Latest Ecological Footprint methodology paper accepted for publication in Ecological Indicators

Article publisher: 
Global Footprint Network
Article date: 
18 September 2012
Article category: 
National News
Medium
Article Body: 

Every year, Global Footprint Network continues to improve the methodology for calculating the Ecological Footprint. The most recent Calculation Method paper has been accepted for publication in the journal Ecological Indicators: Integrating Sciences for Monitoring, Assessment and Management.

The paper documents the latest method for estimating the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity of nations, using the National Footprint Accounts (NFA) applied to more than 200 countries and for the world overall. Results are also compared with those obtained from previous editions of the NFA. According to the 2011 Edition of the National Footprint Accounts, humanity demanded the resources and services of 1.5 planets in 2008; this human demand was 0.7 planets in 1961.

Each new edition of the National Footprint Accounts supports the conclusion that we are in global ecological overshoot, where total demand for ecological goods and services exceed the available supply and regenerative capacity, while also causing carbon waste accumulation.