Humanities Alive 8 VC 3E

SkillBuilder discussion Geographical inquiry 1. Look at FIGURE4 . Describe the overall trend in this graph. 2. Explain why the majority of Australia’s population growth has occurred in urban areas. 3. Discuss why the changes in work practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may change the pattern represented in this graph.

FIGURE4 Change in Australian urban and rural populations over time

Urban and rural population

36

Urban Rural

12 16 20 24 28 32

0 4 8

1950 1960 1980

2000 2020

2040

2050

Year

15.7.5 Ecological footprint The amount of productive land needed on average by each person (in the world or in a country, city or suburb) for food, water, transport, housing and waste management is known as an ecological footprint. It is measured in hectares per person per year. In 2016, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reported that the average global ecological footprint was 2.8 hectares per person. In 2014, Australia had an ecological footprint of 6.9 hectares per person. The United States had an ecological footprint of 8.4 hectares per person in 2014.

TABLE2 Ecological footprints of Australian capital cities

Ecological footprint value (hectares/person/year)

City

Perth

7.66 7.09 7.06 6.87 6.82 6.72 6.33 5.50

Canberra

Darwin

Brisbane Sydney Adelaide

Melbourne

Hobart

15.7 SkillBuilder activity GEOGRAPHICAL INQUIRY 1. Use your atlas or online research to find an urban growth map for the capital city in your state or territory. Describe the change that has taken place over time. Using this map and a physical map of your state or territory, predict where future growth might occur. Justify your responses. 2. Use internet sources to find out how the ecological footprint in the United Arab Emirates compares to that of Australia. Suggest what would happen if all cities had such a high footprint.

452 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition

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