Dr. Mathis Wackernagel

Plattform Footprint – 10. Jänner 2008

Der ökologische Fussabdruck:

Vom Labor der Wissenschaft zu weltweiten Anwendungen

Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors

Metabolism like a cow

Bioproductive segments

18% Biologically Productive Land

11%Deserts, Ice Caps and Barren Land

67% Low-ProductivityOcean

4%BiologicallyProductive Ocean

Bioproductive Segments

22%

How much “nature” is available?

With 6.3 billion people (2003)

Global average availability of bioproductive land + sea area

= 1.8 global hectares/person

Footprint components

Fossil Fuel Built-up Waste Food Fibres absorption

Human Demand (Ecological Footprint) Ecological Supply (Biocapacity)

Footprint Areas for: Biocapacity Areas:

Growing Crops 0.49 Crop land 0.53

Grazing Animals 0.14 Grazing land 0.27

Settlements & infrastructure0.08 Built-up area 0.08

Producing timber & fuelwood0.23 Forest 0.78

Absorbing excess CO2 1.14

Harvesting Fish 0.15 Fishing Grounds 0.14

Total Global Demand2.2 Total Global Supply 1.8

Die Globale ökologische Bilanz (in global hectares/person, 2003 data)

Demand

Exceeds

Supply

By

25%

>

Data for 2003 Eco-Footprint Biocapacity [global ha/cap] [global ha/cap]

Canada 7.6 14.5 China 1.6 0.8 Germany 4.5 1.7 Italy 4.2 1.0 Japan 4.4 0.7 Russia 4.4 6.9 United Arab Emirates 11.9 0.8 US 9.6 4.7

WORLD 2.2 1.8

Benefits of “Ecological Footprint thinking”:

• You can explain decision-makers the challenge: a complex, ecologically constrained world

• You can more easily communicate benefits of aggressive sustainability policies

• You can identify risks, new markets, and opportunities

How doesGlobal Footprint

Network operate?

• Non-profit research institute with 75+ partner organizations (academia, gov orgs, businesses, NGOs)

• Scientific forum for addressing the resource accounting question

• Standardization (www.footprintstandards.org)

• Ten-in-Ten goal (10 countries by 2015)

Ten-in-Ten Candidates

Six Pioneer Countries

SwitzerlandJapan

United Arab EmiratesBelgium

EcuadorFrance

Looking into the Future

Global Context for the Coming Decades

UN’s most moderate scenario

Is there enough natural capital to liquidate for a Moderate Business-as-Usual Path?

Bill

ion

2003

glo

bal h

ecta

res

24

12

Slow Things FirstMap Lifespan of People, Assets and

Infrastructure against Time Spans of Biosphere

Long-term waste

Calgary

“London First”: What is the potential for reduction? Which technologies would be needed?

• Total London Ecological Footprint = 50 million gha• Possible to reduce London’s Ecological Footprint by

between 20 & 25 million global average hectares (gha)

London Remade with WSP Environmental, Global Footprint Network

Building Momentum: The Footprint of an Australian General Retailer

Footprint for Waste Management

(INVESTMENT)

Recuperated Footprint from Waste

(RETURN)

potential

actual

Foo

tprin

t (g

ha)

Bigger Footprint for Solution Providers E.g.: Waste Management as Investment

Eco

log

ical

Fo

otp

rin

t (g

ha

per

per

son

)

HDI

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

gha

per

capi

taNiger's Footprint

Niger's Biocapacity

World Biocapacity

Niger in the face of climate change

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

gha

per

capi

taAfrica's Footprint

Africa's Biocapacity

World Biocapacity

AfricaIf you were their Executive Council?

GAP BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL

DEMAND AND SUPPLY

x = ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT (DEMAND)POPULATION CONSUMPTION RESOURCE

INTENSITY

x

=BIOCAPACITY

(SUPPLY)

x

AREABIO-

PRODUCTIVITY

Winning together! New Applications?

Collaboration?

Partnership?

www.footprintnetwork.org

info@footprintnetwork.org