We constantly consume natural resources, whether that is for eating, moving around, housing accommodation or to process our waste. Can our planet keep on producing this vast amount of resources to meet our needs and dispose of the waste generated by our actions? Is our life style in balance with the natural ability of the earth?
The ecologic footprint provides us with an answer to all these questions.
What?
Based on the ecologic footprint the earth’s surface required to meet our needs can be estimated.
Back to topHow does it work?
Our planet contains areas that produce natural resources, such as forests, fishing grounds, rivers, arable land, etc. This is called the bio-capacity or the biological productive surface of the earth.
Bio-capacity is transcribed into hectares of the earth’s surface..
Other parts of the Earth produce little or are almost not accessible for exploitation (deserts, ice cap, deep sea, etc.).
Mankind has to share the worldwide bio-capacity, or 3.14 billion hectares. Each individual disposes of 2.1 hectares to nourish and clothe, to live and heath. In 2005 the average ecologic footprint was 2.7 hectare per person! This leads to the depletion of the natural resources. We are consuming the resources faster than they can be restored.
Every 2 years the WWF publishes the Living Planet Report, the reference book on the ecologic footprint.
