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THE ECOLOGICAL WEALTH of NATIONS Earth’S Biocapacity As a New Framework for International Cooperation

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THE ECOLOGICAL WEALTH of NATIONS Earth’S Biocapacity As a New Framework for International Cooperation Title THE ECOLOGICAL WEALTH OF NATIONS Earth’s biocapacity as a new framework for international cooperation The Ecological Power of Nations 3 Contents Foreword 1 EDITORS Global Footprint Network, promotes a Photograph courtesy of NASA was taken by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the Steven Goldfinger sustainable economy by advancing the Pati Poblete International Space Station (ISS). Exploring a new perspective 2 Ecological Footprint, a tool that makes TEXT AND GRAPHICS sustainability measurable. Together with Photograph from Patricio Pillajo courtesy of Biocapacity and the sustainability challenge 3 Susan Burns its partners, the network coordinates Fundación Terra. William Coleman research, develops methodological Cover photo: Canada. Quebec Province. Brad Ewing Global ecological limits 4 standards and provides decision makers Charlevoix forest. © Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Katsunori Iha with robust resource accounts to help Page 2: Plantation. © Juan Alfonso Peña; Alessandro Galli the human economy operate within the Carrots. © Juan Alfonso Peña; Tomatoes. Ecological Footprint and biocapacity of nations 6 Steven Goldfinger © Juan Alfonso Peña; Corn. © Juan Alfonso Earth’s ecological limits. David Moore Peña; Herbs. © Juan Alfonso Peña; Water. Juan Alfonso Peña Development that fits on one Earth 10 © Patricio Pillajo. Page 5: Anvil clouds over Pati Poblete the Pacific Ocean, NASA Human Spaceflight Anders Reed Collection, ISS007-E-10807, 21 July, 2003. Human Development Index and Ecological Meredith Stechbart Page 11: Ivory Coast. Crowd at Abengourou. Footprint of countries, 2006 12 Mathis Wackernagel © Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Page 14: Kenya. Small African fields. © Yann Arthus-Bertrand. NATIONAL FOOTPRINT Page 22: Ecuador. Sierra region. Fields near Biocapacity constraints and national well-being 16 ACCOUNTS Quito. © Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Page 23: Mali. William Coleman Market gardening near Tombouctou. © Yann Arthus-Bertrand. A new map of the world 18 Brad Ewing Alessandro Galli Published in April 2010 by Global David Moore Footprint Network, Oakland, California, Investment risks and opportunities 20 Anna Oursler United States of America. © 2010 Global Anders Reed Footprint Network. All rights reserved. Meredith Stechbart Interpreting national Footprint Any reproduction in full or in part of this Mathis Wackernagel This report was made possible through publication must mention the title and and biocapacity trends 22 Robert Williams the generous support of the Flora Family credit the aforementioned publisher as the Foundation; Foundation for Global copyright owner. Biocapacity & Ecological Footprint over time GRAPHIC DESIGN Community; Mental Insight Foundation; Skoll Foundation; TAUPO Fund; Luc World, Latin America, North America & Oceania 24 Info Grafik Inc. This report is a revision of an earlier edition Daniela Arias Hoffmann; André and Rosalie Hoffmann; Africa 25 that was written and produced by Juan Catherine Oeri; Lutz Peters; Daniela Juan Alfonso Peña Alfonso Peña, and published in August Asia 26 Schlettwein-Gsell; Peter Seidel; Terry and 2009. Europe 27 PRINTER Mary Vogt; Marie-Christine Wackernagel Hunza Graphics Burckhardt; and Oliver and Bea Wackernagel. Oakland, California, PHOTOGRAPHS Data Tables: United States of America. We would also like to acknowledge Global Ecological Footprint and biocapacity Photographs courtesy of Yann Arthus- Footprint Network’s partner organizations of nations, 2005 28 Bertrand from the book Earth from Above: and the Global Footprint Network National 365 Days published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., © 2001 Harry N. Abrams, Inc. See www. Accounts Committee for their guidance, References and further reading 36 yannarthusbertrand.org and www.goodplanet. contributions and commitment to robust org. National Footprint Accounts. Global Footprint Network partner organizations 37 Foreword When I was born in 1962 most of the stocks; or we can take out a loan to course, one which all too often seems to world’s countries were using resources be “repaid” at a future date, putting be more about maintaining the “right to and emitting carbon dioxide at a rate more carbon into the air than nature collapse.” We must work with nature’s that their own ecosystems could keep can currently absorb. But for how long budget, not against it, if we are to secure up with. Today, less than 20 percent of can we do this, and at what cost in the human well-being for both current and the world’s population lives in countries interim? Based on current United Nations future generations. where this is still the case. agencies’ projections