Calculating Your Ecological Footprint Sustainability, Part 2 Presenter Name, Ph.D. Presenter Title Arizona State University Last updated

© 2007 Arizona State University By the end of this activity, you will be able to define the concept of an ecological footprint. list those things in your daily life that contribute the most to the size of your footprint.

© 2007 Arizona State University What do people need? All humans need basic things for their material and physical well-being –Air –Food –Water –Shelter Adapted from

© 2007 Arizona State University How do people meet these needs? In general, we produce these necessities from resources that are extracted from the earth In the process, we create waste streams that flow back into our environment.

© 2007 Arizona State University Products and the Environment At first glance, the relationship between products and the environment may seem clear, BUT….

© 2007 Arizona State University Let’s consider a simple french fry. What impact does it have?

© 2007 Arizona State University How did the fry get to Bob’s Burger Shop? Producer Distribution Center Processing Plant Suppliers Bob’s Burger Shop Truck

© 2007 Arizona State University What impact did its journey have? Producer Distribution Center Processing Plant Suppliers Bob’s Burger Shop Truck Fossil Fuels Freezer Fertilizers Pesticides Machinery Hydropower Fossil Fuels Machinery Fossil Fuels Packaging Hydroflourocarbons Irrigation Hydropower Freezer Food waste Machinery Fossil Fuels Hydroelectric dam Fossil Fuels Animal Feed Irrigation Seeds

© 2007 Arizona State University What impact did these impacts have? Runoff Air Pollution Loss of Biodiversity Solid Waste Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Freezer Fertilizers Pesticides Truck Machinery Hydropower Truck Fossil Fuels Machinery Fossil Fuels Damage To Ozone Packaging Hydroflourocarbons Irrigation Hydropower Freezer Food waste Machinery Producer Distribution Center Processing Plant Suppliers Fossil Fuels Truck Hydroelectric dam Loss of Biodiversity Fossil Fuels Animal Feed Loss of Biodiversity Irrigation Seeds Fossil Fuels Bob’s Burger Shop Air Pollution

© 2007 Arizona State University How might all of this affect the earth’s systems?

© 2007 Arizona State University And that was just the potato! Consider all the other parts of your meal –the other foods –the utensils –the napkins –the condiments –the drinks… There are multiple environmental impacts involved in these as well.

© 2007 Arizona State University There are social impacts, too. Who did the work that brought the food to your table? Under what conditions did they work?

© 2007 Arizona State University Every choice we make has an impact on the planet. An ecological footprint is a tool to measure our environmental impact. –It tracks how much individuals, organizations, cities, regions, or nations as a whole consume and compares this amount to the resources nature can provide.

© 2007 Arizona State University How big is your footprint? There are currently about 6.7 billion people on the earth. Do you believe that the planet has the capability to support your lifestyle for everyone?

© 2007 Arizona State University Let’s find out! In the following activity, you will be guided through a series of questions that will be used to estimate your ecological footprint. After you have completed the Quiz, you will record the result and then take the quiz twice more, making modifications as directed. Select the link above to take the quiz. When you’re done, close the pop-up window and return to this website Click here to begin.

© 2007 Arizona State University Results - Your Current Lifestyle According to this website, if everyone lived like me, we would need _________ planets to support humanity.

© 2007 Arizona State University What if you made some simple changes? Repeat the survey, but this time answer the questions hypothetically, based on modifications that you could easily make in your current lifestyle to reduce your ecological footprint. Select the link above to take the quiz a second time. When you’re done, close the pop-up window and return to this website Click here to begin.

© 2007 Arizona State University Results - With Simple Changes According to this website, if If I attempted to reduce my ecological footprint by making a few easy changes in my lifestyle, we would need _________ planets to support humanity.

© 2007 Arizona State University What if you made some difficult changes? Repeat the survey one last time, based on modifications that you could theoretically make, but that would be very difficult for you, or would represent a substantial change from the way you live now. Select the link above to take the quiz a final time. When you’re done, close the pop-up window and return to this website Click here to begin.

© 2007 Arizona State University Results - With Difficult Changes According to this website, if If I attempted to reduce my ecological footprint by making substantial changes in my lifestyle, we would need _________ planets to support humanity.

© 2007 Arizona State University How you compare… You Now = 7.6 Earths You With Simple Changes: 7.2 Earths You With Difficult Changes: 5.1 Earths Average North American: 5.3 Earths

© 2007 Arizona State University Reflection What about your current lifestyle do you believe causes the greatest impact? Are you likely to make changes in your lifestyle in order to reduce your ecological footprint? –Why or why not?

© 2007 Arizona State University Remember-- There are many different types of ecological footprint surveys. –Some are based upon very detailed information, while some are calculated using just a few specific pieces of information. Ecological footprints can be used to describe the entire human population, an individual, or any sized entity in between.

© 2007 Arizona State University One criticism of footprints is that different groups define and measure footprints differently, making it difficult to make comparisons across regions or nations. The Global Footprint Network is an organization whose mission is to calculate footprints to provide information about resource use to decision-makers. –They use and advocate strict standards to assure the scientific integrity of the measurements used to calculate footprints. –To learn more, see

© 2007 Arizona State University Links for Further Information The Global Footprint Network Sustainable UK Lifestyle Assessment (Includes a downloadable excel spreadsheet to calculate the sustainability of your lifestyle on a variety of dimensions) The Nature Conservancy’s Climate Change Calculator The University Of British Columbia’s Sustainability Survey and Eco-Footprint Calculator Calculator for Kids

© 2007 Arizona State University You have completed Part 2 of the sustainability component of ASU 101. –See you in class!