Ecological Footprint Accounting: Navigating Resource Constraints

Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D.

Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition: June 29, 2010

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors

Biocapacity per person

Ecological Footprint

Summary

• The planet has limits. It becomes critical to know how much biocapacity you have? and how much you use?

• Blindness brings risks and costs lives – and misses opportunities.

• Why this matters for economic stability and competitiveness

The Ecological Footprint

CARBON footprint

Metabolism like a cow

Humanity’s Ecological Footprint (1961 onwards)

EITHER: 350 ppm ~ 2° C

OR: 1700 ppmYes, but…

Mathis’ life (1962 – onwards)

Annual deficit adds up to a global ecological debt

UN’s Most Moderate ScenarioMathis’ life

WBCSD Vision 2050 - Who’s in?

13WBCSD Vision 2050

15

Sustainability wedges for ending overshoot by 2050 (WBCSD)

UN’s Most Moderate ScenarioMathis’ life

Bill

ion

20

03

glo

ba

l hec

tare

s

10

Long-term waste

302050 is being built today (as a trap or an opportunity)

Houston, you

have a problem..

The Ecological Footprint and biocapacity (per capita) of three countries from 1961-2005. A country runs

an

if its Footprint exceeds what its ecosystems can renew. The deficit is made up through net-imports, net-carbon emissions to the global atmosphere, or local resource degradation.

Switzerland

Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint

Biocapacity per person

Biocapacity per person

Uganda IranBiocapacity per person

Ecological Footprint

ecological deficit

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors in Africa Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity PER CAPITA,1961-2005

What do these graphs show?

All 24 African countries are rapidly loosing per-capita biocapacity.

Four (blue-shaded) countries have assets that allow them to have a net-import and to burn significant quantities of fossil fuel.

Twelve (yellow-shaded) countries’ development is limited by their declining biocapacity, leading to SEVERE conflicts.

Biocapacity

Ecological Footprint

Shrinking Ecological Credit

Increasing Ecological and Social Instability

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors in Europe Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity PER CAPITA,1961-2005

HU

DKATDE

ES

RO

SECH

IT

PT

NL

FR

PO

GR

RU

BE

FI

UK

IR

SK

CZ

BY

RS UA

20b

Impact: The Eco-Footprint of a General Retailer (vintage poster facsimile)

How Does it support Business?

• Internal communication and alignment• Motivating cost savings and organizational

development• External Communication and stakeholder

engagement• Core strategy

– Markets– Branding– Innovation needs– Real Asset investments

What’s next?

Can Footprint help give leading companies the extra edge?

Can leading companies help nations to recognize the significance of resource issues’?

Can pasta change the world?

mathis@footprintnetwork.org