Final answer:
To live at 1.7 biocapacity, we must combine technology, behavioral changes, and fairer resource distribution to reduce our ecological impact, stabilize population growth, and transition towards sustainability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The single biggest change we can make to live at 1.7 biocapacity involves a multifaceted approach to sustainability that includes reducing consumption, stabilizing population growth, and equitable resource distribution. This requires significant alterations in our lifestyle and values, especially in high-consumption societies. To achieve this biocapacity and lessen our ecological footprint, we must embrace significant behavioral changes, including adopting sustainable food systems, prioritizing health and welfare, and rethinking our energy use to be in harmony with our natural environment.
Technological innovation may offer improved resource efficiency, but it is not a standalone solution. Instead, we need to also focus on personal and collective responsibility, moving away from the idea of endless growth to a more symbiotic relationship with Earth's ecosystems. Hence, we need a mental shift toward recognizing that we are part of nature, not separate from it. Such a mindset would lead us away from unsustainable practices and toward a future where we live within our means, respecting our planet's biological limits.