Articles
Ecological Footprint Basics
by Gabriella Kovacs Online Marketer Humanity needs what nature provides, but how do we know how much we are using and how much we have to use?The Ecological Footprint has emerged as the world's premier measure of humanity's demand on nature. It measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resource it consumes and to absorb its wastes, using prevailing technology.
Our current global situation: Since the 1970s, humanity has been in ecological overshoot with annual demand on resources exceeding what Earth can regenerate each year.
It now takes the Earth one year and six months to regenerate what we use in a year.
We maintain this overshoot by liquidating the Earth's resources. Overshoot is a vastly underestimated threat to human well-being and the health of the planet, and one that is not adequately addressed.
By measuring the Footprint of a population (an individual, city, business, nation, or all of humanity) we can assess our pressure on the planet, which helps us manage our ecological assets more wisely and take personal and collective action in support of a world where humanity lives within the Earth's bounds.
Conceived in 1990 by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees at the University of British Columbia, the Ecological Footprint is now in wide use by scientists, businesses, governments, agencies, individuals, and institutions working to monitor ecological resource use and advance sustainable development.
Would You like to know Your OWN PERSONAL Ecological Footprint? The short quiz HERE (link opens new window) takes less than 5 minutes and could set you on a life-changing journey...
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About Gabriella Kovacs 
Online Marketer
615 connections, 10 recommendations, 1,716 honor points.Joined APSense since, May 26th, 2008, From Dunakeszi, Hungary.
Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.
Comments
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Sue and Shawn Kelly
List Building ExpertsGreat Post. I get a little discouraged with trying to get others to recycle. People are just too lazy and I agree it takes some work. But I think of what our grandchildren's lives will be like. I use reusable bags and constantly take back the plastic bags others in the household bring home. I use green products and recycle everything I love the illustrations of a carbon footprints, as well as your explanation. Oct 11th 2010 13:54 1 Likes |
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Lajosne Liszek
 he total world ecological footprint is 2.6 global hectares per capita. The ecological reserve, or biocapacity ? the amount of land available for production, is 1.8 global hectares per person, a deficit of 0.8 global hectares per capita.[40] Bill Rees is a nice fellow with a strong message - if the world cannot safely expand its way to sustainability we will have to discover other ways of relieving the material impoverishment of half of humanity. Oct 12th 2010 00:23 |
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Rob aka Cerberus
 Better World Partisan"Only when each tree has been cut .. only when each river has been poisoned .. only when each fish has been caught ... Only then will the world find that money cant be eaten!" Oct 24th 2010 15:22 1 Likes |
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Louise Venison
 TE owner, affiliate marketerI've just shared this everywhere I can. We might just as well forget everything else we write about (although, of course, we won't) and just focus on this, because it's all that matters in the end, if humanity is going to survive. I'd also recommend reading Powerdown by Richard Heinberg, which talks a lot about overpopulation, the problems it's already causing, and what we can do about it. Maybe I'll write a review of that tomorrow Oct 24th 2010 16:13 2 Likes |
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bigkahuna
 Thanks for reminding us of what alot of us know BUT are doing nothing about! Very sad commentary on the human race but let's face it...we suck as a species. Too much "ME" and not enough "what can I do to help?" Get a bicycle and quit ruining the atmosphere! Oct 24th 2010 18:45 |
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Rob aka Cerberus
Better World Partisan"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the World's problems." (Gandhi) Oct 27th 2010 07:02 1 Likes |
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Gabriella Kovacs
Online MarketerIn a thousand years from now, when our hominid descendants look back at us, will they see us as "one of the great apes" or just "that greedy ape"?? (Saba Douglas-Hamilton) Oct 28th 2010 15:37 1 Likes |
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Rob aka Cerberus
Better World Partisan"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man?s need, but not any man?s greed." (Mahatma Gandhi) Oct 29th 2010 17:01 1 Likes |
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Craig Traudt
Working on a Big ProjectIt's one thing to think about solutions and completely another thing to act on them. This is a great way to keep the ideas in front of people and may help convince them to act accordingly. Every effort will make a difference. When the masses act responsibly we will make a noticeable difference. It will make people feel better when they take personal control by substituting earth friendly options for the current situation. Thanks for your post. Dec 5th 2010 09:21 |
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Ruediger Schaefer Schaefer
mrVery nice article, indeed. I'd like to tweet it on my Twitter account but there are too many "?" in the article. If you would correct this ... Dec 30th 2010 00:08 |
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Louise Venison
TE owner, affiliate marketerI just tweeted it without any problems. Dec 30th 2010 04:51 |
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Ruediger Schaefer Schaefer
mrThe many "?" are not a problem when it comes to tweet the article. But the article look - sorry - some kind of "unprofessional". Dec 30th 2010 07:06 |
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Gabriella Kovacs
Online Marketer@Ruediger the characters displayed as "?"s are fixed. Thanks to all for the comments! Dec 30th 2010 21:15 |
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Philippe Moisan
 Tutorial videos, sci-fi writerHere's my result: "You're living as if we had 3.43 planets to support us but we only have one." Sep 3rd 2011 15:42 1 Likes |
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David C.
managerI stopped the quiz half way through it was too much like a house hold survey,what has what I spend on jewlery in a year got to do with my carbon footprint or what my vet bills are there onlt of use to someone who wants to sell me pet health Insurance Thats my oppinion and the scientists call it your Carbon Foot print Sep 3rd 2011 16:18 |
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Tricia (Patricia) Fahrendorf
Well, my Canadian friend, again we are on the same page. I also have a 3.43 planet answer to my footprint. Rob, thank you for posting the link. @ Scabiosa this is a very informative article and it does make you think. I did not get the questions on the cost of jewelry but the pet question I did get. ::working on giving up meat more often:: Organic Veggies are the best. Local markets are available here so I will check those out. Try harder to reduce the footprint I leave behind. :-) Thanks to all. Sep 3rd 2011 20:49 |
Great post Gaby!
I did the quiz to find out my own impact on the environment - truely eye opening and instructive. Thanks!
Oct 11th 2010 13:32 1 Likes