ENVIRO 6.7 ecological footprint

what is ecological footprint + what does it measure

a measure of how many resources we’re using + the amount of waste produced. - Compared to how fast nature can absorb waste & generate new resources.

can measure the impact we have on the environment.

what is biocapacity & how its measured

how much area is available to produce resources required & waste absorbed.

• crop land, forest land, fishing ground, fisheries

measured by

in global hectares, g/h

• both ecological footprint and biocapacity are expressed in g/h

how is ecological footprint measured and compared to

to measure ecological footprint:

• how many resources do we use

• how efficiently is resource being produced

• how much waste is made

if number is high = deficit

compared to:

• how many hectares of productive land is there

• how productive is each hectare of land (how much theyre producing)

• how many people share this biocapacity

if number is high = reserve

biocapacity deficit vs biocapacity reserve

biocapacity deficit = populations ecological footprint exceeds the regions biocapacity.

• goods and services exceeds what the regions ecosystem can regenerate

biocapacity reserve = regions biocapacity exceeds its ecological footprint.

• goods and services provided is less then what it takes from nature

earths overshoot day

when entire planet is on an ecological deficit = overshoot.

measures the date when our demand for resources exceeds what earth can produce

• using more resources than earth can provide us

why is ecological footprint important

helps understand how many resources we’re using and how earth is coping with it.

• can make informed decisions on how to effectively use resources

over using resources = limited resources for future generations. GENERATIONAL EQUITY.

how can ecological footprint be improved

• efficient. Better use resources, make resources w less energy, reduce waste

• circular economy = old resources are recycled.

  • currently in a linear economy, throw away stuff

• sufficiency. Global change in mindset to reduce consumption of goods & services.

limitations of the ecological footprint

general in its measurements.

• productive land is generalised to cropland, forest. Not specific ecosystems.

• ecological footprint calculations dont account for oceans and underground resources

• dont account for medication produced from plants

• dont account for non-renewable resources, Only renewable sources.