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What does “sustainable ecological footprint” mean?

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"Sustainable ecological footprint" refers to the concept of measuring and managing human impact on the environment in a way that ensures the Earth's resources are used responsibly and do not exceed the planet's capacity to regenerate them. The ecological footprint is a metric used to assess the amount of natural resources and ecosystem services needed to support human activities and absorb the waste produced, measured in global hectares per person.

A sustainable ecological footprint occurs when human activities, such as food production, energy consumption, transportation, and waste generation, are kept within the Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate those resources. It means living within the planet's ecological means, so that future generations can also meet their needs without compromising the Earth's ability to provide for them.

When the ecological footprint exceeds the Earth's biocapacity (the planet's ability to regenerate resources and absorb waste), it leads to ecological overshoot, which is unsustainable in the long term. Unsustainable practices can deplete natural resources, degrade ecosystems, and contribute to climate change, leading to environmental degradation and threatening biodiversity and human well-being.

Achieving a sustainable ecological footprint requires adopting environmentally friendly practices, such as using renewable energy sources, reducing waste, promoting sustainable agriculture, conserving water, and protecting natural habitats. By managing our ecological footprint sustainably, we can contribute to the preservation of the environment, support the Earth's ecological balance, and ensure a healthier planet for current and future generations.

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I hope this helped!

~~~Harsha~~~

answered
User Chris Dworetzky
by
8.4k points
3 votes

Answer:

An ecological footprint measures how fast we consumes resources and generate waste compared to how fast nature can absorb our waste and generate resources. Meaning a sustainable one has the ability to keep this cycle continuing without the consumers dying out and without the resources being lost.

answered
User Ramirez
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7.9k points
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