State and outline the units used to measure the global ecological footprint.

Units:

Outline:

Suggest two reasons why the total ecological footprint of a country may grow very rapidly in the future.

Reason 1:

Reason 2:

Explain the neo-Malthusian view of the relationship between population and resource consumption.

Units: Global hectares (Gha; accept Global hectares/person) [1].

Outline: area of land and water required to produce the resources consumed [1].

For each distinct, valid reason, award [1] for the reason and [1] for development/exemplification.

Possible reasons include:

• increase in living standards [1] – rise in use of non-renewable resources required to fulfil higher living standards [1]
• industrialization of the economy [1] – industrial development or industrialization of agriculture consume more mineral resources for fertilizer
• rise in population [1] – each extra person requires food/energy / has to dispose of waste
• rise of consumerism [1] – people want more disposable goods which increases use of resources
• Urban sprawl [1] – urban dwellers consume more energy resources for transport.

For example:
The rise in wealth [1] of the people of China means that they can afford more consumer goods which take up more resources such as oil and minerals [1].

Some countries have seen a large increase in population size [1]. These have to be fed which takes up more land for agriculture [1].

Award [1] for each valid point:

• human population has a carrying capacity [1]
• because it increases geometrically while resources increase arithmetically [1]
• population growth outstrips available resources which leads to famine [1]
• leading to a check/crash/adjustment [1]

This constitutes the Malthusian approach (maximum [2]).

• neo-Malthusians such as Erlich/Club of Rome [1]
• increase in environmental degradation [1]
• thus a need for population control [1]

Other valid points may be credited.

Award a maximum of [2] for answers that only consider a Malthusian approach – for full marks, points from the neo-Malthusian view are needed.