A systems-based approach to ecological footprint accounting.

摘要

Human induced limiting factors involving Earth System processes raise challenges to the sustainability of the human enterprise and non-human biodiversity. Most observers agree that the Ecological Footprint (EF) has value as an educational tool by drawing attention to the unsustainability of human resource consumption. However, utility in planning and policy development, also claimed by EF proponents, is not so universally accepted. This research seeks to address selected critique of EF methodology and improve its utility both as an educational tool and in planning and policy applications. This is accomplished primarily through a reformulation of standard EF methodology that incorporates structural aspects of ecosystem ecology. Modifications to standard methodology regarding the Built-up and Carbon Land Types and the employment of Equivalence Factors are also suggested. This new, hybrid EF/ecosystem ecology application is referred to as Ecological Footprint System Accounting (EFSA). The reformulation of Carbon Land into CO₂ outputs and related energy inputs allows a consideration of additional landscape functions important to the sustainability of human ecosystems such as energy production. EFSA provides a more direct and seemingly accurate accounting of CO₂ emission and sequestration, resulting in larger deficits than when using standard EF methodology. "World" hectares are preferred in this research over "global" hectares as a simpler, more representational measure of land area. Data disaggregation by others is also incorporated into the EFSA framework with limited success. EFSA provides a framework that can be expanded to include additional resource flows and sequestration pathways, and is adaptable depending on the requirements of the user. EFSA may be more useful in planning and policy applications, particularly at the local scale, and have higher educational value than standard methodology.