Ecological Footprint for Management of Resources - Assignment Example

An ecological footprint is an accounting tool used in the management of resources that measures how much we use, who uses what and what quality of nature we have. Creating ecological limits when making decisions regarding our enables us to live within the limits the quiz estimates imposed on us by the planet, so that we have a planet which can sustain all of us, without causing an overshoot( George, 2006). A footprint calculator enables an individual to determine how much of nature is required to sustain their lifestyle. Ultimately we need to live a lifestyle whereby the ecosystem is able to absorb the wastes we emit, without leading to environmental degradation. The footprint calculator will be determined by the daily choices we make as individuals and communities, for example choosing to recycle, or cycling to school instead of driving. Since everything we do has consequences to our planet, we must aim to ensuring that we reduce our ecological footprint. I used the global footprint network to calculate my ecological footprint. The main steps used to calculate my ecological are broken down into four categories; carbon footprint which includes home and transport energy, food footprint, housing footprint and goods and services footprint ( Tinsley, 2006). Ecological footprint is calculated in global hectares/ acres. The quiz provides an estimation of the ocean and land that can support waste produced from consumption in the workplace, household, food, goods and services, housing and energy used in transportation. After taking the quiz, if every person lived the same lifestyle like I do, we would need 4.88 earths to live in. It is apparent that the lifestyle I live, in a small household of two, is very unsustainable, and I should do more towards ensuring sustainability of planet earth for current and future generations to be able to enjoy ecosystem goods and services like I do. Small lifestyle changes I make as an individual can go a long way to reducing my ecological footprint. Considering that I am from a developed economy, it is imperative that I reduce my ecological footprint. Such daily changes include taking public transport means rather than personal cars to work, generate less garbage, and make fewer purchases such as furniture and clothes which are not biodegradable. Part two According to estimations, in order for all organisms to survive in this planet we each need an ecological footprint of 0.8. An ecological footprint of 4.88 is very unsustainable since we only have one planet. Developed countries have larger carbon footprints compared to less developed countries, which are growing. Promotion of western civilization lifestyles, such as excess shopping, will lead to an increase in the ecological footprint. As discussed earlier, small lifestyle changes can go a long way to ensuring we make a big impact. One of the changes include buying locally produced food and less packaged foods sold in stores and supermarkets, like I currently do, to reduce the footprint. In case it is necessary to buy packaged food, then the packaging should be recyclable and of lesser quality. It is necessary to reduce the waste produced by the household by purchasing only goods needed for short periods of time, mostly a week to reduce wastage. A good example is buying goods in bulk which is usually packaged in cans and bottles, which are not degradable, and lead to pollution of the earth. Other steps to reducing my footprint include drinking tap water which is safe to drink instead of bottled water, reducing meat consumption, because the more animals are grazed to meet meat consumption, the more methane gas is released, which is a green house gas. Buying foods that are in season is good because purchasing out of season fruits and vegetables means that they have been flown in from other countries, which increases my carbon footprint. I should change the activities I engage in during my spare time to reduce my carbon footprint such as restaurants and saunas. The housing footprint is a step used in calculating the ecological footprint. Actions that can reduce emission from a household include turning off the lights when they are not in use, checking the central lighting system so that it does not run when everyone has gone to school or is at work, filling the washing machine and dish washer when it is full will save energy. Other energy saving means include hanging out the clothes rather than tumble drying and turning off appliances that are not in use (George, 2006). Some ways of saving energy are expensive initially, but they lead to conserving energy and therefore savings after a certain time, the costs incurred are able to pay for themselves. They include fitting energy saving bulbs, insulating the loft, hot water tank and walls, recycling grey water among others. Travelling means contribute significantly to my large ecological footprint. Using public means of transport such as the train and buses, instead of driving a personal car, contributes to this. Car pooling is a good idea when travelling to a place where neighbors or friends are also going to. Cycling or walking to school will lead to a major reduction in my carbon footprint, especially since the distance is not that long .Driving a car which runs on