Abstract
The paper relates that the concept of the ecological footprint has increased in popularity in the past few years as more public attention has been directed at environmental concerns. The paper explains that it is a sustainability measuring index that attempts to account for the area of water and land required to produce a given amount of resources for consumption based upon a set of input data. The paper notes that numerous Internet-based ecological footprint calculators have been created over the past several years to enable people to quickly obtain an approximation of their own footprints. This paper analyzes two popular Internet-based calculators and explores some comparisons and contrasts between them.

From the Paper
"The concept of the "ecological footprint" is one that has increased in popularity in the past few years as more public attention has directed at environmental concerns. It is a sustainability measuring index that attempts to account for the area of water and land required to produce a given amount of resources for consumption based upon a set of input data (Sustainability Scale Project, 2003.) Numerous Internet-based ecological footprint calculators have been created over the past several years to enable people to quickly obtain an approximation of their own footprints based upon their individual level of consumption. This paper analyzes two..."

Tags:ecological footprint, environment, bioresource

Abstract
In this article, the writer examines two books. The two books that are examined are 'Our Ecological Footprint' by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees and 'Gaia' by James Lovelock.. Basically, the writer looks at the narrative used by each book. The writer then looks at how the authors used totally different approaches to the subject matter.

From the Paper
"Many interesting books on environmental thought have been published in recent years. They cover a wide range of issues and in many cases provide possible courses of action. However, not all of these books are written in the same way. They are actually written for different audiences, with different approaches and with different slants. Two very important books on the environment are 'Our Ecological Footprint'(1996) by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees and 'Gaia' (1979) by James Lovelock. Although both books look at similar issues they take very different approaches to get their points across. It can be argued that ..."

Tags:ecological, footprint

Abstract
The paper explains the limitations of the ecological footprint that measures how much harm an individual does to the planet. The writer, although he disagrees with some of the calculations of the ecological footprint, considers his personal ecological footprint scorecard and reveals that his eating habits were the worst offenses. The writer relates what he could do to make better food choices and then addresses the issue of recycling. The writer does note, however, that trying to find the best way to live a sustainable life, and live in an imperfect world, remains a challenge.

From the Paper
"When I first learned that my ecological footprint was calculated at 4.7 planets, I was upset. I have been trying to use the resources around me in a responsible manner, but according to this calculation, my lifestyle was nowhere near what would be defined as sustainable, either for myself or much less my children. An ecological footprint is defined according to environmental scientists as "how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resource it consumes and to absorb its wastes, using prevailing technology" (Footprint Basics - Overview, 2009, Footprint Network). Another way of thinking of this is how much harm an individual life does to the planet that cannot be undone."

Tags:environment, sustainability, recycling, planet, transportation, fuel, meat

Abstract
The paper explains how the ecological footprint calculates how much a particular individual's lifestyle exerts a toll upon the planet. The paper relates three individuals' results of this ecological footprint and focuses on the the impact consumers have on the environment. The paper discusses the importance of reducing meat consumption, reducing consumption of imported fruits and vegetables, reducing the amount of trash we create and buying fewer goods and services.

From the Paper
"The ecological footprint is a calculation of how much a particular individual's lifestyle exerts a toll upon the planet. It calculates how many nonrenewable resources the individual uses, how an individual's food and energy consumption impacts the planet, and puts the unnaturalness of modern life into context by stating how many 'earths' an individual requires to sustain his or her lifestyle--in other words, it shows if everyone lived like the individual with a particular kind of footprint on the earth, how many earths this would require. Ecological footprint analysis can also be used to analyze a household, a nation, or an industry."

Tags:meat, consumption, trash, shopping, sustainability

Abstract
This paper explains that the ecological footprint of a person is the area of biologically productive land and water region needed to supply the resources and assimilate the waste generated by that particular person, using the customary technology. The paper further explains that the ecological footprint is an excellent tool that enables us to clearly see our own environmental impact. It is important in many ways.

