What is an ecological footprint?

An ecological footprint is defined as a measure of human impact on Earth’s ecosystems. This concept quantifies the demand that human activities place on the environment, specifically in terms of land and water use, and it assesses how much natural capital is needed to support a population's lifestyle. It considers factors such as carbon emissions, food consumption, and resource use, essentially providing an overview of how many natural resources are consumed versus what is regenerated in a given area.

The measurement helps to highlight the sustainability of lifestyles and consumption patterns, indicating whether humanity’s ecological overshoot is leading to depletion of resources and habitat degradation. This perspective is critical in addressing environmental issues and fostering sustainable practices that can minimize negative impacts on ecosystems.