Ecological Footprints (College Board AP® Environmental Science) : Study Guide

Comparing resource use and waste production

What is an ecological footprint?

• An ecological footprint measures the impact of human activities on the environment

• It does this by calculating the amount of land, water and other resources needed to sustain a person's or population’s lifestyle

• It includes both resource consumption and waste production

  • Measured in global hectares (gha) per person

  • Accounts for food, water, energy, transportation, and waste disposal

• EFs can be used to compare the sustainability of different lifestyles, businesses, and even whole countries

  • If the EF of a lifestyle, business or country exceeds the area available to the population (also known as the biocapacity—the amount of resources that the planet can provide sustainably), it means that it is not sustainable in the long term

Resource use in ecological footprints

• High ecological footprints are associated with:

  • Greater energy consumption, especially from fossil fuels

  • Higher water usage for drinking, sanitation, and industry

  • More land use for housing, agriculture, and industry

  • Increased material consumption, such as plastics and metals

• Low ecological footprints are associated with:

  • Using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels

  • Efficient water use and water conservation efforts

  • Sustainable farming and responsible land use

  • Minimal waste production and high recycling rates

Waste production in ecological footprints

• Waste includes solid waste, carbon emissions, and wastewater

• Higher waste production results from:

  • Excessive packaging, single-use plastics, and disposable goods

  • High carbon emissions from transportation and industry

  • Poor waste management leading to pollution

• Lower waste production results from:

  • Recycling and composting to reduce landfill use

  • Energy-efficient transportation and sustainable energy use

  • Government policies that encourage waste reduction

• EFs are a useful tool for promoting sustainable development and for raising awareness about the impact of human activities on the environment