Overshoot of Carrying Capacity

Lifestyle

Submitted by MIRVA, Committee Member, CASF

The committee members have identified Overshoot of Carrying Capacity (increased ecological footprint and “overpopulation” in “developed” countries) as a major cause of collapse. We also call for the world population to be stabilized at its current levels.

The world is in a drastic overshoot of carrying capacity in energy, material, food, clean water, and many other resources. The major cause of this overshoot is the unsustainable lifestyles of the populations in developed countries; it can hardly be blamed on the entire world population. Half the world population live on less than two dollars per day! See below for a comparison:

High income countries (GDP per capita – PPP)
Luxembourg: $87,400
Norway: $47,098
United States: $44,765
Finland: $37,957
Canada: 36,984

Less Developed Countries
Afghanistan: $700
Malawi: $600
Congo (Kinshasa): $700
Brundi: $600
Liberia: $19 (2007 estimate)

Now compare the energy consumption for the same countries:

High income countries (per capita energy delivered in watts)
Luxembourg: 14,416W
Norway: 14,670W
United States: 11,383W
Finland: 8,075W
Canada: 14,582W

Less Developed Countries:
Afghanistan: 21W
Malawi: 64W
Congo (Kinshasa): 56W
Brundi: 40W
Liberia: 11W

MIRVA, Committee Member, CASF

Related Links:
The Effective World Population
Flap Your Wings to Save the World