How is our ecological footprint a result of unsustainable practices?

Plus de détails

Biodiversity

par michael skorzewski

Force

par Bryan tan

Sustainable City

par Elysia Vetricek

Internal Combustion Engine

par patrick gamber

How is our ecological footprint a result of unsustainable practices?

Energy Footprint

Demand Growth

Growing industries: require more energy

Increasing energy demand: urbanization & industrialization

Renewables

Solar Energy: Requires large land areas & hazardous materials in production

Wind Energy: Wildlife impacts, bird and bat collisions, noise pollution

Non-Renewables

Air pollution: emissions from burning fossil fuels

Fossil fuel use: significant environmental harm & resource depletion

Consumption

Significant energy use: heating and cooling

Heavy reliance on energy: households and industries

Goods and Services Footprint

Consumerism

High consumption rates: increase pressure on natural resources

Consumer demand causes overproduction

Resource Depletion

Finite resources deplete quickly

Over-extraction of non-renewable resources

Waste Generation

Landfills & recycling systems overwhelmed by waste volumes

High levels of waste from packaging & consumer goods

Manufacturing Impact

Industrial pollution: air, water

Large resource consumption

Carbon Footprint

Industrial Emissions

Power Plant Emissions: coal-fired power plants

Factory Emissions: CO2 & pollutants from manufacturing processes

Transportation Emissions

Urban Air Quality: Pollution impacts affect health

Vehicle Emissions: Cars, trucks, & airplanes

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Methane Emissions: from agriculture (livestock, rice, paddies) & waste (landfills)

CO2 Emissions: fossil fuels & industrial processes

Fossil Fuel Use

Electricity Generation: Extensive use of fossil fuels for power

Coal, Oil, Gas: Major contributors to carbon emissions

Ecological Footprint and Biodiversity

Ecological Deficit

Resource depletion: environmental degradation & unsustainable consumption patterns

Footprint Exceeds Biocapacity: Creating an ecological deficit

Global Trends

Disparities in Resource Use: Inequitable distribution of resource consumption & waste generation

Developed countries: larger ecological footprints due to higher consumption & resource use

Biocapacity Imbalance

Resource Overconsumption: Demand exceeds the Earth's capacity to regenerate

Decreased biocapacity: loss of productive land & ecosystems due to human activity

Human Impact on Ecosystems

Urban Sprawl: Expansion of urban areas leads to habitat fragmentation

Clearing forests reduces biodiversity & disrupts ecosystems

Food Footprint

Water Use

Water Scarcity: Over-extraction affects freshwater availability

Agricultural Water Usage: High demand for irrigation leading to water scarcity

Land Use

Forests cleared, causing habitat loss

Deforestation for Agriculture: biodiversity loss & carbon release

Food Waste

Emissions from Waste: Greenhouse gases & methane

Wasted Resources: during production and distribution

Agricultural Practices

Soil Degradation: Erosion, fertility loss &nutrient depletion

Intensive Farming: chemical use and monoculture, leading to soil degradation