Introduction to the Living Planet Index (pages 1-3) (activity 1)

1. What is the purpose of the Living Planet Report?
2. In a nutshell what does this report tell us about the state of the planet?
3. Globally, what is the largest contributor to our Ecological Footprint?
4. How are the Living Planet Index and the Ecological Footprint different?
5. Look at Figure 1 showing the Living Planet Index from 1970 – 2003 and Figure 2 showing humanities' Ecological Footprint from 1961 – 2003. Make a statement about the Earth’s biological diversity and humanities' Ecological Footprint and the relationship between them.
6. What is the Earth’s biocapacity a measurement of?
7. What is meant by the term overshoot when comparing Ecological Footprint and biocapacity?
8.  Look at Table 1 page 3, a summary of the per capita Ecological Footprint and the biocapacity of the world and 12 countries. (Ecological Footprint is measured in global hectares, gha. A global hectare is a hectare with world average biological productivity)
   • What is the world per capita Ecological Footprint in gha/person?
   • What is the world biocapacity in gha/person?
   • What is the world ecological deficit in gha/person? In simple terms what does this mean?
9. Look at Figure 3.
   • What does the graph tell us about our future if we follow a ‘business as usual scenario’?
   • Is it possible to achieve one planet living in your lifetime? Explain.

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