EAS Lab 4 Notes

Alisha Javed EAS Lab 4 Answers

Earths Needed

• Number of Earths needed if everyone lived like Alisha: 7.4 Earths

Highest Emissions

• The primary source of emissions in Alisha's scenario: Her Carbon Footprint.

Overshoot Day

• Definition of Overshoot Day: The date when humanity's demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.

• Alisha's personal overshoot day: February 18.

Ecological Footprint

• Definition of Ecological Footprint: The amount of biologically productive land and water area required to produce the resources a person or population consumes and to absorb the waste they generate, given prevailing technology and resource management practices.

• Alisha's ecological footprint: 12.1 (presumably in global hectares).

Global Hectare

• Definition of Global Hectare (gha): A standardized unit used to measure the amount of resource consumption and waste discharge; it represents a hectare (2.47 acres) of biologically productive land or water with world average productivity.

Carbon Footprint

• Alisha's carbon footprint: 19 tonnes.

Comparison to the Rest of the World

• Alisha's footprint compared to global and U.S. averages: Above average.

• Implication: Alisha should strive to make more environmentally conscious choices to reduce her impact.

Here is a detailed breakdown of how to approach the concepts presented in the EAS Lab 4, aimed at helping Alisha (and others) understand and reduce their ecological impact:

1. Overview of EAS Lab 4:

• Objective: The lab aims to assess personal environmental impact by calculating ecological and carbon footprints.

• Methodology: It involves using a calculator or assessment tool to quantify resource consumption and waste generation.

• Key Metrics:

  • Ecological Footprint: Measures the amount of biologically productive land and water needed to support a person's lifestyle.

  • Carbon Footprint: Measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a person's actions.

  • Earths Needed: Indicates how many Earths would be required if everyone lived the same lifestyle.

  • Overshoot Day: Marks the date when resource consumption exceeds Earth’s regenerative capacity for the year.

2. Main Topics Covered:

• Ecological Footprint:

  • Represents the total area required to sustain consumption and absorb waste.

  • Includes various land types such as cropland, grazing land, forest land, fishing grounds, and built-up land.

  • Measured in global hectares (gha).

• Carbon Footprint:

  • Focuses specifically on greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane).

  • Primarily results from burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial processes.

  • Expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

• Overshoot Day:

  • Highlights the urgency of addressing overconsumption.

  • Calculated annually to track the growing gap between resource demand and availability.

• Global Hectare (gha):

  • A standardized unit to compare ecological footprints across different regions and populations.

  • Represents the average productivity of all biologically productive land and water in the world.

3. Problem-Solving and Key Insights:

• Calculating Footprints:

  • Use online calculators provided by organizations like the Global Footprint Network.

  • Input data related to consumption patterns, energy use, transportation habits, and waste generation.

  • Analyze results to identify major areas of impact.

• Reducing Footprints:

  • Adopt sustainable practices in daily life.

  • Reduce energy consumption by using energy-efficient appliances and reducing electricity use.

  • Lower transportation emissions by walking, biking, using public transit, or driving electric vehicles.

  • Consume resources more efficiently by reducing waste, recycling, and buying sustainable products.

  • Improve dietary choices by reducing meat consumption and choosing locally sourced foods.

• Understanding Implications:

  • Recognize that high ecological footprints contribute to environmental degradation, climate change, and resource depletion.

  • Advocate for policies and practices that promote sustainability at local, national, and global levels.

4. Practice Question:

• Scenario: Suppose Alisha wants to reduce her carbon footprint, which is currently 19 tonnes. She decides to switch to a fully electric vehicle and reduce her meat consumption by half. How would these changes likely impact her "Earths Needed" and personal overshoot day?

• Considerations:

  • Switching to an electric vehicle reduces reliance on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions.

  • Reducing meat consumption decreases the demand for resource-intensive agriculture.

• Expected Outcome: Both changes would likely decrease her "Earths Needed" value and push her personal overshoot day later in the year, indicating a reduced environmental impact.