Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint

- A measure of the amount of biologically productive land and water area an individual, a population or an activity occupies, given prevailing technology. - This area includes the space to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste that has been created

What does the Calculation include?

- Carbon footprint (includes all forms of transportation) - Shelter - Diet - Water consumption - Energy consumption -Miscellaneous purchases (cloth, etc)

Renewable's Ecological Footprint: Wind

- Minimal pollution - Land Use - Birds - Noise - Aesthetics - Materials in construction

Renewable's Ecological Footprint: Solar

- Minimal pollution - Land Use -Materials in construction (including toxics)

Bioproductive Area

- The biosphere has about 11.2 billion hectares of biologically productive space - Roughly 1.8 bio productive hectares per person on the planet. - Reported 2.2 hectares used per person

Renewable's Ecological Footprint: Hydro

- Virtually Zero Emissions - Wildlife Habitat - Tradition and recreational use - Agriculture - Changes portion of river inundates - Affects flow downstream and fish habitat

Global Ecological Footprint

72% of the global population lives in countries struggling with bio capacity deficits and low income. - If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American we would need 5 planets

Ecological Footprint Projection

As the world population grows to 9.6 billion by 2050, 70% more food will be needed to be produced

Cap and Trade vs Tax

Cap and trades enable business innovation for those willing Cap and Trade's permits are allotted to business; subsequently, permit cost increase while emission allowance diminishes Total emission is eventually reduced A Carbon Tax tends to be passed to the customer and disregard business's particularities Government benefits from tax revenues

Carbon Reduction

Carbon Tax - Firm's willingness to pay tax to maintain emission levels Cap& Trade Scheme - Cap for allowable emissions is set and serves as the basis for the programme: easier to predict future emissions scenarios

Bioproductive Area: Deserts

Deserts are only second to tropical rainforests in the variety of plants and animals that live there - Renewable energy - Agricultural Development

Food Miles vs Carbon Footprint

Food miles do not necessitate higher carbon footprint -Larger bulk shipping as a lower ton/carbon that alternative - Energy source and requirement fluctuate with regions Carbon Footprint doesn't capture social benefits

Command and Control Policy

Government intervention

Renewable Energy

Hydro Solar Wind Geothermal Tidal and Wave Biomass

Nuclear Energy

Low GHG compared to alternatives However, need to consider entire fuel cycle - Uranium mining and milling - Uranium refining - Conversion and fuel fabrication - Waste fuel management

BC's Clean Energy Act (2012)

Maintains self-sufficiency requirement Strengthens clean and renewable requirements from 90% to 93% Reduce the amount of energy needed by about 4,200 - 4,500 GWh

Bioproductive Area: Freshwater

Majority of total freshwater on Earth, about 68.7% is held in icecaps and glaciers

Reliability

Renewable energy sources tend to have low reliability They myst be supplemented with base capacity, storage, or other mechanisms to address internittency

Diet's Ecological Footprint

The vegetarian meal has 37%-56% lower total energy budget relative to meat-based meals. -However 46% larger impact for the organic relative to the non-organic version of the meat-based meal