Ecological Footprint Basics
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...
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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Comments (29)
Rob aka Cerberus17
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)
bigkahuna2
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!
Gabriella Kovacs9
Online Marketer
Thank you very much Louise!
Louise Venison7
TE owner, affiliate marketer
I'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
Paula van Dun16
Retired
This is very educational! Oops, using 2 worlds to many
Rob aka Cerberus17
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!"
Lajosne Liszek6
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.
Sue and Shawn Kelly8
List Building Experts
Great 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.
Rob aka Cerberus17
Better World Partisan
Great post Gaby!
I did the quiz to find out my own impact on the environment - truely eye opening and instructive. Thanks!