Our Ecological Footprint

Author: Mathis Wackernagel
Publisher: New Society Publishers
ISBN: 086571312X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 178

Book Description
Our Ecological Footprint presents an internationally-acclaimed tool for measuring and visualizing the resources required to sustain our households, communities, regions and nations, converting the seemingly complex concepts of carrying capacity, resource-use, waste-disposal and the like into a graphic form that everyone can grasp and use. An excellent handbook for community activists, planners, teachers, students and policy makers.

Ecological Footprint

Author: Mathis Wackernagel
Publisher: New Society Publishers
ISBN: 1771423005
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 358

Book Description
The only metric that tracks how much nature we have – and how much nature we use Ecological Footprint accounting, first introduced in the 1990s and continuously developed, continues to be the only metric that compares overall human demand on nature with what our planet can renew — its biocapacity — and distils this into one number: how many Earths we use. Our economy is running a Bernie Madoff-style Ponzi scheme with the planet. We use future resources to run the present, using more than Earth can replenish. Like any such scheme, this works for a limited time, followed by a crash. Avoiding ecological bankruptcy requires rigorous resource accounting — a challenging task, but doable with the right tools. Ecological Footprint provides a complete introduction, covering: Footprint and biocapacity accounting Data and key findings for nations Worldwide examples including businesses, cities, and countries Strategies for creating regenerative economies Whether you’re a student, business leader, future-oriented city planner, economist, or have an abiding interest in humanity’s future, Footprint and biocapacity are key parameters to be reckoned with and Ecological Footprint is your essential guide. AWARDS SILVER | 2020 Eric Zencey Prize SILVER | 2019 Nautilus Book Awards: Ecology & Environment FINALIST | 2019 Foreword INDIES: Ecology & Environment

Living within a Fair Share Ecological Footprint

Author: Robert Vale
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136456074
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 342

Book Description
According to many authorities the impact of humanity on the earth is already overshooting the earth’s capacity to supply humanity’s needs. This is an unsustainable position. This book does not focus on the problem but on the solution, by showing what it is like to live within a fair earth share ecological footprint. The authors describe numerical methods used to calculate this, concentrating on low or no cost behaviour change, rather than on potentially expensive technological innovation. They show what people need to do now in regions where their current lifestyle means they are living beyond their ecological means, such as in Europe, North America and Australasia. The calculations focus on outcomes rather than on detailed discussion of the methods used. The main objective is to show that living with a reduced ecological footprint is both possible and not so very different from the way most people currently live in the west. The book clearly demonstrates that change in behaviour now will avoid some very challenging problems in the future. The emphasis is on workable, practical and sustainable solutions based on quantified research, rather than on generalities about overall problems facing humanity.

The Ecological Footprint

Author: Andrea Collins
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 0857936964
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 235

Book Description
The ecological footprint is one of the most prominent tools used to measure environmental sustainability, and its rise in academic and policy debates since the early 1990s has been remarkable. Drawing upon research and examples from around the world, t

Sharing Nature's Interest

Author: Nicky Chambers
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317972171
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 206

Book Description
Ecological footprinting is rapidly being adopted as an effective and practical way to measure our impact on the environment - in both large- and small-scale planning and development. This is an introduction to ecological footprint analysis, showing how it can be done, and how to measure the footprints of activities, lifestyles, organizations and regions. Case studies illustrate its effectiveness at national, organizational, individual and product levels.

An Analysis of Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees's Our Ecological Footprint

Author: Luca Marazzi
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351352652
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 126

Book Description
Our Ecological Footprint presents a powerful model for measuring humanity’s impact on the Earth to reduce the harm we are causing the planet before it’s too late. While some people believe we can find a middle ground between environmental conservation and economic development, or that future technological discoveries will solve the problem, the authors warn that our planet’s limited resources simply can’t support an economic system based on unlimited growth. Our Ecological Footprint offers a valuable tool to help us live more sustainably and safeguard our natural resources for generations to come.

