Overview: In this classroom activity and discussion, students are made aware of the finite amount of resources on Earth and how population and daily choices affect what is available for others. Students will calculate their own Ecological Footprint (a measure in hectares of Earth's resources used) and how this Footprint compares to their classmates'. Students will also determine which of their daily choices have the most effects on the amount of resources they consume, and will create a ranked list of actions they can (or will) take to reduce the size of their footprint.
Objectives: Demonstrate an awareness of the global implications of decisions that individuals and families make about their needs and wants. Describe the impact of leisure and career choices on family life. Identify environmental and health issues related to the production and consumption of food. Explain the environmental impact of economic activity, population growth, urbanization, and standard of living. Explain contemporary concepts of sustainability. Assess the compatibility of human activities and population growth with concepts of sustainability.
Introduction: A discussion with students that includes information about (1) how all living things use the Earth's resources in varying amounts and (2) how humans are only one species of about 30 million resource-consuming species on the planet . Which of Earth's resources do we use to support our lives? Are these resources evenly distributed around the world? What do you think an "Ecological Footprint" is?
Activities: (1) Introduce definitions and provide some background information (20 minutes) "Ecological Footprint" (EF) is how much of the Earth we use for our food, clothing, play, energy, shelter, waste, etc. Ecological Footprints can be calculated for an individual, for a family, for a city, or for entire countries. EF calculations are simply estimates or an inventory of how much of the Earth's renewable and non-renewable resources we use. When humanity's Footprint exceeds the amount of renewable resources available, a draw-down in natural capital is required and this is considered unsustainable. Global Footprint analysis indicates that over the last 40 years or more, humanity's cumulative Ecological Footprints appear to have surpassed Earth's ecological limits; this is not sustainable in the long term. At our current consumption rate, there is not enough Earth to meet our demands! We live in an era where there is an imperative to shrink our Ecological Footprints. (2) Work through the student exercise (questionnaires below) to calculate personal Ecological Footprints. Emphasize that these calculations will provide an estimate of how much of the planet we use. It is not a judgment of good or bad lifestyles; it is simply a value-neutral tool that allows us to objectively obtain a snapshot of how much of our resources are being used. (3) Discuss results of Questionnaires and explore concepts. Students can share calculations and create a class graph that displays results.
(Student Handout to calculate ecological footprint.)
WATER USE
Choose one:
If your shower is usually 1-2 minutes or your bath is ¼ full, you get +40
If your shower is usually 3-6 minutes or your bath is ½ full +60
If your shower is usually more than 10 minutes or your bath is full, you get +80
Add up your Water Use Subtotal:
CLOTHING USE
If some of your clothes were bought brand new for you or by you, you get +10
If about ¼ of your clothes are second-hand or hand-me-down, you get -10
If some of the clothes that you often wear have been mended or fixed, you get -10
Add up your Clothing Subtotal:
WASTE
If you have repaired something this week that might have been thrown out, you get -5
For each that you fully recycle give yourself -5 points: newspaper; office paper; cans; hard plastic; plastic bags; glass; old clothes; batteries; motor oil from the car; cardboard, boxboard
Choose one:
If all your garbage on a typical day would fit into 1 garbage can, you get +120
If all your garbage on a typical day would fit into a basket, you get +90
Choose one:
If you really try to avoid using "disposable" items (e.g., pens, cameras, drink containers), you get -5
If you do not avoid disposable items, you get +20
For each dollar you spend on a typical day, give yourself +1.
Add up your Waste Subtotal:
ENERGY USE
If you always turn off the lights and other electrical appliances when you leave a room, give yourself -20
If you keep the house temperature cool in winter and wear a sweater, give yourself -20
Choose one:
If all your light bulbs are energy conserving bulbs, give yourself -20
If some of your light bulbs are energy conserving bulbs, give yourself -10
Choose one:
If you usually spend more than an hour on the computer and/or watching TV per day, you get +70
If you usually spend less than an hour on the computer and/or watching TV, you get +40
If you don't usually spend any time watching TV or at the computer, you get no (0) points
Add up your Energy Subtotal:
TRANSPORTATION
If you usually spend some time on your bike on a typical day, you get +5
If you usually spend some time of the day on a public transport (bus or ferry), you get +30
If you usually spend some time carpooling (travelling with others in their car), you get +50
If you usually spend some time walking to where you're going, you get no (0) points!
Add up your Transportation Subtotal:
FOOD
If you grow a lot of your own food, you get -10 points
Choose one:
If you compost your fruit and vegetable waste, you get -10
If you do not compost, you get +30
Choose one:
If you usually throw out about ½ your food, you get +100
If you usually throw out about ¼ of your food, you get +40
If you make sure you never waste food, you get no (0) points.
Add up your Food Subtotal:
Now add up all your Subtotals. Total = ___________
Divide by 100 (e.g. 527 becomes 5.27) = ____. This is your Ecological Footprint (Hildering, 2006)
