Geography of Canada Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprints are a measure of human impact on the Earth. The footprint equals the Earth’s cost to sustain one person. It’s measured in hectares and represents the land area needed to provide resources and absorb waste and greenhouse gases produced by an individual.

Ecological Footprint World Average – 2.2 hectares Biggest Footprint – United States – 9.6 hectares Smallest Footprint – Bangladesh – 0.5 hectares Average Canadian Footprint – 8.6 hectares –Canada has the 3rd highest footprint in the world! –Why is Canada’s average footprint so big?

Ecological Footprint We require … hectares of land for water (to drink & provide seafood) hectares of land for home and roads and factories that make the material things we grave 1.6 hectares of land for farmland to grow the food we eat 0.3 hectares of land for grazing land for meat and dairy 1.4 hectares of land for timber wood and paper products 4.7 hectares of land and needed to absorb the greenhouse gases produced by driving around town, through the running of air conditioners and the import of exotic goods and foods = 8.6 hectares

Ecological Impact of Nations The map on the following slide shows various countries and regions of the world proportionate to their production and consumption of commercially traded fuels. All figures are in million metric tons of oil equivalent.

Ecological Impact of Nations

Ecological Footprint Poster Project You have been hired by Environment Canada as part of the elite “Sustainability Squad”. Your task is to create a poster illustrating the term “ecological footprint” and its relationship to society and nature. Be as creative as you would like within the confines of the time you have. The posters will be marked and displayed in the classroom.

Ecological Footprint Poster Project You may use both drawings and text to reveal your thoughts on what you would do to improve the ecological footprint that you will leave behind for your children and future generations. Think of the largest improvement or the smallest contribution you can make that will influence our society both now and in the future. Using markers and the paper provided create a meaningful messages to all those who read your poster as they too can understand the term “ecological footprint” and make a difference in societies relationship to nature.