Ecological footprint — Science definition

A measure of how much productive land and water area a person or population requires to supply what it consumes and absorb the waste it produces.

Where it is taught

In use

An ecological footprint is a model comparing demand on productive land and water with modeled regenerative capacity.

Sustainability & Solutions

Questions using ecological footprint

Problem 1

A country's average ecological footprint is 4.0 global hectares per person, while Earth can sustainably provide about 1.6 global hectares per person. If everyone lived this way, about how many Earths would humanity need?
Answer and explanation

2.5 Earths

Earths needed = footprint ÷ biocapacity = 4.0 ÷ 1.6 = 2.5 Earths.

Problem 2

A country's average ecological footprint is 3.2 global hectares per person, while Earth can sustainably provide about 1.6 global hectares per person. If everyone lived this way, how many Earths would humanity need?
Answer and explanation

2 Earths

Earths needed = footprint ÷ biocapacity = 3.2 ÷ 1.6 = 2.0 Earths.

Problem 3

In a hypothetical footprint accounting model, The ecological footprint of humanity is often stated as about '1.7 Earths.' Explain what that figure means.
Answer and explanation

It means humanity currently uses renewable resources and produces waste about 1.7 times faster than the planet can regenerate resources and absorb that waste in a year. Since there is only one Earth, we are overshooting its biocapacity by about 70%, drawing down natural capital — like forests, fisheries, and a stable atmosphere — instead of living within what nature renews each year.

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