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Science

Ecological Footprint and Sustainability

Overview

Students explore the concept of ecological footprints as a measure of human demand on natural systems, and evaluate the science and politics of sustainability.

Learning Objective
Students understand what an ecological footprint is, can calculate a rough estimate of their own, and can evaluate strategies for reducing unsustainable resource use.

Resources needed

  • None — or printed ecological footprint questionnaires

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Ask: what resources do you use today — food, water, energy, land? Where do they come from?
  2. 2 Introduce ecological footprint: the total area of land and water needed to produce the resources a person uses and absorb the waste they produce.
  3. 3 The global average footprint: approximately 2.7 global hectares per person. Earth's biocapacity is about 1.6 global hectares per person. We are currently using 1.7 Earths.
  4. 4 Estimate your own footprint: food (meat vs plant-based has a huge impact), transport (car, plane, bicycle), energy (renewable vs fossil), goods and services.
  5. 5 Discuss the drivers of footprint: income, culture, and infrastructure matter more than individual choices in many cases.
  6. 6 Introduce the concept of sustainable yield: using resources no faster than they are naturally replenished.
  7. 7 Discuss: is it fair to ask people in low-income countries to limit their development to reduce the global footprint?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Calculate the carbon footprint of different diets — compare a meat-heavy diet with a plant-based diet.
  • Debate: individual action vs systemic change — which is more effective at reducing ecological footprints?
  • Research one country's ecological footprint and the main factors driving it.
More information

Teach: ecological footprint, biocapacity, overshoot, sustainability, carbon footprint, yield, systemic. The distinction between individual and systemic drivers of unsustainability is the key analytical challenge.

Focus on the concept of the ecological footprint and the key individual factors before introducing political and equity dimensions.

Can students explain what an ecological footprint measures and why the global total is unsustainable? Can they identify two factors that most significantly affect an individual's footprint?

The ecological footprint questionnaire can be completed verbally without printed materials. The discussion requires no resources.

Students often think recycling and turning off lights are the most significant actions an individual can take. Diet (especially meat reduction) and aviation have far larger impacts. Evidence-based thinking about relative impact is the key skill.

Ecological footprint analysis connects environmental science to economics, politics, and ethics. It provides a quantitative framework for discussing sustainability that goes beyond vague exhortations to be green.

Activity details
Secondary Medium 25 minutes no prep Whole Class, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Ecological Footprint Sustainability Carrying Capacity