But what is exactly the ecological footprint? An indicator of how much resource we utilize in a year in comparison to what the Earth can produce again. Global Footprint Network’s methodology assesses resource consumption by area.

To be more precise though: the ecological footprint can be broken down into six parts. The carbon footprint expresses the forest area that could absorb the greenhouse gases emitted by people through heating and car use. This is the size of the space used to house animals farmed for meat, dairy products, wool, and hides. The forest footprint, which is the estimated area based on annual wood, paper, and firewood consumption, is a part of the ecological footprint. The fisheries footprint, another significant unit of measurement, is the value of the reproduction of various marine and freshwater fish species. The area under crops grown for human consumption, livestock feed, and the generation of biofuels, known as the “”field footprint,”” must be included in the calculation. Built-up areas are also included; these are the areas of land required for buildings, transportation, and other types of infrastructure.

It would be challenging to quantify certain forms of pollution in terms of area, such as microplastics, harmful compounds released into streams, or animals that are close to extinction. Due to this, the ecological footprint is not a precise and comprehensive representation of all the negative environmental effects of our way of life, but it is one of the most effective metrics that scientists have developed to date to sum up the effects of mankind on the planet in a single number.

Therefore, a person’s ecological footprint is made up of these six components. Download the WWF’s Léptem app for guidance in a clear style on how much you consume precisely and how to cut back.

When our need for resources surpasses the amount of biocapacity, a renewable resource that is readily available, we speak of overconsumption. All fertile, biologically active land and marine environments are included in the definition of biocapacity; hence, deserts, glaciers, and open oceans are not taken into account.

Whereas 60 years ago, in 1961, we utilized just 73% of the available biocapacity in a year, or 0.73 Earth, 30 years ago, in 1991, our consumption exceeded the biocapacity by 30%, and in 2017 by 73%, implying that we have exceeded the 1961 consumption by exactly one Earth in 60 years.

However, how is it possible to consume more than what is offered? When we use more than our biocapacity allows, the planet’s resources and wildlife are unable to regenerate themselves as quickly. To put it another way, we consume resources that are limited, like if we could only charge our phone’s battery 10% each night and consume 15% throughout the day. Undoubtedly, the battery would be entirely drained after a few days.

Avoiding excessive consumption won’t be enough to keep climate change under control; instead, we must nearly entirely erase our carbon footprint, which makes up 60% of our overall footprint. We must all step out of our comfort zones and contribute in order to accomplish this. In the tangle of daily life, this is no simple undertaking, and we wish to assist with the WWF Léptem app. Change begins with a decision, so get going!