Ecological Footprint
Definition of Ecological Footprint
The impact or effect we have on Earth
Looks at what we use & throw away compared to how fast Earth can regenerate these resources
Can be measured in Number of Earths or Global Hectares
What is unsustainability?
To use a resource in a way that it is used up or permanently damaged and isn’t available for future generations.
Who is the Lorax?
Guardian of the forests, he speaks for the trees
What is a tragedy of the commons?
When something bad happens to a shared resource
Do all people have an ecological footprint? Explain
Yes, we all use resources from this planet so we all have an impact on Earth
What is the average American's ecological footprint measured in # of Earth's?
5
What does it mean to live within your means, environmentally?
Only using the resources Earth has to give you. Living like we have 1 Earth.
What was the main tragedy of the commons in The Lorax?
Deforestation
How were the events that occurred on Easter Island a tragedy of the commons?
They cut down all the trees which is a common resource that everyone needs and was eventually gone hurting everybody.
What does it mean when you repurpose something?
To adapt for use in a different way. Taking one thing and reusing it as something else.
What is overshoot day and when is/was Earth's overshoot day for 2021?
The day of the year your share of Earth’s resources have been used up for that year.
July 29th
What is a way that humans can practice sustainable forestry so that it does not lead to deforestation?
cutting down only some trees, leaving others, waiting for more to regenerate or protecting and planting new trees
What did the Once-ler mean when he said: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." ?
Unless someone like you inspires people to care about the trees, the air, the water, the animals then these resources and species are going to continue to be polluted or destroyed.
Explain how Ocean Garbage Gyres or "Garbage Island in the ocean" is a tragedy of the commons? What can we do about it to stop adding to that pile of garbage?
Garbage collecting in the middle of the ocean from our trash is polluting and destroying our environment and sea creatures habitat and their health. What we can do to decrease our contribution to this garbage collection is buy less stuff so we throw out less.
What does it mean to upcycle something?
Taking something and making it better. It’s the reuse of an item that will still be used in the same way – but it looks new and improved.
What are food miles and how can you reduce your food miles?
How far food travels to get from place of origin to the consumer. When food travels by ship or truck it is polluting. The further it travels the more it pollutes
What are the 3 sectors of sustainable development?
Environmental - being good stewards of the environment
Social - improving human rights
Economic - allowing for economic growth to continue
How was Mr. O'Hare benefitting from the tragedy of all the trees being cut down in The Lorax?
Because he knew outside the walls of Sneedville the air was not clean, he was creating and selling fresh air and making money off it
How is the Gulf of Mexico dead zone a tragedy of the commons?
Fertilizer from farmers crops are washing away or being dumped into the Mississippi River and flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. This is promoting lots of algae growth which is taking more oxygen out of the water and killing tons of fish.
What are some ways to prevent a tragedy of the commons?
*Any of these answers are correct*
• Communication between users
• Educating people about the resource and its use and the dangers of the “tragedy of the commons”
• Membership or fees be paid to reduce usage
• Restrict number of users
• Partnership between users
• Offering incentives for sustainable resource use
• Punishment for over consumption
• Give ownership of the resource to the government
• Joint ownership by individuals
• Governmental regulations or laws that must be enforced
What is Biocapacity?
The ability of an ecosystem to provide and regenerate the resources that people demand and absorb the waste they produce. If a population’s Ecological Footprint exceeds the region’s biocapacity, that region runs a biocapacity deficit.
Give a real world example of something that humans/Americans do that is unsustainable
*Answers could vary*
Explain how the Once-ler not only created a tragedy of the commons but also hurt himself (his business) in the process because of his greed?
The Once-ler cut down all the trees, ruined the habitat for the Barb-a-loots, pumped fumes in the air creating smog and hurting the Swomee Swans, and dumped chemicals into the water polluting that and hurting the Humming Fish's habitat. He also hurt himself in the process because by cutting down all the trees at once for his Thneed's he didn't leave enough time for others trees to regenerate nor did he plant seeds to grow more trees and eventually ran out of his resource and his business crumbled.
Similar to our oil spill lab, a real world example of this happening was the BP oil spill that happened nearly a decade ago. Explain how that was a tragedy of the commons.
This hurt or killed many species and destroyed habitat, which is bad and it occurred in the ocean, which is a shared resource.
What is global hectares?
A Unit used to measure biologically productive land and sea - land that can provide food, water, shelter, etc. for us. Equal to 2.471 acres