Take the Ecological Footprint (EF) test to get informed about your real impact on Planet Earth
Scientists have calculated that mankind is currently using about half the total Ecological Footprint (EF), or bio-productivity, of the planet.
This is resulting in massive problems - from the extinction of species to the erosions of topsoil, from deteriorating water supplies to traffic jams, from shrinking fish stocks to global warming.
At the same time, the planet's ecosystems cannot absorb all of the waste generated by the manufacture and distribution of our goods and services.
For example, every year mankind is creating 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide above the total that can be absorbed by the bio-productivity of the planet, raising the level of this 'greenhouse gas' in the atmosphere. The result is global warming.
Would you like to measure your own Ecological Footprint (EF)?
By doing so, you will become informed about the true impacts of your lifestyle and be able to see which areas you score badly in. You will also see the relative impacts your actions can make: for example, the difference between fitting a low energy light bulb and minimising your air travel.
It's fairly easy to measure the EF of a whole country but not so easy for individuals, so we can only give you an approximate personal measure. However, researchers have found that an approximate assessment can be made from looking at five key areas:
From the following displays, choose the 'profiles' that most closely reflect your use of each of the topics.
Add the first four scores together, then double to account for other aspects of your resource use, including your share of public services. Then add the Air Travel score.
Then divide your score by 100 to get the figure in ‘average global hectares.’
You grow most of your own food, with small purchases of 'essentials' and eat a mainly vegetarian diet... 20
You grow some of your own food, buy locally otherwise, eat modest amounts of animal products... 45
You grow little of your own food but purchase wisely and eat out only occasionally... 90
All your food comes from a supermarket or delicatessen, with uncritical choices. You eat out at least once per week... 200
You are not connected to mains electricity, lighting by oil lamp, cooking by wood... 5
You have a very modest use of power with careful choice of appliances and a good switch-off policy... 20
A typically middle-class house but without air conditioning or electric heating... 50
Heavy use, including electric heating and electric stove 100
Tiny dwelling with compost pit toilet... 10
Small house with 2/3 rooms, flush toilet... 30
About 5 rooms, including well-appointed bathroom... 80
About 10 rooms including 2/3 bathrooms... 200
You travel very little and then by public transport... 10
Mostly use public transport but have occasional use of car, usually with others sharing it -say 50 miles/week... 40
Modest use of car, with others - say 150 miles/week 100
Most of your travelling is by car, usually with you as the only occupant - say 250 miles/week or more... 200
You never travel by air... 0
You fly 1 - 10 hours per year... 120
You fly 11 - 20 hours per year... 350
You fly over 21 hours per year... 800
About 2.00 average global hectares are available to each 6.1 billion of us.
If your score is 2.00 or less, you are living within your share of Footprint.
If it's between 2.00 and 4.00, then we'd need another planet if everyone lived like you, and so on...
Up to 2.00 One Earth can sustain your lifestyle...
2.00 to 4.00 Another Earth is needed...
4.00 to 6.00 Two more Earths...
6.00 or more At least three more Earths are needed if everyone shared this lifestyle....