ecoc:eco_carbon_footprints

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
ecoc:eco_carbon_footprints [2026/03/26 19:13] – [Biocapacity] Katja Durraniecoc:eco_carbon_footprints [2026/03/26 19:13] (current) – [What are eco & carbon footprints?] Katja Durrani
Line 35: Line 35:
  
 Humanity’s footprint represents our demands on the Earth versus its ability to supply what we need. This ability is known as biological capacity or ‘biocapacity’ (see below). Humanity’s footprint represents our demands on the Earth versus its ability to supply what we need. This ability is known as biological capacity or ‘biocapacity’ (see below).
-> ==== Biocapacity ====+> ### Biocapacity
 >  > 
 > The biocapacity of a nation or a region is the total productivity of all its ecological assets (cropland, grazing land, forest land, fishing grounds, built-up land, etc.). As well as providing resources, these areas, especially if left unharvested, also absorb much of the pollution we create, especially carbon emissions. Obviously not all countries are equal - some have lots of rainforest but little arable land, while others have a lot of desert and not much else – so the biocapacity of a particular country is calculated as an average, as if all hectares on the Earth’s surface were equally productive. Biocapacity can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing useful land area, changing the way we manage it; but also consumption and/or population. Biocapacity (as calculated by the Global Footprint Network and based on UN data for some 150 nations) doesn’t include data on soil depletion or the ability of the oceans to absorb carbon dioxide or plastic pollution (oceans lie outside national boundaries). So it may be that the Earth’s biocapacity and our ecological footprint are actually underestimated. > The biocapacity of a nation or a region is the total productivity of all its ecological assets (cropland, grazing land, forest land, fishing grounds, built-up land, etc.). As well as providing resources, these areas, especially if left unharvested, also absorb much of the pollution we create, especially carbon emissions. Obviously not all countries are equal - some have lots of rainforest but little arable land, while others have a lot of desert and not much else – so the biocapacity of a particular country is calculated as an average, as if all hectares on the Earth’s surface were equally productive. Biocapacity can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing useful land area, changing the way we manage it; but also consumption and/or population. Biocapacity (as calculated by the Global Footprint Network and based on UN data for some 150 nations) doesn’t include data on soil depletion or the ability of the oceans to absorb carbon dioxide or plastic pollution (oceans lie outside national boundaries). So it may be that the Earth’s biocapacity and our ecological footprint are actually underestimated.
  • ecoc/eco_carbon_footprints.1774552395.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/26 19:13
  • by Katja Durrani