Ecological Footprint Definition

2) Biocapacity is the ability of the natural ecosystem to renew what people demand from it. Human demands include agricultural output as well as the ability for the ecosystem to absorb the waste that is generated by humans. Ecological Footprint on the other hand is how much area of biologically productive land and water is required per individual to produce all of the resources it consumes and to absorb the waste it generates. The biocapacity of a region is likely to change over time for many reasons. The first could be a change in climate. The more productive land is, the higher the biocapacity of the area is. With the effects of global warming, this is likely to diminish the biocapacity of regions over time as harsher climates make land less …show more content…
In regards to social factors, the wealthier a nation is, the higher its Ecological Footprint will likely be. With more money to spend, citizens of these wealthier countries have the means to buy more environmentally intensive products that increase Ecological Footprint. For example, these countries are more likely to buy automotives than a poorer country. Since automotives require much more land to produce, from steel mining for the chassis to cattle herding for leather, the Ecological Footprint of the wealthier nation will increase dramatically. Socially, the Footprint is affected by the the values of citizens in respective nations. If the citizens value ecological conservation, buying products produced locally and sustainably, the Ecological Footprint of the nation is likely to be smaller than that of a nation which doesn’t hold these values. Also, a social value of minimalism will decrease the Footprint as the citizens rely on less, ergo requiring less land to fulfill their needs. Lastly, politics also factors into the Ecological Footprint. Policies can be created within a country that assist in lowering the Ecological Footprint. Such methods can provide tax incentives to companies who use suitable energy methods and by further incentivizing a conservative approach to consumerism while placing an increased value on how the product was produced with regards to how …show more content…
In cultures where the environment is highly valued, citizens will take greater measures to ensure that they limit their Greenhouse Emissions. These countries greatly promote alternative energy, organic produce and recycling. In countries where these social values haven’t been instituted, there exists a reduced drive to promote the reduction of Greenhouse Emissions. Lastly, the political atmosphere of a country affects the Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions of an individual. Much like the social factors, a government can do much to promote the reduction of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of its citizens. Governments can incentivize alternative energy through tax breaks as well as mandate recycling programs. Though cost intensive for the nation, the resulting sustainability produced by such programs far outweigh the initial costs of the