Humanity's Footprint

Author: Walter K Dodds
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 0231513046
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 427

Book Description
For the first time in history, humans have exceeded the sustaining capacity of Earth's global ecosystems. Our expanding footprint has tremendous momentum, and the insidious explosion of human impact creates a shockwave that threatens ecosystems worldwide for decades-possibly centuries. Walter K. Dodds depicts in clear, nontechnical terms the root causes and global environmental effects of human behavior. He describes trends in population growth, resource use, and global environmental impacts of the past two centuries, such as greenhouse effects, ozone depletion, water pollution, and species extinctions and introductions. Dodds also addresses less familiar developments, such as the spread of antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria and the concentration of pesticides in the Arctic and other remote ecosystems. He identifies fundamental human activities that have irreversible effects on the environment and draws on recent social science and game theory results to explain why people use more than their share. Past behavior indicates that as resources grow scarce, humans will escalate their use of what remains instead of managing their consumption. Humanity's Footprint paints a lively but ultimately sobering picture of our environmental predicament. Dodds calls for a consilient approach to socioenvironmental restoration that draws on new thinking from across disciplines to develop sustainable solutions to global environmental problems.

Ecological Footprints

Author: Armano den Hartogh
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781685075484
Category : City planning
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
"In the present scenario of global climate change, ecological footprint analysis is necessary for the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly ways of living. This book includes five chapters that explore various aspects of ecological footprint analysis. Chapter One provides a platform that relates and compares principles oriented towards reducing environmental urban impacts through the analysis of urban form and empirical knowledge about the applicability of ecological footprint as a tool for urban planning and design. Chapter Two focuses on the societal need to keep cities livable and sustainable through appropriate waste management. Chapter Three illustrates how city authorities and residents can better understand their rate of dependence upon and impact on the environment at various scales, realize their vulnerability to overseas environmental changes, and suggest local action or policy guidelines that may increase their urban sustainability. Chapter Four explores means for reducing the lifecycle ecological footprint of residential buildings. Finally, Chapter Five includes an ecological footprint analysis of jatropha biodiesel production at low scale"--

How Bad Are Bananas?

Author: Mike Berners-Lee
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN: 1782837116
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 208

Book Description
'It is terrific. I can't remember the last time I read a book that was more fascinating and useful and enjoyable all at the same time.' Bill Bryson How Bad Are Bananas? was a groundbreaking book when first published in 2009, when most of us were hearing the phrase 'carbon footprint' for the first time. Mike Berners-Lee set out to inform us what was important (aviation, heating, swimming pools) and what made very little difference (bananas, naturally packaged, are good!). This new edition updates all the figures (from data centres to hosting a World Cup) and introduces many areas that have become a regular part of modern life - Twitter, the Cloud, Bitcoin, electric bikes and cars, even space tourism. Berners-Lee runs a considered eye over each area and gives us the figures to manage and reduce our own carbon footprint, as well as to lobby our companies, businesses and government. His findings, presented in clear and even entertaining prose, are often surprising. And they are essential if we are to address climate change.

The Ecological Footprint of Tourism

Author: Dimitrios A. Parpairis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781527596429
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
This book can be considered as a unique addition to the fields of social and environmental sciences. It adopts a methodological approach in calculating the Ecological Footprint of Tourism (TEF), through a specific case study related to the hospitality sector in Greece. The book provides useful insights on the TEF as an environmental and sustainability indicator within the ongoing energy transition and under the pressures exercised by climate change and mass tourism models. It introduces the reader to the concepts of ecological footprint, climate change, sustainable development and renewable energy governance, and their role in shaping 21st century tourism. This work will be of interest to students, academics and researchers engaged with tourism, energy, and environmental management, as well as various tourism stakeholders, as it details how to measure environmental impact and promote sustainability in tourism, through the utilization of the Ecological Footprint.