The Ecological footprint

Per capita (per human) ecological footprint (EF) is a way of comparing consumption and lifestyles, and compairing it against nature’s ability to provide for this consumption.Per capita (per human) ecological footprint (EF) is a way of comparing consumption and lifestyles, and compairing it against nature’s ability to provide for this consumption. The consumption of energy,The consumption of energy, Biomass (food, fiber),Biomass (food, fiber), Building material,Building material, Water and other resourcesWater and other resources are converted into a measure of land area called ’global hectares’ (gha). are converted into a measure of land area called ’global hectares’ (gha). What is it?

Different footprint sizes The U.S. : 9.6 ghaThe U.S. : 9.6 gha Finland: 7.6 gha (four times the capacity) ‏Finland: 7.6 gha (four times the capacity) ‏ Belgium: 5.6 gha (over three times the capacity) ‏Belgium: 5.6 gha (over three times the capacity) ‏ Hungary: 3.5 ghaHungary: 3.5 gha China’s: 1.6 ghaChina’s: 1.6 gha Mozambique: 0.6 ghaMozambique: 0.6 gha Notice! In order for the Earth to survive, nobody should have a footprint bigger than 1.8!

Notice that the more developed countries have, in general, bigger footprints.

EU has 7% of the world’s population but uses 17% of the Earth’s natural resources.EU has 7% of the world’s population but uses 17% of the Earth’s natural resources. EU’s ecological footprint has grown 70% from 1961.EU’s ecological footprint has grown 70% from Finland has the 16th largest footprint in the world.Finland has the 16th largest footprint in the world.

Much energy needed for the paper industryMuch energy needed for the paper industry Simple fact of our being one of the developed countriesSimple fact of our being one of the developed countries Long, cold and dark winters and a need to keep homes lit and heatedLong, cold and dark winters and a need to keep homes lit and heated The large land-area with few people and distance between communities increases the transport distances. ‏The large land-area with few people and distance between communities increases the transport distances. ‏ Why does Finland have a big footprint?

The Footprint as a way of comparing is criticized because it doesn’t consider all aspects (biodiversity, trade between rural and urban, nuclear vs. coal etc.) ‏ So sometimes having a small footprint isn’t the most important thing. The Finnish biocapacity (how much our nature can produce) figure is among the world’s highest at 12.0The Finnish biocapacity (how much our nature can produce) figure is among the world’s highest at 12.0 The United States, for example, the ecological footprint is 9.6, while biocapacity is less than 5.The United States, for example, the ecological footprint is 9.6, while biocapacity is less than 5. China and the Arab emirates are even worse off (because of growing demand).China and the Arab emirates are even worse off (because of growing demand). But!

Graphs on ecological footprints (from footprintnetwork.org) ‏ On graphs, notice the value of y-axis!On graphs, notice the value of y-axis! Notice what color the lines are!Notice what color the lines are! Notice the year! ( ) ‏Notice the year! ( ) ‏

Belgium

Finland

Hungary

The World

The WWF claims that the human footprint has exceeded the biocapacity (the available supply of natural resources) of the planet by 20 %The WWF claims that the human footprint has exceeded the biocapacity (the available supply of natural resources) of the planet by 20 % This would mean that we need a new Earth by 2050! (as seen graph) ‏This would mean that we need a new Earth by 2050! (as seen graph) ‏ If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American we would need five planets. If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American we would need five planets. How bad is the situation?

Better eco-efficiency (better technology) ‏Better eco-efficiency (better technology) ‏ Use of renewable energy sourcesUse of renewable energy sources We have to only use what we can produce,We have to only use what we can produce, Otherwise next generation won’t survive! Otherwise next generation won’t survive! What needs to be done?