Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity is a term gaining prominence in the movement toward environmental sustainability. It relates to an understanding that the Earth has a limited amount of resources and thus society must recognize the productive capacity of different regions in an effort to ensure that production does not exceed environmentally sustainable limits. It measures how many people a land mass can support and also how lifestyle choices can influence standards and levels of land-use. Factors such as diet, agriculture practices and energy use all affect the carrying capacity levels of a given area.