Do We Need More Earths?

It has been said that human kind needs at least four Earths if everyone consume as much as the average US citizen.

19:25 17 June 2015

People who live in developed countries such as the United States consume more energy and resources when compared to those who live in less developed countries. Due to this, it has been suggested that if each of us consume as much as the average US citizen, we will need at least four Earths to sustain our needs. 

 

The issue has caught the attention of the world when science writer Tim De Chant shared an infographic that illustrates how much land would be required if seven billion people lived the populations of nine selected countries from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates. 

 

He then posted a question for Global Footprint Network (GFN) saying: “If there is one planet-how much planet is available per person and how much planet do we use per person?”

 

GFN says that an average American uses seven global hectares, compared to a global average of 2.7. Based on this calculation, it appears that 3.9 Earths are required to sustain a population of seven billion at American levels consumption.