The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

Parliament of Youth on Sustainability Information Session

ACT Ecological Footprint as an indicator of sustainability

Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, ACT

http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au

Dr Aileen PowerSenior Manager, OCSE

aileen.power@act.gov.auPh: 6207 7127

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

Background• ACT ecological footprint (EF) report produced

about every four years since 1998

• Included with ACT State of Environment Reports

• amount of land and water required to support our use of resources and dispose of our wastes

• relative consumption of global resources and extent of human impact on the earth

• link between lifestyles and environmental impacts

• expressed in ‘global hectares’

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

Some comparisonsAverage per person ecological footprint measures:

– 2007 World EF - 2.7 gha - (1.5 Earths)– 2007 Australian EF - 6.8 gha*– 2008-09 ACT EF - 9.2 gha

ACT footprint– increased 8% in 5 years since 2004 Report – nearly 25% in 10 year period since 1998 Report– 13% above the Australian average– nearly 3.5 times the global average– Canberrans used 14 times the land area of the ACT

to support our lifestyles

*Global Footprint Network

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

ACT Per capita ecological footprint 1999, 2004 and 2009

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

ACT Ecological footprint 1999, 2004,2009 consumption by category

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

ACT per-capita Ecological Footprint 2008-09Top 25 commodities

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

ACT Ecological Footprint update coming early 2016

• new ACT Ecological Footprint Report based on 2011-12 data

• companion document to 2015 ACT State of Environment Report

• slight reduction in size of our footprint from 9.2 gha to 8.9 gha

• reduction of about 3% since the 2008-09 report

• overall consumption levels continue to rise in the ACT

• our ecological footprint remains about 9% higher than the Australian average

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

Taking action to reduce our footprint

Individual, behavioural level, where possible:

• Repair, reuse or borrow and re-purpose items

• Consider consumption choices including food

• Buy quality, efficient goods that will last

• Invest in experiences rather than goods

• choose renewable energy

• Increase the energy efficiency of your home and appliances

Government policy, business and community-wide change:

• Transforming our economies to lower our overall resource use

• Improving the efficiency and sources of our energy

• Pursuing further regional opportunities to extend the production of renewable energy

• Supporting business initiatives towards an expanded ‘green economy’

• Protecting and enhancing our natural environment

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

ReferencesDey, C. 2011. The 2008-09 Ecological Footprint of the population

of the ACT. Integrated Sustainability Analysis, University of Sydney, Sydney http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/ecologoical-footprints

Global Footprint Network http://cdn1.footprintnetwork.org/Living_Planet_Report_2014_summary.pdf

Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission, ACT Licensed utilities compliance and performance report 2007–08 http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Compliance_and_Performance_Report_2007-08_Web.pdf

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009. Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia 2008-07 (ABS 6523.0) http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/32F9145C3C78ABD3CA257617001939E1/$File/65230_2007-08.pdf

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The office is independent of, but funded by the ACT Government

Other OCSE resources

Canberra’s Ecological Footprint: what does it mean?Dr Joy Murray and Dr Chris Dey

http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/590929/Canberras_Ecological_Footprint_.pdf

Fact Sheets (including one on the 2008-09 Ecological footprint)

http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/what-can-i-do-and-whats-in-it-for-me/fact_sheets

Buying choices for a more sustainable Canberra Dr Sarah Ryan, 2012http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/590930/BUYING_CHOICES_Sept12.pdf

Exploring individual values and attitudes for a more sustainable Canberra: the example of foodProf. David Pearson, 2011http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/590927/Exploring-individual-values-and-attitudes-for-a-Sustainable-Canberra.pdf

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