1www.asu.edu/asu101Calculating Your Ecological FootprintSustainability, Part 2Presenter Name, Ph.D.Presenter TitleArizona State University© 2007 Arizona State UniversityBy the end of this activity, you will be able to• define the concept of an ecological footprint.• list those things in your daily life that contribute the most to the size of your footprint.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityWhat do people need?• All humans need basic things for their material and physical well-being– Air– Food– Water– ShelterAdapted from http://www.rprogress.org/© 2007 Arizona State UniversityHow do people meet these needs?• In general, we produce these necessities from resources that are extracted from the earth• In the process, we create waste streams that flow back into our environment.http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/default.asp© 2007 Arizona State UniversityProducts and the Environment• At first glance, the relationship between products and the environment may seem clear, BUT….http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/default.asp© 2007 Arizona State UniversityLet’s consider a simple french fry.• What impact does it have?2© 2007 Arizona State UniversityHow did the fry get to Bob’s Burger Shop?ProducerDistribution CenterProcessing PlantSuppliersBob’s Burger ShopTruckTruckTruckTruckhttp://www.rprogress.org/© 2007 Arizona State UniversityWhat impact did its journey have?ProducerDistribution CenterProcessing PlantSuppliersBob’s Burger ShopTruckTruckTruckTruckFossil FuelsFossil FuelsFreezerFertilizersPesticidesMachineryHydropowerFossil FuelsMachineryFossil FuelsPackagingHydroflourocarbonsIrrigationHydropowerFreezerFood wasteMachineryFossil FuelsFossil FuelsFossil FuelsHydroelectric damFossil FuelsAnimal FeedIrrigationSeedshttp://www.rprogress.org/© 2007 Arizona State UniversityWhat impact did these impacts have?RunoffAirPollutionLoss ofBiodiversitySolidWasteAirPollutionFossil FuelsFossil FuelsFreezerFertilizersPesticidesTruckTruckMachineryHydropowerTruckFossil FuelsMachineryFossil FuelsDamage To OzonePackagingHydroflourocarbonsIrrigationHydropowerFreezerFood wasteMachineryProducerDistribution CenterProcessing PlantSuppliersFossil FuelsFossil FuelsFossil FuelsTruckHydroelectric damLoss ofBiodiversityFossil FuelsAnimal FeedLoss ofBiodiversityIrrigationSeedsFossil FuelsBob’s Burger ShopAirPollutionhttp://www.rprogress.org/© 2007 Arizona State UniversityHow might all of this affect the earth’s systems?RunoffAirPollutionLoss ofBiodiversitySolidWasteAirPollutionFossil FuelsFossil FuelsFreezerFertilizersPesticidesTruckTruckMachineryHydropowerTruckFossil FuelsMachineryFossil FuelsDamage To OzonePackagingHydroflourocarbonsForestsIrrigationForestsBuilt-up LandGrazing LandForestsRiverCroplandHydropowerFreezerFood wasteMachineryProducerDistribution CenterProcessing PlantSuppliersBob’s Burger ShopFossil FuelsFossil FuelsFossil FuelsTruckHydroelectric damLoss ofBiodiversityFossil FuelsBuilt-up LandAnimal FeedLoss ofBiodiversityIrrigationSeedsAirPollutionForestshttp://www.rprogress.org/© 2007 Arizona State UniversityAnd that was just the potato!• Consider all the other parts of your meal– the other foods– the utensils– the napkins– the condiments– the drinks…• There are multiple environmental impacts involved in these as well.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityThere are social impacts, too.• Who did the work that brought the food to your table?• Under what conditions did they work?3© 2007 Arizona State UniversityEvery choice we make has an impact on the planet.• An ecological footprint is a tool to measure our environmental impact. – It tracks how much individuals, organizations, cities, regions, or nations as a whole consume and compares this amount to the resources nature can provide.http://www.footprintnetwork.org© 2007 Arizona State UniversityHow big is your footprint?• There are currently about 6.7 billionpeople on the earth. • Do you believe that the planet has the capability to support your lifestyle for everyone?© 2007 Arizona State UniversityLet’s find out!• In the following activity, you will be guided through a series of questions that will be used to estimate your ecological footprint.• After you have completed the Quiz, you will record the result and then take the quiz twice more, making modifications as directed.Select the link above to take the quiz. When you’re done, close the pop-up window and return to this websiteClick here to begin.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityResults - Your Current Lifestyle• According to this website, if everyone lived like me, we would need _________ planets to support humanity.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityWhat if you made some simple changes?• Repeat the survey, but this time answer the questions hypothetically, based on modifications that you could easily make in your current lifestyle to reduce your ecological footprint.Select the link above to take the quiz a second time. When you’re done, close the pop-up window and return to this websiteClick here to begin.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityResults - With Simple Changes• According to this website, if If I attempted to reduce my ecological footprint by making a few easy changes in my lifestyle, we would need _________ planets to support humanity.4© 2007 Arizona State UniversityWhat if you made some difficult changes?• Repeat the survey one last time, based on modifications that you could theoretically make, but that would be very difficult for you, or would represent a substantial change from the way you live now.Select the link above to take the quiz a final time. When you’re done, close the pop-up window and return to this websiteClick here to begin.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityResults - With Difficult Changes• According to this website, if If I attempted to reduce my ecological footprint by making substantial changes in my lifestyle, we would need _________ planets to support humanity.© 2007 Arizona State UniversityHow you compare…You Now = 7.6 EarthsYou With Simple Changes: 7.2 EarthsYou With Difficult Changes: 5.1 EarthsAverage North American: 5.3 Earths© 2007 Arizona State UniversityReflection• What about your current lifestyle do you believe causes the greatest impact?• Are you likely to make changes in your lifestyle in order to reduce your ecological footprint? – Why or why not?© 2007 Arizona State UniversityRemember--• There are many different types of ecological footprint
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