The implication of this is that more people need to live within the resources and
ecosystem services provided by 1 Earth in order to prevent the Ecological Footprint
from increasing over time (see Fig. 3 in Lin et al. 2018, p 10). Living within 1 Earth
is equivalent to the biocapacity available on the planet, which is calculated to be 1.6
global hectares per person (for the Global Footprint Network 2020; 1.7 gha per
person according to Lin et al. 2018, p 14 for the 2018 Edition of the National
Footprint Accounts based on 2016 data). In this way, it is possible to sustain Earth’s
current population. However, even in some developing countries, the Ecological
Footprint is greater than 1 Earth and has been so for the world as a whole since 1970
(see Fig. 3.6). According to Lin et al. (2018, p 15; also, Table 3.1), the current world
EF No. Earths, 1961-2016
Year
0.2
0.4
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
0.6
0.8
0
1
1 9 6 1
1 9 6 4
1 9 6 7
1 9 7 0
1 9 7 3
1 9 7 6
1 9 7 9
1 9 8 2
1 9 8 5
1 9 8 8
1 9 9 1
1 9 9 4
1 9 9 7
2 0 0 0
2 0 0 3
2 0 0 6
2 0 0 9
2 0 1 2
2 0 1 5
No. Earths
Fig. 3.6 The world’s Ecological Footprint (bars), 1961–2016. (Source: Global Footprint Network
2020)
Table 3.1 Summary of a selection of national Footprint data
Location
Year
BC (gha/
capita)
BC (gha)
EF (gha/capita) EF (gha)
EF
(No.
Earths)
Canada
2016 15.12
548788594.7
7.24
280880693.6
4.75
Canada
1970 23.12
496057008.2
9.22
197794068.4
3.41
China
2016
0.96
1,373,628,876
3.62
5,195,885,897
2.22
China
1970
0.91
765349868.3
1.06
890223488.4
0.39
Costa Rica 2016
1.55
7552943.64
2.68
13027739.12
1.65
Costa Rica 1970
4.3
7946907.51
2.51
4637842.85
0.93
USA
2016
3.65
1,174,980,442
8.1
2,611,053,058
4.97
USA
1970
4.6
964109444.8
10.37
2,172,630,366
3.83
World
2016
1.63
12,169,283,366
2.75
20,509,032,352 1.69
World
1970
2.71
10,016,193,932
2.72
10,073,811,315 1.01
Source: Global Footprint Network 2020
3.3 Ecological Overshoot
47
ecosystem services provided by 1 Earth in order to prevent the Ecological Footprint
from increasing over time (see Fig. 3 in Lin et al. 2018, p 10). Living within 1 Earth
is equivalent to the biocapacity available on the planet, which is calculated to be 1.6
global hectares per person (for the Global Footprint Network 2020; 1.7 gha per
person according to Lin et al. 2018, p 14 for the 2018 Edition of the National
Footprint Accounts based on 2016 data). In this way, it is possible to sustain Earth’s
current population. However, even in some developing countries, the Ecological
Footprint is greater than 1 Earth and has been so for the world as a whole since 1970
(see Fig. 3.6). According to Lin et al. (2018, p 15; also, Table 3.1), the current world
EF No. Earths, 1961-2016
Year
0.2
0.4
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
0.6
0.8
0
1
1 9 6 1
1 9 6 4
1 9 6 7
1 9 7 0
1 9 7 3
1 9 7 6
1 9 7 9
1 9 8 2
1 9 8 5
1 9 8 8
1 9 9 1
1 9 9 4
1 9 9 7
2 0 0 0
2 0 0 3
2 0 0 6
2 0 0 9
2 0 1 2
2 0 1 5
No. Earths
Fig. 3.6 The world’s Ecological Footprint (bars), 1961–2016. (Source: Global Footprint Network
2020)
Table 3.1 Summary of a selection of national Footprint data
Location
Year
BC (gha/
capita)
BC (gha)
EF (gha/capita) EF (gha)
EF
(No.
Earths)
Canada
2016 15.12
548788594.7
7.24
280880693.6
4.75
Canada
1970 23.12
496057008.2
9.22
197794068.4
3.41
China
2016
0.96
1,373,628,876
3.62
5,195,885,897
2.22
China
1970
0.91
765349868.3
1.06
890223488.4
0.39
Costa Rica 2016
1.55
7552943.64
2.68
13027739.12
1.65
Costa Rica 1970
4.3
7946907.51
2.51
4637842.85
0.93
USA
2016
3.65
1,174,980,442
8.1
2,611,053,058
4.97
USA
1970
4.6
964109444.8
10.37
2,172,630,366
3.83
World
2016
1.63
12,169,283,366
2.75
20,509,032,352 1.69
World
1970
2.71
10,016,193,932
2.72
10,073,811,315 1.01
Source: Global Footprint Network 2020
3.3 Ecological Overshoot
47