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what is an ecological footprint

The ecological footprint is a measure of an entities demand on nature through the resources consumed and the waste produced. Developed by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees, the Ecological Footprint is an effective tool for measuring our impact on the Earth and provides us with valuable information for making better choices to become more sustainable.

It is an accounting tool, one that can be used to determine how much of the earth’s resources we are using, and how much we have left. It can also help us set goals for increasing our sustainability, and can set the basis for environmental management systems.

Ecological footprint is a useful tool for comparing and communicating our impact on earth for several reasons. One, the standard per capita measurement allows people all around the world to compare footprints, regardless of where they live, what measurement system they use, population, etc. Secondly, the global hectare measurement provides a very concrete and visual indication of our impacts.

For more information on ecological footprint, please see the attached resource: Ecological Footprint Information Package

sources

• “An Ecological Footprint Analysis of CCW.” Best Foot Forward Ltd. 2005
• “The Ecological Footprint-Issues and Trends.” The University of Sydney. M. Lenzon and S. A. Murray. 2003
• “Ecological Footprint Analysis: Towards a Sustainability Indicator for Business.” Certified Accountants Educational Trust London. Nicky Chambers and Kevin Lewis. 2001
• “How Big is Toronto’s Ecological Footprint?” Centre for Sustainable Studies and the City of Toronto. Lawrence J. Onisto, Eric Krause and Mathis Wackernagel. September 1998.
• “Measuring the Ecological Demands of Educational Activities: A Proposal to Build an Ecological Footprint School Calculator and Curriculum.” November 10, 2006.

Web Administrator: L. Diemert
Last Modified: September 24, 2011