|
|
|
Ecological Footprint
|
SANTA MONICA USING 5.7% LESS OF EARTH’S RESOURCES THAN 10 YEARS AGO
|
Footprint Evaluation Shows Progress But Much Can Still Be Done
Santa Monica—The City of Santa Monica released a study analyzing
the change in the City’s Ecological Footprint, which tracks its use of
the Earth’s resources in terms of water and land area. Results showed
its use shrank by 167 sq. miles, or 5.7%, from 2,914 sq. miles in 1990.
One
of the most effective tools for measuring human impacts on local and
global ecosystems, the Ecological Footprint takes into account factors
such as land use, electricity and natural gas use, gasoline and diesel
use, transportation and vehicles, roads, housing, food, products,
waste, and recycling.
|
 |
The Earth’s total area of biologically productive land and fresh water
sources is finite—and must be shared among a growing population of more
than 6 billion people. This finite amount provides about 4.5 acres per
person, and the US average is 24 acres per person. The average Santa
Monica resident’s footprint is almost 13% smaller than the national
average, at 20.9 acres per person.
Footprint Facts:
- Globally, we are using 15% more resources than the earth can support.
- For the first time the United States has the world's largest
Footprint at 23.7 acres per person - a sustainable Footprint would be
4.6 acres.
- Compared to the US, Canada uses about 30% less, at 17 acres per person and Italy uses about 60% less, at 9 acres per person.
- At the other end of the scale, developing countries like Bangladesh
and Mozambique have Footprints of 0.53 hectares (1.3 acres) per capita
- just over 1/20th of the US Footprint.
- Santa Monica residents average use is 20.9 acres per person.
|
Last updated: Wednesday, 05/06/2009
|
|
|