Should we “leave footprints on the sands of time”?– depends on the context by which we understand this phrase. If it means leaving back memory, a mark, an inspiration, a positive impact or a distinguished legacy, it is certainly worthwhile leaving them behind. But when it comes to Ecological footprint, the lesser the better! Ecological footprint is an account of the impact that humans create on the ecosystem by consuming its resources. It measures the demand for natural resources as against earth´s ability to regenerate it. Carbon/Energy footprints are terms used to signify the amount of CO2 emission that is left behind when fossil fuels are burnt or when energy is produced from non-renewable sources or when greenhouse gases are released. Needless to say, with unprecedented progress and advancement in science, technology, development, increase in population and human consumption, our planet´s natural resources are getting depleted at an astounding rate. The earth is unable to regenerate the resources at an equivalent/higher rate as utilized by humans. Consequently, climatic changes, global warming, drastic weather conditions, crop failure, stressed water resources, floods and droughts, have become common occurrences.
The Global Footprint Network, an independent think tank based in the US, calculates the Ecological Footprint of the world’s nations and humanity as a whole every year, and compares that with biocapacity – the amount of resources nature is able to re/produce. It is measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land and water resources required to fulfill consumption and also to absorb the generated wastes. Ecological footprint and biocapacity are measured in standard units called global hectares (GHA). As per the latest available estimate (2011), the average available biocapacity on our planet is 1.7 GHA per capita. This indicates that if a country´s per capita ecological footprint is higher than the available biocapacity, they are demanding more resources than our planet can regenerate and releasing wastes more than can be absorbed in the atmosphere. Presently, Australia (8.3), UAE (8.1) and USA (6.8) are the top three countries by ecological footprint per capita. Conversely, countries with higher biocapacity (say 4.5 GHA) have more resources per capita than the world average. Guyana (60.6), Gabon (25.9) and Bolivia (16.9) are the top three countries by biocapacity per capita.
In India, while the ecological footprint per capita is 0.9 GHA and the biocapacity is 0.5 GHA, the gap between the per capita ecological footprint and biocapacity is widening in the recent years, which is certainly a cause for concern. The present gap is 0.4 GHA, making India a biocapacity debtor or an ecologically deficit country (footprint greater than biocapacity) – although lower than developed countries in absolute numbers. According to Global Footprint Network, the Ecological Footprint per capita is a nation’s total Ecological footprint divided by the total population of the nation. Consequently, a country´s population largely affects the per capita footprint and biocapacity numbers. Thus, if we go by the total ecological footprint estimates, China, USA and India are placed at the top three spots accounting for over 1 billion GHA. I have given these estimates to establish an understanding of how important it is to ensure ecological balance and sustainability of our planet which directly affects us. Advocates of ecological conservation and the governing section/policy makers of countries across the world have realized the seriousness of the demand humans exert on the planet and the damage it does in the process. We have been urged to reduce our ecological footprints by adopting environmentally-friendly practices.
So what can we do to contribute our bit in minimizing our footprints? To reduce ecological footprints means to reduce over-consumption, reduce wastage of resources and also reduce the damage we cause to our environment. At an individual level, we can start by becoming sensitive to what and how we consume goods and services. The kind of lifestyle one chooses goes a long way in determining our ecological footprints. Reducing, reusing and recycling are some of the ways in which we can minimize our ecological footprints. Small alterations in our consumption patterns can become powerful means to protect the environment – for instance, the food choices we make, the methods of waste disposal deployed, using fuel-efficient vehicles, carpooling, walking short distances instead of using vehicle, saving energy in our offices and homes, using eco-friendly products like paper bags instead of plastic bags, optimizing travel trips, work-from-home if possible, choosing travel options that have low impact on the environment, and so forth.
After all, we need to live as responsible world citizens and justify our lifestyle and consumption needs since it’s about living within the means of what our planet can provide, not only for ourselves but also for our future generation. We must certainly leave footprints by our little eco-friendly actions to help our planet sustain our ever-increasing demands.
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