Measuring Our Impact Through Ecological And Carbon Footprints

The lecture explores two key environmental indices: ecological and carbon footprints. It explains the ecological footprint as a measure of human demand on nature, expressed in global hectares, and compares it with biocapacity to assess sustainability. Examples from various countries highlight differences in ecological depth. The carbon footprint, linked to the Kyoto Protocol, measures greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2 and methane, using global warming potential. The lecture discusses direct and indirect emissions, carbon sinks, and reduction strategies like cap-and-trade. Students are encouraged to explore emission factors and complete activities.

What are the two main indices discussed in this lecture?

• Water footprint and land footprint

• Ecological footprint and water footprint

• Ecological footprint and carbon footprint

• Carbon footprint and water footprint

Who first proposed the concept of the ecological footprint?

• William Rees

• Rachel Carson

• Al Gore

• James Lovelock

What is the ecological footprint of an average person in the U.S.?

• 5.61 global hectares

• 6.79 global hectares

• 8.22 global hectares

• 3.76 global hectares

Which country is considered an ecological creditor?

• United States

• Saudi Arabia

• Russia

• India

What is the baseline GWP value for CO2?

• 21

• 100

• 1

• 34

What is the GWP potential of methane compared to CO2?

• 100

• 34

• 1

• 21

What are the two types of emissions categorized in carbon footprint calculations?

• Direct and indirect

• Primary and secondary

• Local and global

• Short-term and long-term

What is a carbon sink?

• A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs CO2

• A source of carbon emissions

• A type of greenhouse gas

• A method to calculate carbon footprint

What is the purpose of the cap-and-trade system?

• To increase carbon emissions

• To calculate biocapacity

• To measure ecological footprint

• To regulate and reduce carbon emissions

What is the main focus when reducing an organization's carbon footprint?

• Measuring water footprint

• Calculating indirect emissions

• Focusing on emission hotspots

• Increasing carbon sinks