Global ecological footprint is 2.85in 1996 In 1996, the ecological footprint of the global population was already 30% larger than the Earths biological productive capacity As the world population has increased from 5.7 billion to 6.0 billion since 1996, the global footprint is likely to have inereased by about 5% in 2000 The Case of china China accounts for 7% of the worlds cultivated land, but supports 22% of the total population Population exerts a great pressure on the land annually 5 billion tons of soil is eroded, representing a loss of lm soil cover over the entire country Supply of adequate& clean drinking water is a growing problem Environmentalecological degradation problems arise over the entire country e. g. acid rain, flooding, droughts, air pollution. ete Population expected to inerease 0.9% annually during the 10 Five-Year Plan(2001-2005) long Kong has an ecological footprint of 7 14 compared to the world average 2.85 in 1996 If people in Hong Kong continue to consume natural resourees and emit CO2 at the existing rates, we need at least 444 times the existing land area (or 170 times the total area including marine waters) to sustain ourselves If all people in the world consume at rates similar to Hong Kong people, another 2 planets would be needed What can we do? l Partake in the sustainability movement, to balance human consumption nature's limited productivity in order to ensure that our communities are sustainable locall regionally andgloball 2. More efficient use of resources(e.g. energy-efficient lamps) 3. Consume less by controlling population growth and decreasing consumption 4. To make our communities more livable and sustainable we can work towards change at the individual, urban and commercial IndividuaIL composting energy-efficient light bl 3. Partake in recreation tourism that have a low impact on the environment 4. Grow some of our own food 5. Live closer to worl 6. Use bicycles public transport rather than cars 7. Buy items made locally or grown locally rather than far away Urban Level I. High population density areas preferred to dispersed houses 2. Offer living, working and shopping spaces in integrated neighborhoods 3. Discourage the use of cars(e.g reduce road parking space) but encourage use of public transport, bicycles and walking(e.g. bicycle speedways) Planting of trees and greenspaces 5. Establish urban land-trusts to give the community more control over land use 6. Introduce housing construction guidelines which minimize the consumption of resourees 7. Comprehensive waste reduction systems which inelude municipal resouree reuse and reduction schemes Commereial Level l Use local resources rather than imported ones 2. Regain local control over production distribution of those resources 3. Secure local needs so that the long term livelihood of a region can be protected without compromising the livelih people in other regions 4. Charge the true costs for private transportation, pollution and resouree use Commereial Level 5. Support community-based volunteer and mutual aid networks 6. Encourage ecologically sound business 7. Tax incentives for encouraging sustainable lifestyles, and tax unsustainable behavior THE END3 • Global ecological footprint is 2..85in 1996 • In 1996, the ecological footprint of the global population was already 30% larger than the Earth’s biological productive capacity • As the world population hasincreased from 5..7 billion to 6..0 billion since 1996, the global footprint is likely to have increased by about 5% in 2000 The Case of China • China accounts for 7% of the world’s cultivated land, but supports 22% of the total population • Population exerts a great pressure on the land –– annually 5 billion tons of soil is eroded, representing a loss of 1m soil cover over the entire country • Supply of adequate & clean drinking water is a growing problem • Environmental/ecological degradation problems arise over the entire country e..g.. acid rain, flooding, droughts, air pollution…etc • Population expected to increase 0..9% annually during the 10 th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) • Hong Kong has an ecological footprint of 7..14 compared to the world average 2..85 in 1996 • Hong Kong ranked 13th out of 15 countries and regions • If people in Hong Kong continue to consume natural resources and emit CO2 at the existing rates, we need at least 444 times the existing land area (or 170 times the total area including marine waters) to sustain ourselves • If all people in the world consume at rates similar to Hong Kong people, another 2 planets would be needed What can we do? 1.. Partake in the sustainability movement, to balance human consumption & nature’s limited productivity in order to ensure that our communities are sustainable locally, regionally and globally 2.. More efficient use of resources (e..g.. energy - efficient lamps) 3.. Consume less by controlling population growth and decreasing consumption 4.. To make our communities more livable and sustainable, we can work towards change at the individual, urban and commercial levels.. IndividualLevel 1.. Start composting 2.. Use energy-efficient light bulbs,shower heads etc 3.. Partake in recreation & tourism that have a low impact on the environment 4.. Grow some of our own food 5.. Live closer to work 6.. Use bicycles & public transport rather than cars 7.. Buy items made locally or grown locally rather than far away Urban Level 1.. High population density areas preferred to dispersed houses 2.. Offer living, working and shopping spacesin integrated neighborhoods 3.. Discourage the use of cars (e..g.. reduce road & parking space) but encourage use of public transport, bicycles and walking (e..g.. bicycle speedways) 4.. Planting of trees and greenspaces 5.. Establish urban land-truststo give the community more control over land use 6.. Introduce housing construction guidelines which minimize the consumption of resources 7.. Comprehensive waste reduction systems which include municipal resource reuse and reduction schemes Commercial Level 1.. Use local resources rather than imported ones 2.. Regain local control over production & distribution of those resources 3.. Secure local needs so that the long term livelihood of a region can be protected without compromising the livelihoods of other people in other regions 4.. Charge the true costs for private transportation, pollution and resource use Commercial Level 5.. Support community-based volunteer and mutual aid networks 6.. Encourage ecologically sound business 7.. Tax incentives for encouraging sustainable lifestyles, and tax unsustainable behavior THE END