Evaluating the use of natural capital with the ecological footprint. Applications in Sweden and subregions

The ecological footprint assesses people's use of natural capital by comparing their resource consumption and waste production to the regenerative capacity of the earth. Previous studies based on United Nations statistics have shown that humanity's use of natural capital exceeds the global...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 1999-11, Vol.28 (7), p.604-612
Main Authors: Wackernagel, M. (Indicators Program of Redefining Progress, San Francisco (USA)), Lewan, L, Borgstroem Hansson, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arable land
BIODIVERSIDAD
BIODIVERSITE
BIODIVERSITY
CAPACIDAD DE CARGA
CAPACITE DE CHARGE
Carbon dioxide
CARRYING CAPACITY
DURABILITE
ECOLOGIA HUMANA
Ecological footprint
Ecological sustainability
ECOLOGIE HUMAINE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Forests
Fossil fuels
HUMAN ECOLOGY
IMPACT SUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT
IMPACTO AMBIENTAL
NATURAL RESOURCES
Pastures
Raw materials
RECURSOS NATURALES
RESSOURCE NATURELLE
Seas
SOSTENIBILIDAD
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable agriculture
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Summary:The ecological footprint assesses people's use of natural capital by comparing their resource consumption and waste production to the regenerative capacity of the earth. Previous studies based on United Nations statistics have shown that humanity's use of natural capital exceeds the global biocapacity. They have also shown a great spread in the size of people's ecological footprints. In this study, which focuses on Sweden, we have improved the method of footprint and biocapacity calculations and demonstrate how a national footprint can be used for regions and even catchment areas. We include for the first time, areas for absorbing plant nutrients leaching from farmland and for providing domestic water. In this paper, we describe the method, compare it to those used earlier by others and ourselves, and discuss its possibilities and limitations.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209