Ecological overshoot is shaping the 21st century. In Ecological Footprint, Mathis Wackernagel advises us to run our economies on regeneration, rather than by liquidating the planet. He explains the key tool for the job – Footprint and biocapacity accounting – and how it applies to companies, cities, and countries.

The only metric that tracks how much nature we have – and how much nature we use

Ecological Footprint accounting, first introduced in the 1990s and continuously developed, continues to be the only metric that compares overall human demand on nature with what our planet can renew — its biocapacity — and distils this into one number: how many Earths we use.

Our economy is running a Bernie Madoff-style Ponzi scheme with the planet. We use future resources to run the present, using more than Earth can replenish. Like any such scheme, this works for a limited time, followed by a crash.

Avoiding ecological bankruptcy requires rigorous resource accounting — a challenging task, but doable with the right tools.

Ecological Footprint provides a complete introduction, covering:

• Footprint and biocapacity accounting
• Data and key findings for nations
• Worldwide examples including businesses, cities, and countries
• Strategies for creating regenerative economies

Whether you’re a student, business leader, future-oriented city planner, economist, or have an abiding interest in humanity’s future, Footprint and biocapacity are key parameters to be reckoned with and Ecological Footprint is your essential guide.

AWARDS

• SILVER | 2020 Eric Zencey Prize
• SILVER | 2019 Nautilus Book Awards: Ecology & Environment
• FINALIST | 2019 Foreword INDIES: Ecology & Environment

Prelude
Footprint — Why? (Introduction)

Part I: Footprint — The Tool
1. Area as Currency — How Much Biocapacity Does a Person Need?
2. Ecological Hinterland — How Much Biocapacity Does a City Need?
3. Croplands, Forests, and Oceans — How Much Biocapacity Do We Have?
4. One Planet — Ecological Limits and Then What?
5. Footprint as Compass — How Much Biocapacity Do We Need for a Good Life?

Part II: Footprint — Challenges Defining the 21st Century
6. End Overshoot! — Communication Is Key
7. Winners and Losers — Strategies for Countries to Consider
8. Footprint Scenarios — Ways out of Global Overshoot

Part III: Footprint — Case Studies
9. Footprint Calculations — Individuals, Cities, Countries, Products, and Companies
10. Footprint in Architecture and City Planning— BedZED, Masdar City, and Peter Seidel
11. China — A New Model of Development?
12. Africa — Protecting One's Resources
13. Footprint — A Conversation

Acknowledgments: Who is Powering All This?
Glossary
Notes
Index
About the Authors
About New Society Publishers

The only metric that tracks how much nature we have – and how much nature we use

Our economy is running a Bernie Madoff-style Ponzi scheme with the planet. We use future resources to run the present, using more than Earth can replenish. Like any such scheme, this works for a limited time, followed by a crash.

Avoiding ecological bankruptcy requires rigorous resource accounting — a challenging task, but doable with the right tools.

Ecological Footprint accounting, first introduced in the 1990s and continuously developed, continues to be the only metric that compares overall human demand on nature with what our planet can renew — its biocapacity — and distils this into one number: how many Earths we use.

Ecological Footprint provides a complete introduction, covering:

• Footprint and biocapacity accounting
• Data and key findings for nations
• Worldwide examples including businesses, cities, and countries
• Strategies for creating regenerative economies

Whether you’re a student, business leader, future-oriented city planner, economist, or have an abiding interest in humanity’s future, Footprint and biocapacity are key parameters to be reckoned with and Ecological Footprint is your essential guide.