ecological footprint
Resource consumption measure
Ecological footprint measures the environmental impact of a person, organization, or activity—specifically, how much land and water would be needed to sustain resource consumption and absorb waste.
The concept gained currency alongside carbon footprint in environmental discourse: What's your ecological footprint?
The average American's ecological footprint far exceeds that of someone in Bangladesh.
Elimination of living spaces
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
overfishing · acidification · desertification · erosion · degradation · sea level rise · melting glaciers · ozone depletion
Go beyond intended point
- carrying capacityPopulation an environment sustains
- hectaresMetric land measurements
- land useHow terrain is allocated
- per capitaFor each individual
Self-replenishing natural power
- solarOf the star
- windAir current outdoors
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
composting · circular economy · zero waste · sustainable development · efficiency · sufficiency · organic · permaculture
Excessive use of resources
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
- energyPower to do work
- waterClear essential liquid
- foodConsumable nourishment source
materials · goods · electronics · clothing · meat · dairy · plastics · packaging
Emissions that trap heat
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- CO2Carbon dioxide formula
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
methane · climate change · global warming · combustion · transportation · aviation · agriculture · livestock
habitat loss
Elimination of living spaces
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
extinction · overfishing · acidification · desertification · erosion · degradation · sea level rise · melting glaciers · ozone depletion · resource depletion
overshoot
Go beyond intended point
- carrying capacityPopulation an environment sustains
- hectaresMetric land measurements
- land useHow terrain is allocated
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- solarOf the star
- windAir current outdoors
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
recycling · composting · circular economy · zero waste · sustainable development · efficiency · sufficiency · organic · permaculture · ethical sourcing
overconsumption
Excessive use of resources
food · materials · goods · electronics · clothing · meat · dairy · plastics · packaging · waste
greenhouse gases
Emissions that trap heat
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- CO2Carbon dioxide formula
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
fossil fuels · methane · climate change · global warming · combustion · transportation · aviation · agriculture · livestock · carbon cycle
- environmentair pollution, clean air, biosphere, air quality, climate
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- environmentalismconservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism, conservationist
- sustainabilityreduce, reuse, recycle, sustainable yield, recycling programs
- Human Impacthuman impact, climate change, global warming, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction
- land usezoning ordinances, suburban sprawl, land management, arable land, industrial
ecological footprintenvironmental restoration
Repairing degraded natural systems
ecosystem restoration · ecological restoration · rewilding · carbon sequestration
ecological footprintcarbon sequestration
Removing and storing atmospheric CO2
carbon offset · ecosystem restoration · carrying capacity · ecological reserve · net zero
ecological footprintcarbon neutrality
Emissions balanced by offsets
sustainable living · degrowth · frugality · minimalism · asceticism
footprint, carbon footprint, footprints, ecology, ecological, eco-friendly, ecologist, ecologically, ecologists