Ecological footprint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecological footprint - Essay Example 2. Very briefly, what were the results of the two different tests and what did you find surprising or noteworthy? In the first test that I took, with me answering it honestly, I actually found out that when everyone on the planet lived like me, it needs 3.9 earths to support humanity’s lifestyle; in addition, I need 17.3 global acres for me to be able to support my lifestyle (myfootprint.org, 2011). However, when I took the test the second time, wherein I assumed that I was the richest man on earth having a very extravagant lifestyle, I actually found out that when everybody else on earth lived like I do, it actually needs 12.4 earths to support humanity’s lifestyle, and I actually need 55.4 global acres in order for me to support my personal lifestyle (myfootprint.org, 2011). What I found in the tests that I took is the fact that as one’s lifestyle becomes more extravagant, wherein one consumes more meat and more commercial food than others, or when one owns a l arger home and has lots of cars or even a private plane, it takes much of the world’s resources to support that lifestyle. ... d natural foods, recycling my trash more often, living in a green, sustainable shelter, using less non-renewable sources and going more for renewable energy, and most of all, having a simpler lifestyle. In this case, I must be able to be more aware of my environment, and that I must be able to consume only what I need. By having a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle, I can significantly reduce my ecological footprint. 4. If everyone lived like you, how many earths would we need to sustain this population and what does that mean? (Why can't we continue consuming resources at the current rate? What would happen if nothing was done?) As I have indicated, if everyone lived like me, it would actually take 3.9 earths to sustain this population (myfootprint.org, 2011); it actually means that the current word’s population actually needs 3x the earth’s current resources. Personally, I think that we cannot continue consuming the earth’s resources at the current rate bec ause time will come when the earth cannot support humanity’s needs anymore. If nothing is done about this matter, the earth’s resources would be depleted fast, and humanity may suffer from famines and natural disasters, or even extinction. 5. What would you suggest, if anything, that should be done to reduce the footprint of everyone else? Given such kind of scenario, I personally think that there must be a renewed awareness campaign regarding the importance of having a sustainable lifestyle, in order for the rest of the world to appreciate and understand why it is important to change our lifestyles. I think that it is important for everyone else to know that the earth has only limited resources and that it can only support so much, and by spreading awareness, I think people will follow and change