5.11 Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint

The land area needed to support a person's/group's consumption.

Factors that go into Ecological footprint (5)

-food production
-Raw materials (wood, metal, plastic)
- Housing
-Electricity production
Coal, Natural gas,
solar, wind, etc.
-Disposing waste produced
(landfill space)

What is Carbon Footprint measured in?

Tonnes of CO2 produced per year

Factors that go into carbon footprint

Material goods
Food production
Energy use (gasoline, heat, electricity)

Factors that Increase footprint

Affluence (wealth) increases
carbon & ecological footprint
Larger houses
More travel (gas)
More resources needed for
material goods (cars, etc.)
Meat consumption - more land,
more water, more energy
Fossil fuel usage (heating,
electricity, travel, plastic)

Factors that Decrease Footprint

Renewable energy use (wind,
solar, hydroelectric)
Public transportation (less gas)
Plant-based diet
Less consumption, less travel,
less energy use

Average US Footprint?

5.1 Earths needed to sustain the average American lifestyle.

Average Global Footprint?

1.85 Earths needed to sustain the average global lifestyle.