Tread softly on the crust of the earth - it is thin

Biocapacity! What on earth...?

Ecological Overshoot chart

The Earth's biocapacity is the amount of biologically productive area - cropland, pasture, forest, and fisheries - that is available to meet humanity's needs.

Your Ecological Footprint is the amount of the Earth's biocapacity you and your family use up for food, housing, heating, cooling and transport. In other words, you can work out your own ecological impact upon the earth and ways in which you can tread a little more lightly on this wonderful planet.

And we need to... Since the late 1980s, we have been in overshoot - our Ecological Footprint has exceeded the Earth's biocapacity. By 2003 the overshoot had reached 25%.[1] Yes, we are using 25% more than the Earth can sustain.

Business as usual?

The United Nations estimates that by 2050 humanity's demand on nature will be twice the biosphere's productive capacity.[2]

Simply put, if the Earth's biocapacity was a bank account, we are withdrawing more money than we have in the bank each and every year. In other words we are drawing down on nature's reserves to meet our needs for fuel, fibre and food.

Australia's ecological footprint

Composition of Australia's Ecological Footprint chart

Australia has one of the world's largest ecological footprints per capita, requiring 6.6 global hectares per person.[3] Over 50% of Australia's footprint is due to greenhouse gas emissions, with the average household emitting around 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.[4]

Our Earth Our Earth Our Earth

If all countries consumed the resources that we Australian's do, it would take the biocapacity of three Earths to support their lifestyle.

The message is clear and urgent

Measure your ecological footprint to see how your life is impacting the planet

We have been exceeding the Earth's ability to support our lifestyle. Habitats are being destroyed, the soil and waterways are being irreparably degraded. We must get back into balance!

And we can. Each of us can make some simple changes that will add up to a great deal of relief for our increasingly fragile planet.

Would you like to measure your ecological footprint to see how the way you live is impacting the planet and what you can do to reduce it?

References

  1. [1] WWF Living Planet Report
  2. [2][3] WWF Living Planet Report, Humanity's Ecological Footprint
  3. [4] WWF-Australia What causes global warming?