The The Ecological Ecological Footprint Footprint

By Chantal, Katharina, By Chantal, Katharina, Johanna and PatrickJohanna and Patrick

Ostendorf-Gymnasium Ostendorf-Gymnasium LippstadtLippstadt

GermanyGermany

What is an ecological What is an ecological footprint?footprint?

• Our ‘footprint’ or impact on the Earth’s Our ‘footprint’ or impact on the Earth’s ecosystemsecosystems

• Tells us whether we are using our resources Tells us whether we are using our resources faster than our planet can regenerate them and faster than our planet can regenerate them and if we are using them correctlyif we are using them correctly

• Aims to achieve a world where all people have Aims to achieve a world where all people have a satisfying life for which the environment does a satisfying life for which the environment does not have to pay fornot have to pay for

How is an ecological How is an ecological footprint calculated?footprint calculated?

• Measures: Measures: 1. 1. Land and sea area needed to produce Land and sea area needed to produce the the resources we consume (food, clothes, resources we consume (food, clothes, fuel, fuel, building materials etc.)building materials etc.)2. 2. How much land and water is needed to How much land and water is needed to deal with the waste we produce through deal with the waste we produce through our our consumption (e.g. consumption (e.g. COCO22 and rubbish) and rubbish) 3. 3. Carbon footprint: all carbon dioxide and Carbon footprint: all carbon dioxide and

other greenhouse gases emitted from other greenhouse gases emitted from our our products and activitiesproducts and activities

•Shows us how badly we are damaging our Shows us how badly we are damaging our planetplanet

•Current status: over-consumption or ‘overshoot’Current status: over-consumption or ‘overshoot’– Overusing natural resources (forests, fisheries etc.)Overusing natural resources (forests, fisheries etc.)– Not sustainable for long-term: we will run out of Not sustainable for long-term: we will run out of

resources eventuallyresources eventually– Clearly demonstrates ecological limitsClearly demonstrates ecological limits

•To maintain our current lifestyle we would need To maintain our current lifestyle we would need at least at least threethree planet Earths to support us! planet Earths to support us!

Why is the ecological Why is the ecological footprint so important?footprint so important?

Our SurveyOur Survey

Question 1:Question 1:

What best What best describes your describes your

diet?diet?

What best describes your What best describes your diet?diet? Germany

11%

18%

46%

25%

0%

vegan

vegetarian

omnivore

carnivore

top ot the chain food

Belgium

12%

8%

36%

24%

20%

vegan

vegetarian

omnivore

carnivore

top ot the chain food

Sweden

2%

3%

15%

33%

47%

veganvegetarianomnivorecarnivoretop ot thechain food

0% 5%

37%

23%

35%

Finnland

veganvegetarianomnivorecarnivoretop ot the chain food

What best describes your What best describes your diet?diet?Poland

0% 10%

53%

20%

17%

vegan

vegetarian

omnivore

carnivore

top ot the chain food

Italian

0%4%

81%

11%

4%

vegan

vegetarian

omnivore

carnivore

top ot the chain food

Spain

2% 5%

45%

20%

28%

vegan

vegetarian

omnivore

carnivore

top ot the chain food

Netherlands

4% 6%

63%

0%

27%

vegan

vegetarian

omnivore

carnivore

top ot the chain food

Question 2:Question 2:

How often do you How often do you select food that is select food that is certified organic?certified organic?

How often do you select How often do you select food that is certified food that is certified

organic?organic?

Question 3:Question 3:

What kind of food What kind of food is available at is available at your school?your school?

What kind of food is What kind of food is available at your school?available at your school?

Question 4:Question 4:

What do you use to What do you use to bring food from bring food from home to school?home to school?

What do you use to bring What do you use to bring food from home to school?food from home to school?

Question 5:Question 5:

How often do you buy How often do you buy new things to new things to

replace old ones?replace old ones?

(eg. Computer,mobile (eg. Computer,mobile phone)phone)

How often do you buy new How often do you buy new things to replace old ones?things to replace old ones?

(eg. Computer,mobile (eg. Computer,mobile phone)phone)

How often do you buy new How often do you buy new things to replace old ones?things to replace old ones?

(eg. Computer,mobile (eg. Computer,mobile phone)phone)

Question 6:Question 6:

How much time do How much time do you spend using you spend using

electronic devices?electronic devices?(eg. TV, Ipod, computer)(eg. TV, Ipod, computer)

How much time do you How much time do you spend using electronic spend using electronic

devices?devices?(eg. TV, Ipod, computer)(eg. TV, Ipod, computer)

How can you reduce your How can you reduce your Ecological Footprint?Ecological Footprint?

How can you reduce your How can you reduce your ecological footprint? ecological footprint?

• Reduce your waste (food, toiletries, electronic Reduce your waste (food, toiletries, electronic products etc.)products etc.)

• Buy locally produced organic food as much as Buy locally produced organic food as much as possiblepossible

• Try growing your own fruit, vegetables and Try growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbsherbs

• Switch to a vegetarian diet – doing this just Switch to a vegetarian diet – doing this just twice a week can reduce your footprint!twice a week can reduce your footprint!

• Make your home energy efficient (insulation, Make your home energy efficient (insulation, energy-saving globes, solar power, water tank energy-saving globes, solar power, water tank etc.) etc.)

• Turn down your thermostat (even just 1 Turn down your thermostat (even just 1 degree helps)degree helps)

• Don’t drive if there is an alternative – use Don’t drive if there is an alternative – use public transport, cycle or walk as much as public transport, cycle or walk as much as possible (remember this is good for your possible (remember this is good for your health too – another benefit!)health too – another benefit!)

• If a car is necessary it should be a small one If a car is necessary it should be a small one that is fuel efficient or electric and always try that is fuel efficient or electric and always try to reduce your mileageto reduce your mileage

• Instead of flying, go on holidays within your Instead of flying, go on holidays within your own country and go by train instead of plane own country and go by train instead of plane within Europewithin Europe

• Instead of buying new things all the time buy Instead of buying new things all the time buy them second-hand or even just borrow themthem second-hand or even just borrow them

• Recycle everythingRecycle everything

How can you reduce your How can you reduce your ecological footprint (cont.)? ecological footprint (cont.)?

Sources:Sources:• http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/static/faq• http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/

index.php/GFN/page/footprint_basics_overview/

• http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/changing_the_way_we_live/cities/top_ten_ways_to_reduce_your_ecological_footprint.cfm

• http://www.footprintnetwork.org

Thanks for listening Thanks for listening