This original research article presents the first city-scaled accounts of ecological footprint and biocapacity applied to all 577 census subdivisions in Ontario, Canada. These new data relates local consumption of mate-rials and energy, and the production of emissions, to the area of ecosystems used within and outside the same local jurisdictions to support this metabolism. This information can inform many stakeholders understanding of sustainable prosperity in cities and rural areas, which are challenged by complex geographies of supply chains, waste streams, and the jurisdictions in which policies are made or applied. Methods: Local accounts of ecological footprint were generated by integrating census data with provincial-scaled accounts of investment and consumption of goods and services by households and governments, and coefficients relating economic outputs to areas of ecosystems providing economic inputs. Biocapacity was generated by relating land cover and land use data at 15 m of resolution to its potential to support a footprint component. Results: Ecological footprint varies tremendously between and among cities and rural areas in Ontario, from 12 to 0.12 global hectares (gha) per capita (gha/capita). Differences relate to population, household income, commuting durations and modal split, housing types, and average house-hold size. Biocapacity ranged from 10,039 to 0.11 gha/capita within local boundaries. Conclusions: These new and publicly available data can inform opportunities to conserve or enhance biocapacity, and to understand the potential and limitations of local efforts to affect ecological footprints. These are discussed and contextualized within an ecological economics framework of sustainability.
The Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity methodology and data set (EFB) are a rigorous and longstanding method for measuring sustainability through trade and consumption worldwide. It goes through regular methodological advancements and is used by countries and researchers worldwide. However, the uptake of the approach is lacking across Canadian cities and sustainability groups. This study assessed the understanding, and perceptions of EFB among sustainability stakeholders in Canada to identify barriers and opportunities for increased uptake. We conducted 23 interviews with stakeholders from non-governmental and governmental organizations across western, central, and eastern Canada. The data was analyzed through an affinity sort and revealed themes which resulted in a broader research agenda focusing on social science questions centered around EFB. The identified areas for future research include source data, complexity and scale, behaviour, and policy. The resulting research agenda informed by stakeholders aims to enhance and broaden the use of EFB. The research agenda brings EFB into new areas of inquiry relevant to diverse sectors while also fostering multidisciplinary approaches. Advancing EFB methodologies and applications will enable researchers to contribute more significantly to global sustainability efforts.
This paper explores a land claim case initiated by the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) concerning their traditional territory in Ontario, integrating the principles of the two-eyed seeing approach by bringing the Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity (EFB) methodology into the case as support alongside cultural and Indigenous views. EFB is an environmental indicator used to understand the amount of Earth’s resources an area can provide to support human activities. Using geomatics and EFB research, we quantify the regenerative capacity and environmental significance of SON’s territory. The analysis reveals that cropland, distinguished by Ontario’s high yield factor and fertile soil, possesses the highest Biocapacity within the region, indicating its potential to sustain Indigenous livelihoods. The calculated Biocapacity of SON’s traditional territory underscores its ability to support a population of 594,572 people, emphasizing the vast number of ecological resources available within the territory. We look at the juxtaposition of Indigenous knowledge with scientific analysis within this case and how it can help support Indigenous land claims cases. Through this interdisciplinary approach, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on Indigenous land rights and environmental stewardship, advocating for the recognition and preservation of the ecological heritage of Indigenous lands within the framework of the two-eyed seeing approach.
York University commissioned the Ecological Footprint Initiative to assess greenhouse gas emissions, and Ecological Footprint, attributable to York University. This was a pre-pandemic baseline of fiscal years 2016 to 2020.
York University commissioned EUC’s Ecological Footprint Initiative to assess greenhouse gas emissions, and Ecological Footprint, attributable to York from May 1 2015–April 30 2020. This was a pre-pandemic baseline of fiscal years 2016 to 2020. To read more, click here.
We derived measures and trends from 2005 to 2015 of Ontario's Ecological Footprint of consumption, and the Biocapacity of lands and waters within Ontario. Results were derived using provincial, national and international data, following the Ecological Footprint Standards. This allows results to be compared to national and global trends and measures, and to inform measures of sustainability by comparing Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity. This work informs the Ontario Biodiversity Strategy through the leadership of the Ontario Biodiversity Council. Read our final report and learn about its application as an Ontario indicator.
In assessing the supply and demand of Ecological Footprint Research we found that academic and global research continues to grow, demonstrating sustained applicability and broad demand for Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity data. We found comparatively little uptake in Canada, even though there has been – and remains – significant Canadian research and scholarship. We provide these findings in our synthesis report and are now mobilizing awareness of the work and developing a research program based on the outcomes. Read the report and more.
Given the pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the limited information available concerning higher education institutions’ (HEIs) approach to Scope 3 procurement emissions, this study investigates how HEIs measure and mitigate these emissions while identifying best practices. A review of literature, institutional websites and responses to a self-reporting sustainability performance framework was conducted along with a case study on York University. Results indicate a need to enhance HEIs’ awareness of procurement emissions, with only half of the HEIs examined calculating total procurement emissions. To read more, click here.
Through the demand for resources and ecosystem services, the accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide poses a striking example of how humanity exceeds the regenerative and absorptive capacity of the biosphere. The magnitude to which humans exceed this threshold is often expressed using the Ecological Footprint (EF) methodology. This paper assesses the forest component of the National Footprint & Biocapacity Accounting (NFBA) framework – the most widely known application of the EF methodology. It investigates the forest component from a methodological and data perspective through an extensive literature review. Since the discussion of outdated input data to the forest component seems neglected in the literature, this study explores alternative datasets to estimate a key parameter of the carbon Footprint (cF), the Average Forest Carbon Sequestration (AFCS). A spatially explicit analysis involving net primary productivity (NPP) and land use datasets is conducted to generate forest metrics and timeseries data for the country of Brazil between 2001 and 2019. The outcome of this analysis presents forest extent and productivity data in a more nuanced manner which could work towards improving the robustness of the Accounts if applied at the global scale. To read more, click here.
The Ecological Footprint is a popular sustainability metric that informs human consumption and can be set against bioproductivity at various scales as a land-based composite indicator. When applied in evidence-based decision-making, the National Footprint Accounts at the national scale can provide information for policymakers and governments to establish regulations that ensure sustainability. It is, therefore, crucial that the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity accounting be recognised as a measure of human resource consumption (demand) set against natural capital (supply). Based on a time series since 1961, it is possible to track crosstemporal changes of land-type categories (crop land, grazing land, forest land, fishing grounds, built-up land, and carbon) of the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity accounting for a specific annual edition of the accounts. This information conveys whether a country is in ecological deficit or reserve and what may be contributing to such a national trend. The study area in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor (‘the corridor’) of Costa Rica represents a local–regional case that is compared to its national environmental performance based on the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity. By doing so, it is possible to discern the difference that regional Footprints can have from national figures. To read more, click here.
