The Ecological-Footprint

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The Ecological-Footprint is the work of the Stockholm Environment Institute as part of the Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP). It is a means of measuring how much environmental impact an area makes as a result of the people who live and work there. Globally, the average Ecological Footprint is 2.2 hectares per person, whilst on average there is only 1.8 hectares of biologically productive surface for each of us on earth (the Biocapacity). In other words, the global Ecological Footprint is larger than the available productive land. This is called overshoot and is the result of the use of natural resources more quickly than they can replenish.

In the UK, the footprint is larger, at 5.4 hectares (one of the largest 15 footprints in the world). This is despite UK residents having a biocapacity of jut 3.3 hectares. The USA has the largest footprint of any country, at nearly 10 hectares per person.

In Worcestershire, the the Ecological Footprint is 5.53 hectares yet there are only 0.32 hectares per person in the County. The graph below shows the Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity for all districts in Worcestershire, along with the County, national and global figures.

The Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity of Worcestershire