WE ONLY HAVE ONE PLANET - Ecological Footprint!

With the earth’s population at more than 6 billion, human impact on the earth is causing serious environmental problems. Who is responsible and what can be done to insure a sustainable future for our planet?

Scientists have developed a tool for measuring our impact on the environment by studying an individual’s daily use of water, transportation, energy, and food, as well as a person’s daily garbage production. A mathematical formula is then used to calculate how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resource it consumes and to absorb its wastes, using prevailing technology. This measure is called an ecological footprint and has emerged as the world’s premier measure of humanity’s demand on nature.

You can calculate your Footprint in order to see your impact on the earth’s systems and resources. Then you can compare footprints between countries to see who uses more of the earth to sustain their lifestyle.

Once you know your impact, you can begin to find real solutions to environmental problems caused by overuse of the earth’s finite resources. These solutions will be things individuals can do at home, work, and school to help conserve the earth and insure a sustainable future.

Calculate Your Footprint:

- http://www.zerofootprintkids.com/kids_calc.aspx?q_id=12 (Zero Footprints: Calculator For Kids)

- http://www.myfootprint.org/en/visitor_information/ (Calculator by Redefining Progress)