Tags:ecologicalfootprint, quiz, report

Abstract
This paper explains that things, such as cell phones, i-pods, planes and cars have made lives more convenient but they leave an ecological footprint by using up environmental resources. The author points out that the concept of an ecological footprint also is a resource management tool, which measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes under prevailing technology. The paper stresses that each region of the earth has a biological capacity. The author underscores that the responsibility to preserve the environment for the future generations can be achieved by seeking alternative methods, such as prevention, adaptation and mitigation. The paper stresses that it is up to individuals to monitor activities and resource consumption and to play an active part in the sustainability of the environment.

From the Paper
"Another type of ecological footprint that is affecting us at an alarming rate is the carbon footprints. Whenever human activities involve the burning of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is emitted. This goes in the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change, unless it can be captured and stored by plants. The carbon footprint therefore measures the demand on bio-capacity that results from burning fossil fuels in terms of the amount of forest area required to absorb these carbon dioxide emissions."

Tags:carbon, resource, consumption, bio-capacity, sustainability

Abstract
This paper examines how the general definition of an ecological footprint is the way a community, a nation, or an individual makes use of the ecological resources available to it and how much it taxes the currently existing resources of the present, as well as how this will impact the environmental future. It looks at how the footprint is usually deployed as a way of calculating the methods by which that entity makes use of the particular resources available to it on a collective or personal level and how it is important both as a predictive device of how the environment may be damaged by particular ways of life and as an important political tool for environmental organizations.

From the Paper
"The typical lifestyles and luxuries of the average American, the notion of an ecological footprint suggests, does little to enhance the ecological qualities of life, and does much to cause the deterioration of the land. (Ecological Footprint Calculator, 1999) The notion of calculation poses the notion that the resources of the earth and every land pass are indeed finite, and cannot be squandered for only a relatively few members of the population of the earth, most of whom are concentrated in Western, industrialized nations such and most particularly in the United States. "

Tags:earth, land, resources

Abstract
This paper discusses how ecological footprints, effective ecological tools used to help maintain our world, impose many questions in sustaining the earth's life. Charts are included with the paper.

Defining Our Ecological Footprint
Dependency on Nature
Carrying Capacity of Cities and Earth
Comparison between Countries
Natural Capita: Effects on the Earth
Impact of the World Economies
Solutions

From the Paper
"The world economy has a great impact on the ecological footprints of the world. Every country wants to obtain economic growth to produce more money. But in doing this, they have to deplete their natural capital, which in turn, is not helping in sustaining this world. As William Rees states, "there is simply not enough on the planet to sustain present international development trends using prevailing technologies" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). So something drastic has to be done. As the ecological footprints of humans are already too large for the earth to handle, how can we accommodate the rising materials and rising in population, while trying to sustain the earth. Most analysts agree that it can happen in two ways: through a reduction in the standard of living or through the increase in material and energy efficiency (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). These two issues also apply problems, through cultural, economic, and social values. Especially in the more developed countries. To lower the standard of living would be outright rejected in the more developed countries such as Canada and the U. S. So indeed, most people agree that "global sustainability is achievable only through large increases in the consumption of goods and services in both poorer and richer countries" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). But still a problem arises. There will still be inequity in the growth of the more and less developed countries. It seems the richer get richer and the poorer get poorer. A consensus seems to be emerging though. They say that the needed consumption will work if there is a reduction in the material energy costs of goods and services. "

Tags:capacity, carrying, footprints, economy, world, natural, capita, sustainability, consumption, food, ecology, countries, cities, earth, nature

Abstract
This paper examines the ecological and environmental future of the earth. It contrasts the optimistic view of The Skeptical Environmentalist with pessimistic analyses of the ecological footprints of various countries. It concludes that optimistic assessments of the environmental future of the earth are misplaced.

Abstract
Problem solving internationally and nationally are crucial when sustaining societal difficulties whether it's environmental or economical. "The ecological footprint of any population can be used to measure its current consumption and projected requirements against available ecological supply and point out likely shortfalls" (Wheeler and Beatley 217).

Tags:urban, unsustainability, environment