Understanding Our Environmental Footprint

Our environmental footprint represents the amount of land required to meet our needs and absorb our waste. Essentially, it measures human demand on natural resources.

Biological Capacity of the Earth
The Earth's biological capacity refers to the ability of ecosystems to meet these needs and absorb waste, representing the available supply.

Statistics from 2022
In 2022, the planet's biological capacity was 1.5 hectares per person. However, the global environmental footprint reached 2.6 hectares per person. In our country, the environmental footprint was 1.4 hectares, compared to only 0.7 hectares for biological capacity, indicating that we are in an ecological deficit (debt).

We are living as if we have an extra planet at our disposal! Just like overdrawing from a bank account, the balance will eventually be exhausted. Therefore, it is imperative to reduce our environmental footprint.

Actions to Reduce Our Environmental Footprint
Reducing our environmental footprint can start from educational institutions. Here are some key behaviors to adopt:

• Avoid wasting water.
• Conserve energy.
• Use energy-efficient appliances.
• Utilize renewable energy sources.
• Use public transportation and walk more.
• Practice selective waste sorting.
• Protect forests and green areas.

By making these small changes, we can collectively make a significant impact on reducing our environmental footprint and preserving our planet for future generations. Let’s work together to protect our planet!