The Ecological footprint. Per capita (per human) ecological footprint (EF) is a way of comparing consumption and lifestyles, and compairing it against.

The Ecological The Ecological footprintfootprint

• Per capita (per human) Per capita (per human) ecological footprint (EF) is ecological footprint (EF) is a way of comparing a way of comparing consumption and lifestyles, consumption and lifestyles, and compairing it against and compairing it against nature’s ability to provide nature’s ability to provide for this consumption.for this consumption.

• The consumption of The consumption of energy,energy,

• Biomass (food, fiber),Biomass (food, fiber),• Building material,Building material,• Water and other resourcesWater and other resources are converted into a are converted into a

measure of land area measure of land area called called ’global hectares’’global hectares’ (gha).(gha).

What is it?What is it?

Different footprint sizesDifferent footprint sizes• The U.S. : 9.6 ghaThe U.S. : 9.6 gha• Finland: 7.6 gha (four times the capacity)Finland: 7.6 gha (four times the capacity)• Belgium: 5.6 gha (over three times the Belgium: 5.6 gha (over three times the

capacity)capacity)• Hungary: 3.5 ghaHungary: 3.5 gha• China’s: 1.6 ghaChina’s: 1.6 gha• Mozambique: 0.6 gha Mozambique: 0.6 gha

Notice! In order for the Earth to survive,Notice! In order for the Earth to survive,nobody should have a footprint bigger than nobody should have a footprint bigger than

1.8!1.8!

• Notice that the more developed countries have, in general, bigger footprints.

• EU has 7% of the world’s population but EU has 7% of the world’s population but uses 17% of the Earth’s natural resources.uses 17% of the Earth’s natural resources.

• EU’s ecological footprint has grown 70% EU’s ecological footprint has grown 70% from 1961.from 1961.

• Finland has the 16th largest footprint in Finland has the 16th largest footprint in the world.the world.

• Much energy needed for the paper industryMuch energy needed for the paper industry

• Simple fact of our being one of the developed countriesSimple fact of our being one of the developed countries

• Long, cold and dark winters and a need to keep homes lit Long, cold and dark winters and a need to keep homes lit and heatedand heated

• The large land-area with few people and distance between The large land-area with few people and distance between communities increases the transport distances . communities increases the transport distances .

Why does Finland have a big footprint?Why does Finland have a big footprint?

The Footprint as a way of comparing is criticized because it The Footprint as a way of comparing is criticized because it doesn’t consider all aspects (biodiversity, trade between doesn’t consider all aspects (biodiversity, trade between rural and urban, nuclear vs. coal etc.)rural and urban, nuclear vs. coal etc.) So sometimes having So sometimes having a small footprint isn’t the most important thing. a small footprint isn’t the most important thing.

• The Finnish biocapacity (how much our nature can produce) The Finnish biocapacity (how much our nature can produce) figure is among the world’s highest at 12.0figure is among the world’s highest at 12.0

• The United States, for example, the ecological footprint is The United States, for example, the ecological footprint is 9.6, while biocapacity is less than 5.9.6, while biocapacity is less than 5.

• China and the Arab emirates are even worse off (because of China and the Arab emirates are even worse off (because of

growing demand).growing demand).

But!But!

Graphs on ecological footprintsGraphs on ecological footprints(from footprintnetwork.org)(from footprintnetwork.org)

• On graphs, notice the value of y-axis!On graphs, notice the value of y-axis!

• Notice what color the lines are!Notice what color the lines are!

• Notice the year! (1961-2003)Notice the year! (1961-2003)

BelgiumBelgium

FinlandFinland

HungaryHungary

The WorldThe World

• The WWF claims that the The WWF claims that the human footprint has human footprint has exceeded the biocapacity exceeded the biocapacity (the available supply of (the available supply of natural resources) of the natural resources) of the planet by 20 %planet by 20 %

• This would mean that we This would mean that we need a new Earth by 2050! need a new Earth by 2050! (as seen graph)(as seen graph)

• If everyone lived the If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average lifestyle of the average American we would need American we would need five planetsfive planets..

How bad is the situation?How bad is the situation?

• Better eco-efficiency (better technology)Better eco-efficiency (better technology)

• Use of renewable energy sourcesUse of renewable energy sources

• We have to only use what we can produce,We have to only use what we can produce,

Otherwise next generation won’t survive!Otherwise next generation won’t survive!

What needs to be done?What needs to be done?