Unit VI Scholarly Activity: My Ecological Footprint

Unit Vi Scholarly Activitymy Ecological Footprintvisit The Web Link Pr

Visit the web link provided in the textbook on p. 267 and take the personal ecological footprint quiz, which calculates your ecological footprint. After taking the ecological footprint quiz, answer the following questions:

  1. Summarize your quiz results. Which areas did you have the least and which the biggest impact on the earth (food, shelter, mobility, resources, or goods)? If everyone lived like you, how many planets would we need? How many global acres does it take to support your lifestyle?
  2. What surprised you about your results? How did your results make you feel?
  3. What steps can you take to reduce your ecological footprint? Name at least two.
  4. What is your responsibility as a global citizen to protect the earth’s resources?
  5. Provide one recommendation to a national governing body or a multi-national governing body to help reduce the ecological footprint made by citizens.

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding our ecological footprint is fundamental to fostering responsible environmental stewardship. After completing the personal ecological footprint quiz, I found that my lifestyle has both significant and minimal impacts across different areas. The results revealed that my biggest impact stemmed from my consumption of goods and mobility habits, such as frequent use of personal vehicles and purchasing non-essential items, which collectively demand extensive resources. Conversely, my food consumption, particularly my vegetarian diet, contributed less to my overall footprint, indicating a more sustainable practice in my dietary choices.

Statistically, if everyone lived like me, we would require approximately 2.8 Earths to support the global population’s current lifestyles. In terms of global acres, my lifestyle accounts for about 22 acres, which is significantly above the sustainable per-person limit. This discrepancy underscores the importance of adopting more sustainable practices to reduce individual ecological impacts.

My results were somewhat surprising, especially the high contribution of the goods and mobility sectors. It made me feel a mixture of concern and motivation. Concern, because our current consumption and transportation patterns are unsustainable; motivation, because awareness of these impacts can drive meaningful change. Recognizing the extent of our ecological footprint emphasizes the urgent need for personal and collective action to mitigate environmental degradation.

To reduce my ecological footprint, I plan to adopt several strategies. First, I will prioritize public transportation, biking, or walking instead of using the car for commuting, which will significantly cut down on fossil fuel use. Second, I intend to minimize my consumption of non-essential goods, focusing instead on sustainable and ethically produced items, and emphasizing reuse and recycling. These steps will help decrease resource consumption and lower my contribution to pollution and waste.

As a global citizen, I have a responsibility to promote sustainable practices and advocate for environmental policies that conserve natural resources. It involves making conscious choices, educating myself and others about sustainable living, and supporting initiatives aimed at reducing global ecological footprints. Our collective efforts are crucial because individual actions, when multiplied across communities and nations, can lead to significant environmental benefits.

One recommendation I would make to a national or multinational governing body is the implementation of stronger regulations and incentives for renewable energy adoption. Governments should prioritize investments in solar, wind, and other renewable sources and provide subsidies or tax benefits for individuals and businesses that switch to clean energy. This shift would drastically reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable economic growth, ultimately helping to minimize our collective ecological footprint.

References

  • Global Footprint Network. (2023). Ecological Footprint Calculator. https://www.footprintcalculator.org/
  • Rees, W. E. (1992). Ecological footprints and appropriated carrying capacity: What urban economics leaves out. Environment and Urbanization, 4(2), 121-130.
  • United Nations. (2021). Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021. https://sdgs.un.org/publications/sustainable-development-goals-report-2021
  • Kitzes, J., et al. (2009). Calculating and communicating personal and household ecological footprints: A review of approaches and research. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 11(4), 587-610.
  • Wackernagel, M., et al. (2002). Our ecological footprint: Reducing human impact on the earth. New Society Publishers.
  • World Resources Institute. (2020). Creating a sustainable future with renewable energy policies. https://www.wri.org
  • Lele, S. M. (2014). Sustainability science emerges. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(15), 5460-5461.
  • Stern, N. (2007). The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge University Press.
  • Meadows, D. H., et al. (1972). The Limits to Growth. Universe Books.
  • Holdren, J. P. (2008). Our common future and the environment: 30 years after. Science, 319(5861), 1697-1698.

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