biodegradable fuel is good for the planet compared to diesel engines. Some flights are unnecessary and therefore should be avoided. It is not necessary to go all the way to school to do assignments or study, when I can do it from the comfort of my home, therefore saving fuel consumption. All this are achievable, because it starts at an individual to make a difference, no matter how small will go a long way to secure the livelihoods of future generations to enjoy environmental resources. Part three Ecological footprint is a measure of how human demands impact the earth’s ecosystem. It is measured in terms of global acres or hectares (Tinsley, 2006). It’s the amount of land and ocean area needed to supply human demand for resources and to be able to accommodate the waste produced in the process. It is possible to calculate how many earths we would require if all of us maintained a lifestyle we want. The footprint can be used to provide information on the earth’s carrying capacity and the concept of overconsumption, to change personal behavior. From the current ecological print of most countries, the current consumption levels are unsustainable. From current United Nations statistics (2007), we would need one and a half planets to sustain us. In 2007, on average each person needs about 1.8 global hectares (worldwide).The world wide fund says that the global population has exceeded the rate of supply of natural resources by 20%.The factors that are taken into consideration are; the waste generated how one lives at home, the goods and services purchased, the way a person travels and where the food we buy comes from. The resources we consume are not limited to local resources. Ecological foot print is a unit of measurement which compares populations and activities. Every activity that takes place on the earth has an impact. The impact can be big or small depending on how nature can sustain these activities. Using this information we can make wise choices on environmental use. In order to achieve sustainability, we must find a balance in finding the least impact on the environment while leading fulfilling lives at the same time. We don’t need to lose a lot of resources to lead fulfilled lives. Ecosystem services are the services we derive from the environment. These benefits are in terms of resources and processes. Ecosystem services are grouped into four categories; cultural, regulating, provisioning and supporting. These categories are broad cultural-regulation purpose regulating-controlling diseases provisioning-production of water & food, supporting-pollination. Population growth is making the demand for resources grow which impacts on the global footprint. As we know, natural resources are not infinite, and can diminish. Human activities and their impacts on the environment are becoming apparent, as the quality of air and water are increasingly being degraded. For example deforestation is causing flooding and seas are now more than ever being overfished. Environmental degradation is being witnessed because of anthropogenic causes for example, since industrialization began the amount of CO2 being released has increased by more than 30%. Ecosystem services are being threatened by human activities. Because economic activities will continue to take part in the environment its imperative that we conserve ecosystem health for present and future use. We have no other option but live within the limits of the ecosystems carrying capacity. Environmental citizenship (E.C) is a notion that all of us form a part of a bigger ecosystem and our future is hinged on us accepting the challenge and acting in a responsible and positive way towards the environment( Bell, D, 2006). It involves making changes in our daily routine in order to be considered environmental stewards; the difference is that it’s not associated with any religion, compared to the former. The idea ultimately leads to environmental citizenship. It expresses the responsibilities of businesses citizens and state and when it comes to the environment. There are several ways of engaging in environmental citizenship. They include living a green lifestyle, for example keeping waste produced in the household to a minimum. Recycling, reusing and reducing the waste we produce are the way to go, to achieve environmental sustainability. These practices will lead to a reduction in the global environmental degradation. The second way is through directly taking part in decision making in regards to the environment. We can do this by getting involved in the local process of environmental decision making. The third and definitely not the last way of being environmental citizen, is holding businesses to their responsibility in ensuring environmental protection. Industries impact greatly on the environment. When doing our household shopping, the way to go is green, for example green packaging using recyclable shopping bags. Each one of us has a right as an environmental citizen to access information and justice on environmental matters and the right to a clean and healthy environment. References 1) Tinsley, S. and George, H. (2006) Ecological Footprint of the Findhorn Foundation and Community. Sustainable Development Research Centre, UHI Millennium Institute. 2) Bell, D.(2006) Environmental Citizenship.MIT Institute, Massachusetts. Read More