Transcript Ecological Footprint

Ecological
Footprint
Ecological Footprint
 Difference Between Wants & Needs
 Your Impact
 Reducing Our Footprint
YOUR Ecological Footprint
Ecological Footprints are a
measure of human impact
on the Earth. The footprint
equals the Earth’s cost to
sustain one person. It’s
measured in hectares (or
global hectares “gha”) and
represents the land area
needed to provide resources
and absorb waste and
greenhouse gases produced
by an individual.
Ecological Footprint &
Bio-capacity
Bio-capacity = The Earth’s
ability to meet human
demands.
Ecological Footprint &
Bio-capacity by Region
Country/Region
Total Ecological Total
BioFootprint
capacity (gha per
(gha per person) person)
World
2.69
2.06
Africa
1.37
1.80
Middle East & Central Asia
2.32
1.28
Asia - Pacific
1.62
0.82
Latin America & Caribbean
2.44
4.80
North America
9.19
6.49
Europe (EU)
4.69
2.32
Europe (Non-EU)
3.52
5.81
Canada
7.07
20.05
Canada’s Current Footprint
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/env_ec
o_foo-environment-ecological-footprint
Ecological Footprint of
Nations
 The map on the following slide shows
various countries and regions of the
world proportionate to their production
and consumption of commercially traded
fuels.
 All figures are in million metric tons of oil
equivalent.
Ecological “Fuel” Footprint of
Nations
Ecological Footprint of
Nations
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World Average –
Biggest Footprint – United States –
Smallest Footprint – Bangladesh –
Average Canadian Footprint –
2.2 hectares
9.6 hectares
0.5 hectares
8.6 hectares
 Canada has the 3rd highest footprint in the world!
 Why is Canada’s average footprint so big?
 What can we do to reduce our footprint?
Patterns of Consumption
Calculate your footprint!
http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/
http://www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/gallery/life
_sciences/footprint_mx_2005.swf
What you can do!
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/