by Najmah Abdur-Rahman and Heya Albiel

Key Data Question: How does ecological footprint vary across different countries in the world?

Definitions:

Ecological footprint: It is a method developed by the Global Footprint Network to measure human demand on natural resources. In other words, the quantity of nature it takes to support people and their economies.

Ecological Deficit: Countries use more natural resources (Ecological Footprint) than their ecosystems can generate (biocapacity). They are running an “ecological deficit”.

Ecological Reserve: When a country’s biocapacity exceeds its population’s ecological footprint, it has an ecological reserve.

Hypothesis 1: We predict that as life expectancy increases, income will increase. Looking across all countries, we compared data between countries and their life expectancy relative to their income. The data shows that the higher the income in a country, the higher the life expectancy.

Hypothesis 2: We predict that as the country's income increases, its ecological deficit or reserve will increase. Looking across all countries, we compared data between countries's average income per person relative to ecological deficit and reserve. The data shows no correlation or relationship between average income and ecological deficit or reserve.

Hypothesis 3: We predict that as the population (millions) increases, the ecological deficit will increase and the ecological reserve will decrease. By looking at the data from 2018 for countries with high and low population (millions), we compared data between countries with high and low population (millions) and their ecological deficit/ reserve. The data displays no correlation or relationship between high/low population and ecological deficit or reserve.

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