Dr. Mathis Wackernagel Plattform Footprint – 10. Jänner 2008 Der ökologische Fussabdruck: Vom Labor der Wissenschaft zu weltweiten Anwendungen

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors

Metabolism like a cow

Bioproductive segments 18% Biologically Productive Land 11% Deserts, Ice Caps and Barren Land 67% Low- Productivity Ocean 4% Biologically Productive Ocean Bioproductive Segments 22%

How much “nature” is available? With 6.3 billion people (2003) Global average availability of bioproductive land + sea area = 1.8 global hectares/person

Footprint components Fossil Fuel Built-up Waste Food Fibres absorption

Human Demand (Ecological Footprint) Ecological Supply (Biocapacity) Footprint Areas for:Biocapacity Areas: Growing Crops0.49Crop land0.53 Grazing Animals0.14Grazing land0.27 Settlements & infrastructure0.08Built-up area0.08 Producing timber & fuelwood0.23Forest0.78 Absorbing excess CO Harvesting Fish0.15Fishing Grounds0.14 Total Global Demand2.2Total Global Supply1.8 Die Globale ökologische Bilanz (in global hectares/person, 2003 data) Demand Exceeds Supply By 25% >

Benefits of “Ecological Footprint thinking”: You can explain decision-makers the challenge: a complex, ecologically constrained world You can more easily communicate benefits of aggressive sustainability policies You can identify risks, new markets, and opportunities

How does Global Footprint Network operate? Non-profit research institute with 75+ partner organizations (academia, gov orgs, businesses, NGOs) Scientific forum for addressing the resource accounting question Standardization ( Ten-in-Ten goal (10 countries by 2015)

Ten-in-Ten Candidates

Six Pioneer Countries Switzerland Japan United Arab Emirates Belgium Ecuador France

Looking into the Future

Global Context for the Coming Decades UN’s most moderate scenario

Is there enough natural capital to liquidate for a Moderate Business-as-Usual Path?

Billion 2003 global hectares Slow Things First Map Lifespan of People, Assets and Infrastructure against Time Spans of Biosphere Long-term waste

Calgary

“London First”: What is the potential for reduction? Which technologies would be needed? Total London Ecological Footprint = 50 million gha Possible to reduce London’s Ecological Footprint by between 20 & 25 million global average hectares (gha) London Remade with WSP Environmental, Global Footprint Network

Building Momentum: The Footprint of an Australian General Retailer

Footprint for Waste Management (INVESTMENT) Recuperated Footprint from Waste (RETURN) potential actual Footprint (gha) Bigger Footprint for Solution Providers E.g.: Waste Management as Investment

Ecological Footprint (gha per person) HDI

Niger in the face of climate change

Africa If you were their Executive Council?

GAP BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL DEMAND AND SUPPLY x = ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT (DEMAND) POPULATION CONSUMPTION RESOURCE INTENSITY x = BIOCAPACITY (SUPPLY) x AREA BIO- PRODUCTIVITY

Winning together!  New Applications?  Collaboration?  Partnership?