To calculate your footprint, try this web-based calculator
What do these calculators assess?
The impact we have on the resources of our planet can be measured in two ways:
1. Our Ecological Footprint
This calculation takes into account green house gas emissions caused by our use of resources, our water use, the food we eat and the waste we create. This foot print is expressed in the number of hectares required to support our lifestyle and to sequester our emissions.
Australia has the fifth highest ecological footprint in the world, which is a footprint three times the global average.
Current estimates show that if the world’s population used resources at the same rate as the Australian average, we’d need the equivalent of 3 to 4 planets of resources each year.
2. Our Carbon Footprint
This is the amount of carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere by our use of fossil fuels for energy and transport. This footprint is expressed in tonnes of CO2. Currently, the per capita carbon footprint in NSW is 23.6 tons/year. (2010)