of moderate population growth, a slight decline in To succeed, and to make this success How do we know this? By using world hunger, partial decarbonization of last, we need to alter the path we are Ecological Footprint accounting, a global energy systems, and a continued on today. I am an unwavering optimist method for calculating society’s use of increase in agricultural productivity, by and am convinced we can. Consider nature’s assets. Based on data from the late 2030s humanity will need the this: If the current trends in biocapacity the United Nations, as well as in-country equivalent of two Earths to keep up with and Footprint represented financial statistical sources, it compares humanity’s our demands. trajectories, every planner, economist Ecological Footprint (the demand our or minister would recognize the urgency Mathis Wackernagel, Ph.D. consumption places on the biosphere) With demand so far out of synch with of changing course, and develop an President, Global Footprint Network with biocapacity (the biosphere’s ability supply, and ecological debt accumulating aggressive agenda for rectifying the to meet this demand), providing a kind from decades of ecological overspending, situation. Nothing less is required with of bank statement for the planet. The it is unrealistic to assume we can even our current ecological trajectory. After results for 2006, which are presented in reach this level of consumption. There just all, more money can be printed, but this report: Our Footprint now overshoots are not that many fisheries to overfish, nature’s assets cannot. the Earth’s biocapacity by more than 40 forests to deforest, or atmospheres to percent. In other words, the planet’s living fill up with CO2 before climate change systems need to grow for about a year wreaks havoc with food and water and five months to meet the demands we supplies. are placing on them in a single year. We have a choice: Maintaining the “right Overshoot is possible only for a limited to develop” – a key motivation behind time. Similar to the financial world, we this publication, and more broadly, the can temporarily eat into our ecological activities of Global Footprint Network savings by drawing down our resource – means moving away from our current The Ecological Wealth of Nations 1 exploring a new perspective This report documents the demand that humanity is put- Conversely, what does it mean for those who are run- Global Footprint Network invites all countries and orga- ting on the Earth’s ecological assets, and the capacity of ning an ecological deficit? nizations to participate in this debate, and to explore the ecosystems to keep up with this demand, both globally implications of the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity and by individual nation. The analysis is primarily based on What are the political, economic, social and strategic data for national development, valuation of ecological statistical information that countries report to the United implications of eight countries controlling more than half services, and international agreements, such as those Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO), the the planet’s biological capacity? designed to protect biodiversity. In addition, these data UN Development Program (UNDP) and other international provide an important perspective for shaping and evaluat- organizations How can nations work together to best manage ecologi- ing post-Copenhagen initiatives related to the emission cal assets so that they are not depleted or degraded, and capture of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil The purpose of this publication is to provide data rather but rather, can continue to meet human demands while fuels, deforestation and other sources. than policy recommendations, and to open a creative maintaining a healthy biodiversity? debate over the implications of living in a resource- In a world that is confronting simultaneous limits on food, constrained world. Statistics show that humanity is using The data presented in this publication are intended to water, soil, energy, climate and biodiversity, this perspec- resources and turning them into wastes faster than the enhance understanding of the extent, use and distribution tive brings current ecological realities into sharper focus. Earth’s living systems can absorb these wastes or turn of ecological assets, and their relationship to human well- In particular, it can help gauge whether proposed solu- them back into resources. This information is intended to being. It provides an objective and measurable starting tions will result in an absolute reduction in humanity’s raise awareness and catalyze a discussion of the various point for politicians, decision-makers, opinion leaders and ecological overshoot, or will just transfer pressure from risks and opportunities for individual countries created by citizens to address the sustainability challenge — how to one stressed ecosystem to another. this imbalance,
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