Measuring sustainable consumption: the Ecological Footprint Martha Rosemeyer Introduction to Environmental Studies October 7, 2002

General Concept of sustainability z“Satisfying the needs of present generations without compromising the needs of future generations.” Bruntland Commission 1987 zSo broad that it is devoid of operational significance zHow do we know that progress is being made toward sustainability?

Indicator of sustainability zWe want to measure the ability to consume sustainably in a number of different categories yfood yshelter ytransport ygoods and services zQuestion becomes how to aggregate these measurements

Characteristics of an indicator of sustainability zRelatively easy to measure zCould be repeated zSensitive zCorrespond to level of aggregation that is appropriate zDeveloped in a participatory manner

Concept of Ecological Footprint The quantity of bioproductive land that is required to support current consumption food, housing, transport, consumer goods, services Includes land needed for absorption of waste

Assumptions zResources consumed and waste are measured, and data accessible zConsumption and waste can be related to land area

US Ecological Footprint- new Note: new fishing numbers Total

zConsumption in over 60 categories zAdd imports and subtract exports zResource use and waste emissions are expressed in land area required -- one unit

Ecological footprints of nations zUS 24 acres zGermany 12 acres zChina 3.9 acres zIndia 1.9 acres

Energy land Land needed to absorb CO acre/1 ha acre = football field

Forest use

Transport

How can the ecological footprint be used? zGlobal scale zNational level zMunicipalities, e.g. Thurston Co. zIndividual items: tomatoes grown in greenhouse vs. in the field zHousehold/personal scale

Overshoot Growth beyond carrying capacity or when demand exceeds ecological supply

Humanity’s Ecological Footprint % larger than is sustainable

zOnly 1.9 ha or 4.7 acres of biologically productive space per person on Earth zWorld average is 2.3 ha or 5.6 acres

Recognition Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2002 Concludes that since 1980s have exceeded regenerative capacity of biosphere % overshoot

National EF with capacity and deficit

Canadian E F Impact of 5 categories on yenergy, ydegradation ygarden ycrop ypasture yforest

Local E F Lower Fraser River Valley BC

Comparing systems Greenhouse vs. field grown (10x greater)

Personal Calculation of individual ecological footprint

Opportunity for personal reflection zAssignment due this Wednesday, October 9

Ecological Footprint of Thurston County zDr. Paula Swedeen from Sustainable Community Roundtable will be with us Wednesday. z“According to new calculations that more accurately account for CO2 emissions, Thurston County's “ecological footprint” is even bigger than reported in our 1997 Indicator Update. At 10.3 hectares (25.4 acres) per capita, sustaining our current population requires a land area ten times the size of Thurston County. At projected growth rates, we'll require one and a half times that amount of land to maintain our current quality of life — unless many more of us redefine what “quality of life” means, adopt an ethic of “voluntary simplicity,” and radically reduce our consumption.”