Objectives

At the end of the Workshop, you will be able to explain:

1. WHAT an Ecological Footprint is

Ecological Footprint 2. WHY it is important
3. HOW an EF is calculated
4. WHO prepares the EF
Jan and David Meyrick 5. HOW an EF relates to Local Agenda 21

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Today’s programme WHAT is an EF?

EF is an indicator that relates to aspects of
This morning: sustainable development
WHAT, WHY and HOW
Overarching objectives of SD:
1. To eradicate poverty
This afternoon: 2. To change unsustainable patterns of production
Group activity and consumption
Discussion session 3. To protect and manage the natural resource base
of economic and social development

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 WHAT is an EF? (continued) A definition of an EF
EF majors on production and consumption and the
natural resource base of development rather than The area of biologically productive land
poverty eradication and water required by a population to
It establishes whether a city is living within the Earth’s
produce the resources it consumes and
carrying capacity to absorb its wastes
As Jonathon Porritt argues, “If we can’t secure our own
survival, it’s game over for every other noble
aspiration”

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Some terms of art WHY an EF is important

EF = demand for biologically productive land EF and Bio-capacity, 2003
EF per capita Bio-capacity Eco deficit (-)
Bio-capacity = supply of biologically Area (gha) per capita (gha) Eco reserve (+)

productive land Australia 6.6 11.3 +4.7

Bangladesh 0.5 0.3 -0.2
Ecological deficit: when a country’s EF Malaysia 2.2 3.7 +1.5
exceeds its bio-capacity
UK 5.6 1.6 -4.0
Ecological reserve: when bio-capacity >EF USA 9.6 4.7 -4.9
World 2.2 1.8 -0.4
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 WHY Malaysia should worry HOW to calculate an EF
There is no standard methodology for
Malaysia is not living within the calculating the EF of a city
Earth’s carrying capacity Global Footprint Network is now trying to develop
methodological standards for cities
See www.footprintnetwork.org
National EF (2.2 gha) is greater
Wackernagel created the GFN: tomorrow you see
than world bio-capacity (1.8 gha) a screening of his work

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Steps in calculating an EF
Material resource flows
MRF
1. Identify categories of resources, e.g. energy
Food & Water

Energy
CITY 2. Establish consumption (usually in tonnes)
Imports Exports
Production 3. Convert consumption to total EF (gha)
Pulp & rubber

Timber/ metals
Consumption
Waste 4. Allow for waste disposal or recycling/reuse
Creation of
Construction
materials
infrastructure Co2 5. Calculate EF per capita (gha)
emissions
Chemicals/fertilisers

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 Some challenges Conversion factors
™ Data Conversion from consumption to EF (gha)
ƒ Availability, reliability and time are issues ¾ Issue of global average yields (e.g. gha per tonne of
ƒ May need to use proxy data food item)

™ Conversion factors Big and small hitters

¾ Meat: 15.25 gha per tonne
ƒ EF is a young science and research is
¾ Soya and leguminous vegetables: 0.45 gha per tonne
ongoing
ƒ You can only use what is currently Useful starting point for conversion factors
available ¾ See Chambers et al (2004), chapter 5.

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HOW to use the EF WHO calculates the EF

1. Compare EF per capita for your city with For a city or a neighbourhood:
global and national EF / bio-capacity A partnership arrangement between government, the
public and academia
2. Review current policy for each resource
category in the light of its EF per capita For a household
Family activity using a website
3. Consider impact on the LA 21 action plan
and the City budget For a school:
Partnership between teachers, pupils and parents
4. Use the EF to raise public awareness There are separate websites

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 Relating EF to LA 21 Hypothetical EF for PJ, 2003
6 Component Total EF (gha) EF per capita %of total
Establish a HEF (gha)
vision
1. Energy 228,565 0.548 11.15
Monitor & Analyse the 2. Materials and waste 891,375 2.136 43.49
evaluate situation
3. Food 791,895 1.897 38.64
4. Transport 118,815 0.285 5.80
Implement Identify and 5. Water 9,025 0.022 0.44
action plans rank issues
6. Land in PJ area 9,720 0.023 0.48
Sub-total 2,049,395 4.911 100
Formulate an Deduct EF of tourism @2% 40,985 0.098
action plan for
each key issue Total for PJ residents 2,008,410 4.813

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Other challenges for Malaysia Energy

(tonnes)
Consumption
(GWh)
Consumption
factor
Conversion

factor
Conversion

EF (gha)

(gha)
EF per capita

factor
Conversion

emissions
CO2

CO2 per capita

Need for resource efficiency if Malaysia is to
be competitive in a global economy

If the population reaches 35 million, Electricity 2,315 X 86 199,090 X0.8020 159,670 0.383 X 5.10 1,015,360 2.43
Malaysia might have an eco-deficit Gas 1,930 165,980 X0.3800 63,070 0.151 X 2.35 390,050 0.93

Liquid 2,015 173,290 X0.0336 5,820 0.014 X 3.00 519,870 1.25

fuels
Solid fuels 12 1,030 X0.0046 5 - X 3.80 3,915 0.01

Total 6,272 539,390 228,565 0.548 1,929,195 4.62

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 Climate change
CO2 emissions are part of the EF
IPCC regard 0.5 tonnes per capita as the
sustainable level for 6 billion people
Task for sub-groups
Consider the implications of the data in
the material flow analysis sheets
Decide what policy advice you would
give to the city council wishing to work
towards SD

Identify the top five priorities for action

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A way forward for a city Useful websites

Start from small beginnings 9 To calculate a household’s EF (www.ecofoot.org)

Form a partnership between the public, government 9 To calculate a school’s EF

and a university (http://powerhousemuseum.com.au)

Undertake a pilot project to establish the EF of 4 cities 9 To obtain a detailed EF methods paper and calculation sheets
involved in the LA 21 process 9 To download the Living Planet Report, 2006
(www.footprintnetwork.org)
Cities to work in collaboration
9 To download City Limits Report for Greater London
Learn lessons (www.bestfootforward.com)

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 Objectives The greenhouse effect
At the end of the Workshop, you will be able to explain: Sun
GHGs
Heat reflected and
1. WHAT an Ecological Footprint is escapes back into
space
2. WHY it is important
Radiation
3. HOW an EF is calculated
4. WHO prepares the EF Heat trapped in
Earth atmosphere by GHGs
5. HOW an EF relates to Local Agenda 21 CO2
CH4
CFCs
N20

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