footprint
3. Ecological footprint of cities

1. Negative ecological impact of overpopulation

1. Inequitable distribution of wealth

1. Ecological debt

1. Applying ecological footprint analysis

1. Underpopulation
2. Overpopulation
3. Excess
4. Depopulation