Sheets in the current edition of the National Footprint
exceeded the biosphere’s regeneration rate by more
extent to which these innovations have succeeded
electricity are included in the National Footprint
Accounts. Additional research was then required
than 30 per cent. This overshoot results in depletion of
in bringing human demand within the capacity of the
Accounts. However these emissions are only one
to locate and apply new extraction rates to convert
ecosystems and fill-up of waste sinks. This ecosystem
planet’s ecosystems. If there is a sufficient increase in
among many environmental considerations relevant to
processed products into primary product equivalents.
stress can negatively impact biodiversity. However,
ecological supply and a reduction in human demand
nuclear power.
These extraction rates were compiled from a variety of
the footprint does not measure these latter impacts
due to technological advances or other factors,
FAO and other UN sources. Using raw rather than
directly, nor does it specify how much overshoot
footprint accounts will show this as the elimination
2003, the nuclear footprint represented approximately
aggregated data improved the resolution of the
must be reduced if these negative impacts are to
of global overshoot.
4 per cent of humanity’s total footprint. Therefore, for
accounts. Crops expanded from 80 to 180 product
be avoided.
most nations, the effect of this methodological
categories, livestock from 10 to 20, and forests from
change on their 2005 results reported here will
6 to 30. Fifteen hundred species of fish are now
Does the Ecological Footprint say what is a “fair”
negligible. However, for countries with significant
tracked in the accounts, rather than just the 10 that
or “equitable” use of resources?
nuclear power supply such as Belgium, Finland,
were previously included. These changes are now
The footprint documents what has happened in the
France, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland, the
documented in a detailed methodological guidebook
past. It can quantitatively describe the ecological
method change influences their national footprint
available from Global Footprint Network.
resources used by an individual or a population, but
Actual carbon emissions associated with nuclear
In the National Footprint Accounts for the year
values to a greater extent.
The grazing module has also been improved.
it does not prescribe what they should be using.
This exclusion of the nuclear footprint component
The accounts now employ a net primary productivity
Resource allocation is a policy issue, based on societal
does not reflect a stance on nuclear energy. It simply
(NPP) methodology developed by IFF Social Ecology
beliefs about what is or is not equitable. While footprint
acknowledges that only some aspects of nuclear
Institute in Vienna. In addition, ‘Other wooded land’ is
accounting can determine the average biocapacity
energy are easily measured in terms of demand
now included in grazing land.
that is available per person, it does not stipulate how
on regenerative capacity, the research question addressed by the Ecological Footprint.
FAO land-use statistics are used to determine
this biocapacity should be allocated among individuals
which areas are considered productive. In this edition,
or nations. However, it does provide a context for
productive area has been expanded to include some
such discussions.
lower-productivity forest. This previously excluded
been improved since Living Planet Report 2006?
area is primarily comprised of tundra. The additional
How relevant is the Ecological Footprint if the
A formal process is in place to assure continuous
hectares of productive area now included in the
supply of renewable resources can be increased
improvement of the National Footprint Accounts
accounts resulted in an increase of global per person
and advances in technology can slow the
methodology. This process has been supported by
biocapacity to 2.1 gha. However, because this change
depletion of non-renewable resources?
Global Footprint Network’s partner organizations,
similarly affects the global per person footprint,
The Ecological Footprint measures the current state
among others.
inclusion of these additional hectares had little
of resource use and waste generation. It asks: in a
impact on the ratio of supply to demand, and thus
given year, did human demands on ecosystems
on the extent of overshoot.
exceed the ability of ecosystems to meet these
The most significant revision of the National Footprint Accounts since the Living Planet Report 2006 was in response to changes in the structure
demands? Footprint analysis reflects both increases
of the UN FAO’s Corporate Statistical Database
Does the Ecological Footprint take into account
in the productivity of renewable resources and
(FAOSTAT). Most notably, the aggregation of all
other species?
technological innovation (for example, if the paper
products into 10 groups, called Food Balance Sheets,
The Ecological Footprint compares human demand on
industry doubles the overall efficiency of paper
For additional information about current Ecological
were no longer reported in the new FAOSTAT
nature with nature’s capacity to meet this demand. It
production, the footprint per tonne of paper will
Footprint methodology, data sources, assumptions
database covering 1961 to 2005. This required the
thus serves as an indicator of human pressure on local
halve). Ecological Footprint accounts capture these
and results, please visit:
incorporation of raw data in place of the Food Balance
and global ecosystems. In 2005, humanity’s demand
changes once they occur and can determine the
www.footprintnetwork.org/atlas
LIVING PLANET REPORT 2008 43
DATA AND TABLES
How else have Ecological Footprint calculations