Ecological footprint and biocapacity The view from London Jamie - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ecological footprint and biocapacity

The view from London

Jamie Bull jamie.bull.@oco-carbon.com

Outline

• Definitions
• Global balance
• London
• Ecological Footprint
• Biocapacity
• Balance
• Borough-level comparisons
• Conclusions

Ecological footprint

The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardised measure of demand for natural capital 13.4 billion global hectares 2.2 global hectares per person

Human spending

Biocapacity

Biocapacity is the amount of resources available to people at a specific time and population. It is a standardised measure of the supply of natural capital 11.3 billion global hectares 1.8 global hectares per person

Nature’s interest

Global balance

We’re drawing down our natural capital at a rate of 0.4 gha per person per year. Sustaining this level of consumption would require 1.2 planets

• 2.1 billion global hectares
• 0.4 global hectares per person

Nature’s interest Human spending

United Kingdom’ ecological footprint

318.6 million global hectares 5.4 global hectares per person

London’s ecological footprint

Housing Transport Food Consumer Items Private Services Gov't

46.2 million global hectares 5.47 global hectares per person

London’s biocapacity

Land type Total biocapacity

(gha)

Biocapacity per capita

(gha) Arable farmland 87,000 0.01200 Managed grassland 114,000 0.01600 Forestry and woodlands 15,000 0.00200 Urban* 983,000 0.13300 Semi-natural vegetation 10,000 0.00100 Inland water 100 0.00002 Sea 60 0.00001

* The biocapacity of urban land was included to illustrate potential bioproductivity

1.2 million global hectares 0.16 global hectares per person

London’s balance

It would require 3.04 planets to support London’s levels of consumption globally

• 45.0 million global hectares
• 5.31 global hectares per person

Breakdown by London Borough

High correlation between EF and house prices

Footprint per capita (2004) Median house price (2013)

High correlation between EF and median income

Footprint per capita (2004) Gross annual pay (2013)

But low correlation between EF and satisfaction

Footprint per capita (2004) Life satisfaction score (2012-13)

Conclusions

• Ecological footprint is a way of expressing

environmental sustainability in a meaningful way

• London’s footprint is too high to be sustainable

(though not significantly above the rest of the UK)

• Ecological footprint is hugely influenced by

affluence…

Conclusions

• Ecological footprint is a way of expressing

environmental sustainability in a meaningful way

• London’s footprint is too high to be sustainable

(though not significantly above the rest of the UK)

• Ecological footprint is hugely influenced by

affluence… but money doesn’t buy satisfaction