Environmental Space

Abstract

‘Environmental space’ is the total amount of resources we can use (in a given time period) without compromising the ability of future generations to access the same amount. The global environmental space per capita can be calculated by dividing the total amount of natural resources and services to the total world population. By comparing this figure with the actual usage of the natural resources and services in a region or a country, the progress towards sustainable development of that region or country can be evaluated. The comparison between regions, countries, and different geographical levels also indicates the evolution between them and toward sustainable development. The production and consumption of products and services vary between industrialized and developing countries on an unequal basis. While the population of the industrialized countries is less than 20% of the world population, they consume 75% of the mineral resources, 70% of the paper and paperboard consumption, and 45% of the world meat consumption. Per capita, a person in industrialized countries consumes 3 times as much meat and 9 times as much paper as a person in developing countries. The unequal share in environmental space is also exhibited in the production of pollution. On an annual basis, an average person in industrialized countries emits 10 times more CO 2 than an average person in developing countries. By achieving an equal share of environmental space between people and between generations, sustainable development could be achieved.