Ecological debtors and ecological creditors. Is it that simple? (pages 16,17 and tables on pages 28-35) (activity 6)

1. List 5 countries which have an Ecological Footprint less than their biocapacity? (These countries would be termed ecological creditors)
   • Could these countries live within their biocapacity? Explain.
   • Where are most of these countries located?
     
     
2. List 5 countries which have an Ecological Footprint greater than their biocapacity? These countries would be termed ecological debtors.
   • Can you describe some of the characteristics of these countries which cause them to live outside their biocapicty?
   • Can you make a statement about the location of these countries?
     
     
3. Comment on the relationship between the Ecological Footprint (EF) and the Biocapacity of each country below and how they compare to what is available globally (1.8gha/person).
   
   

   Country	EF gh/person	Biocapacity gh/person	World EF gh/person	World Biocapacity gh/person
   Egypt	1.4	0.5	2.2	1.8
   USA	9.6	4.7	2.2	1.8
   Australia	6.6	12.4	2.2	1.8
   Peru	0.9	3.8	2.2	1.8

4. Construct a table as above showing the Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity of each region (ie. Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and so on). What important information is missing?
5. Australia is an Ecological Creditor does this mean we can sit back, relax and not change the way we live?
6. Is there a country which uses less than its biocapacity and less or equal to its fair share (1.8gha/person)? Comment on it’s HDI.
7. Is it possible for all countries to live within their biocapacity?
8. Why can’t some countries live within their biocapacity? Use examples.
9. How do they overcome this?
10. Read the italicised paragraph on page 18. If regional alliances were to be formed over ecological credits and deficits describe why they might be formed and what they could look like? Trace or sketch a map of the world and use colour to demonstrate new alliances or relationships.
11. What conclusions can be drawn from Figure 21?
12. What would a country need to be like and to have, to be able to close its borders and live within its biocapacity?

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