Ecological FootprintEcological FootprintEcological FootprintEcological Footprint

What is an ecological What is an ecological footprint?footprint?

What is an ecological What is an ecological footprint?footprint?

Allows us to calculate human pressure on the planet. How much of Earth´s resources are we using and is it sustainable?

Ecological footprint is how much land is required to provide all the population´s resources and absorb the wastes it generates

Allows us to calculate human pressure on the planet. How much of Earth´s resources are we using and is it sustainable?

Ecological footprint is how much land is required to provide all the population´s resources and absorb the wastes it generates

How is footprint calculated?How is footprint calculated?How is footprint calculated?How is footprint calculated?• The amount of material consumed by

that person (tons per year) is divided by the yield of the specific land or sea area (annual tons per hectare) from which it was harvested, or where its waste material was absorbed.

• The amount of material consumed by that person (tons per year) is divided by the yield of the specific land or sea area (annual tons per hectare) from which it was harvested, or where its waste material was absorbed.

Sample Human FootprintSample Human FootprintSample Human FootprintSample Human FootprintWhat is the average human footprint if

one person uses 23.47 Ha of land and the Earth´s average available for each human is 15.71 Ha?

What is the average human footprint if one person uses 23.47 Ha of land and the Earth´s average available for each human is 15.71 Ha?

Current world footprintCurrent world footprintCurrent world footprintCurrent world footprint

• Answer: 23.47 Ha needed/15.71 Ha available.

= 1.49 (or 150% of land use)

• This means we are overshooting the Earth's biological capacity by nearly 50%. To sustain present levels of consumption, we would need:

• Is this sustainable?

• Answer: 23.47 Ha needed/15.71 Ha available.

= 1.49 (or 150% of land use)

• This means we are overshooting the Earth's biological capacity by nearly 50%. To sustain present levels of consumption, we would need:

• Is this sustainable?

Discuss: What does this Discuss: What does this image show?image show?

Discuss: What does this Discuss: What does this image show?image show?

Discuss: Explain the Discuss: Explain the meaning of this image?meaning of this image?

Discuss: Explain the Discuss: Explain the meaning of this image?meaning of this image?

BibliographyBibliographyBibliographyBibliography

• Myfootprint.org

• http://corbettcares.com/sustainability/eco-footprint/

• http://www.seppo.net/cartoons/displayimage.php?pid=796

• Myfootprint.org

• http://corbettcares.com/sustainability/eco-footprint/

• http://www.seppo.net/cartoons/displayimage.php?pid=796