First of all what is an Ecologic Footprint?

It is the metric that allows us to calculate human pressure on the planet. World Footprint. Footprint results are often presented in global acres (ga), rather than global hectares. For example; one U.S. acre is equal to 0.405 hectares. (A hectare is approximately the size of a soccer field.)

Today humanity uses the equivalent of 1.4 planets to provide the resources we use and absorb our waste. This means, it now takes the Earth one year and five months to regenerate what we use in a year. If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American we would need five planets.

It is stated that the Moderate UN scenarios suggest that if current population and consumption trends continue, by the middle of the next decade we will need the equivalent of two Earths to support us. And of course, we only have one.

Turning resources into waste faster than waste can be turned back into resources puts us in global ecological overshoot, depleting the very resources on which human life and biodiversity depend. Global overshoot occurs when humanity's demand on nature exceeds the biosphere's supply, or regenerative capacity. An overshoot leads to a depletion of Earth's life supporting natural capital and a buildup of waste. At the global level, ecological deficit and overshoot are the same, since there is no net-import of resources to the planet. Local overshoot occurs when a local ecosystem is exploited more rapidly than it can renew itself. Overshoot also contributes to resource conflicts and wars, mass migrations, famine, disease and other human tragedies—and tends to have a disproportionate impact on the poor, who cannot buy their way out of the problem by getting resources from somewhere else.

Fossil fuel; by examining the true cost of our fossil fuel dependent lifestyle and why humans tend to overexploit natural resources. American consumers and businesses already spend roughly $700 billion to $1 trillion each year on coal, oil and natural gas, and suffer the incalculable costs of pollution from fossil fuels through damage to our health and environment. If America continues along a business-as-usual energy path, U.S. fossil fuel spending is likely to grow, totaling an estimated $23 trillion between 2010 and 2030.

Results are; collapsing fisheries, diminishing forest cover, depletion of fresh water systems, and the buildup of pollution and waste, which creates problems like global climate change. These are just a few of the most noticeable effects of overshoot.

What can we do to help conserve resources and reduce our impact on the planet?

By being more conscious of our Environmental ethics. Environmental ethics is the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the value and moral status of, the environment and its nonhuman contents. The technological advancement of the human race has allowed us to become the dominant species on Earth. But it is ethically wrong to destroy the living and non-living parts of the Earth’s biosphere for the benefit of the technological advancement of human society. Even though most humans on Earth have some traces of chemicals in their body, At least we have one less concern, is that BPP is not a chemical found in human breast milk.

Managing or ecological assets is essential for humanity’s survival and success. As we have learned, the Earth provides all that we need to live and thrive. So in order to live within our means, we as individuals and institutions worldwide must begin to recognize our ecological limits. We can start by using our decision-making and use human ingenuity to find new ways to live, within the Earth’s bounds. We do this by investing in technology and infrastructure that will allow us to operate in a resource constrained world. Also, by taking individual action, and creating the public demand for businesses and policy makers to participate.

Sustainably

We must develop solutions that protect both our quality of life and the environment. Some solutions include the following:

· Organic agriculture

· Use of technology in ways to reduce consumption and pollution, by using public transportation whenever possible.

· Biodiversity - Protect species

· Waste disposal - Reduce and reuse

· Alternative fuels

· Changes in mindset and lifestyle

· Go to this website for more ideas on how to live sustainably (click on the link for “Food & Drink”, “House”, “Garden”, “Transport”, “Work”, “Recreation”, “Goods”, “Services” and “Waste”) http://www.naturalstrategies.com.au/sustainable_living_guide/sustainable_living_guide

Sustainability:

· Leaves future generations with a rich and full Earth

· Conserves the Earth’s natural resources

· Maintains fully functioning ecological systems

Through sustainable development, we can use resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability of resources.

What is being done? Global Footprint Network is pleased to announce the release of the Ecological Footprint Standards 2009. The Standards build on the first set of internationally recognized Ecological Footprint Standards, released in 2006, and include key updates – such as, for the first time, providing standards and guidelines for product and organizational Footprint assessments. National governments using the Footprint are able to:

1. Assess the value of their country’s ecological assets

2. Monitor and manage their assets

3. Identify the risks associated with ecological deficits

4. Set policy that is informed by ecological reality and makes safeguarding resources a top priority

5. Measure progress toward their goals

What the federal government, along with the states, can do to TAKE ACTION to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. They should:

* Reduce the nation’s emissions of global warming pollutants deeply enough to prevent dangerous impacts from global warming, guided by the latest scientific understanding. The United States should adopt an emissions cap and other policies that will reduce global warming pollution by 35 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and by 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, and implement strict rules for carbon “offsets” to ensure that efforts to reduce emissions are successful.

* Ensure that a cap-and-trade program used to achieve those targets directs the revenues gained through the sale of allowances for public purposes. One hundred percent of emission allowances should be auctioned, with the revenues used for investments in clean energy and to benefit consumers.

* Ensure that America generates at least 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power by 2025.

* Strengthen energy efficiency standards and codes for appliances and buildings, with the goal of reducing energy consumption in new buildings by 50 percent by 2020 and ensuring that all new buildings use zero net energy by 2030.

* Promote the development and implementation of clean transportation infrastructure, including improving the fuel economy of light- and heavy-duty vehicles, reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels, and promoting plug-in vehicles, public transportation and high-speed intercity rail.

* Ramp up investment in solar power through tax credits, specific targets in state renewable electricity standards, requirements for “solar ready homes,” rebate programs, and other measures.

* End subsidies to fossil fuel industries

No human can live on an Earth that does not function. (This is why this course is of most importance.) smile

References:

http://my.uopeople.org/mod/book/view.php?id=2191&chapterid=1700

http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/the-high-cost-of-fossil-fuels