Name: Date:
Ecological Footprint Activity and Analysis
An ecological footprint calculates how much land and resource use it takes to support your lifestyle. There is evidence that human activities are directly contributing to global environmental changes. The indicators used in this activity are one way of estimating the impact humans have on the planet.
1. Take the Quiz (http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/)
Click the “Take the Quiz” link to begin. Answer the questions for the different lifestyle categories to complete the quiz. At the end of the quiz when your results are displayed, record your scores below.
How many planet Earth would your lifestyle need?
How many global hectares of Earth’s protective area would your lifestyle need?
Breakdown of your ecological footprint (Approximate percentages):
Food
Shelter
Mobility
Goods
Services
2. Edit your footprint to see how different quiz responses might change your total score or “explore scenarios” to see how different choices might impact your scores. After editing your footprint, answer the following questions below.
Looking at your initial results and then your edited results, what changes would you need to make your lifestyle to improve your ecological footprint?
Are these changes things you could change in your daily life? Explain how you could alter your lifestyle.
3. Next explore how your scores compare to averages for your country as well as for other countries. Select a country from the popup menu in the COUNTRY TRENDS box and record your observations in the table below.
Your Country: / Ecological Footprint (Increasing/Decreasing/Steady) / Biocapacity (Increasing/Decreasing/Steady):Compare with other countries:
How does our country compare to the rest of the world? Are we using more or less resources than other countries? List examples.
4. Write a brief paragraph summarizing how you can alter your lifestyle when it comes to using resources after completing this activity. Are you going to be more conscious about resource use? Will your lifestyle stay the same? Explain.