How Much Is Enough?: In Depth
- Energy, Housing, Food, Water: What鈥檚 a Fair Share?
- Share
Energy, Housing, Food, Water: What鈥檚 a Fair Share?
What equitable resource distribution looks like.
Why you can trust us
2 MIN READ
Aug 10, 2021
What鈥檚 a Fair Share of Energy?
Equitable resource distribution requires the world鈥檚 affluent countries to reduce their ecological impact while low-income nations gain greater access to resources until there is convergence. And where should that convergence happen? For energy distribution, researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis say the minimum global energy flow required to achieve universal decent living standards could be as low as 500 watts per capita. Less draconian, the International Energy Agency projects that the U.N.鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved worldwide with an energy flow of about 1,300 watts per capita鈥攁bout what Cuba uses.
Data source: World Bank, latest International Energy Agency data available for each country.
What鈥檚 a Fair Share of Housing?
A solidly built home with adequate floor space, electric lighting, thermal comfort, and good indoor toilets. How much? For a household of up to three people, a minimum of 323 square feet plus 107 additional square feet per occupant beyond three.
Sources: Narasimha Rao and Jihoon Min of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 鈥淒ecent Living Standards: Material Prerequisites for Human Wellbeing,鈥� 2017; Statista.
What鈥檚 a Fair Share of Food?
An adequate daily consumption of protein, vitamins, and minerals. How much? For optimal health, 2,353 calories daily for an average adult.
Sources: World Health Organization; U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Note: Food supply data measures the food available for consumption at the household level but does not account for food wasted or not eaten at the consumption level.
What鈥檚 a Fair Share of Water?
A safe, reliable water supply. How much? Minimum of 13 gallons daily per capita.
Sources: Narasimha Rao and Jihoon Min of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 鈥淒ecent Living Standards: Material Prerequisites for Human Wellbeing,” 2017; USGS, 2015.
Illustrations by Jana Frederick Sanders/YES! Magazine. Download the PDF version of the infographic here.
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Tracy Matsue Loeffelholz
is the former creative director at YES!, where she directed artistic and visual components of YES! Magazine, and drove branding across the organization for nearly 15 years. She specializes in infographic research and design, and currently works with The Nation, in addition to YES! She previously worked at The Seattle Times, The Virginian-Pilot, Scripps Howard Newspapers, Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, The Connecticut Post, The San Diego Tribune, The Honolulu Advertiser. She lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and currently serves on the board of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association. Tracy speaks English.
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