Human Development Index (page 19) (activity 5)
- What does the Human Development Index (HDI) measure?
- How is it calculated?
- Look at Figure 22 HDI vs Ecological Footprint.
- What is the threshold for high human development on the HDI?
- Which groups of countries are above the high human development threshold?
- If there are any countries within the blue quadrant representing small Ecological Footprint and high HDI, what region are they from?
- What country do you think the dot in the blue quadrant could represent?
- What general statement can you make about the size of Ecological Footprints and the HDI?
- Look at the historical trends for selected countries, what is different about South Africa?
Research activity
Locate the Happy Planet Index
- What does the HPI measure?
- How is it different from Ecological Footprint?
- Are the people from Vanuatu the happiest in the world?
- What is GDP?
- What are the short comings of comparing countries using GDP?
More activities
Check the student activities about Ecological Footprint, life cycle thinking and water, energy and greenhouse gases.