Final answer:
The term for the maximum population the Earth's ecosystem can support with current technology is 'carrying capacity.' This is the largest population that can be sustained without environmental harm, and exceeding this capacity can lead to serious ecological and societal consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum population that the Earth's ecosystem can support with current technology is called carrying capacity. This term is representative of the largest population size that an area can support without causing environmental harm. A multitude of factors can affect an ecosystem's carrying capacity, including technology, resource availability, human lifestyle choices, and the ecological footprint of the population.
Cornucopians argue that a larger population may foster more technology and innovation. However, many scientists and Neo-Malthusians contend that humans might have already surpassed Earth's carrying capacity. This breach could lead to severe consequences like resource depletion, increased disease, and potentially catastrophic population decline.
The carrying capacity (K) is a dynamic measure that reflects the delicate balance between human consumption and the Earth's limited resources. If the human population continues to grow without check, the strain on natural resources could become unsustainable, leading to a potential population crash as the Earth's ecosystems are unable to cope with the excessive demands placed upon them.