Topic 3: Ecological footprint of the Institute’s excursion to Colombia

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Ecological Footprint (EF) and Biocapacity• The EF is a measure of how much biologically productive land and water an

individual, population or activity requires to produce all the resources it consumes and to absorb the waste it generates using prevailing technology and resource management practices.

• Biocapacity is a measure of an area’s biological productivity. It encompasses all land, even that which is not used – whether for reasons of geography, economics or conservation. A region’s biocapacity grows when productivity per unit of area or the productive areas increase.

• EF and Biocapacity are usually measured in global hectares => One global hectare is equal to one hectare with a productivity equal to the average productivity of the biologically productive hectares on Earth.

• EF standards -> to ensure that Footprint assessments are produced consistently and according to community-proposed best practices. The Standards are applicable to all Footprint studies, including subnational populations, products, and organizations

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Ecological Footprint

Source: footprintnetwork

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

“Carbon Footprint”

• The term “carbon footprint” is often used as shorthand for the amount of carbon (usually in tonnes of carbon dioxide) being emitted by an activity or organization = ‘carbon weight’

• In the ‘Ecological Footprint Concept’, ‘footprints’ are spatial indicators (global hectars), i.e. the amount of carbon dioxide has to be translated into the amount of productive land and sea area required to sequester carbon dioxide.

• As such, the full Carbon Footprint, is one piece of the total Ecological Footprint.

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Ecological and Carbon Footprint

Source: footprintnetwork

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Ecological Creditors and Debtors

Source: footprintnetwork

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Ecological Footprint Switzerland vs. Colombia

Switzerland Colombia

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Ecological Footprint Switzerland vs. Colombia

Switzerland Colombia

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

General approach of EF Analysis

1. Definition of the system / Definition of the system boundaries

2. Collection of data -> baseline (standards)

3. Calculation of EF -> methods (standards)

4. Analysis of EF

Seminar of the excursion to Colombia – Topic 3 21 October 2009

Integrated Analysis Colombia excursion

• How can the system boundaries for the ‘Colombia excursion’ be defined, including ecological (“EF”), but also social and economical aspects ?

• What data is needed (and accessible) and what methods are available to assess the excursion’s ecological (“EF”), social & economic impacts? What is the ecological impact of the excursion according to the above definitions?

• How can the “EF” be related to social and economical impacts?

-> Collaboration with Group 4 and IP !!!