π Topic Summary
The ecological footprint measures how much land and water area a population needs to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes, using prevailing technology. It's essentially a way to calculate our impact on the planet. A smaller ecological footprint means we're living more sustainably, using fewer resources, and creating less waste. A larger footprint indicates unsustainable practices.
This worksheet is designed to help you understand the concept of the ecological footprint and how your daily actions contribute to it. By understanding your footprint, you can start making choices that reduce your impact on the environment.
π Part A: Vocabulary
Match the following terms with their definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Ecological Footprint |
A. The amount of waste produced. |
| 2. Sustainability |
B. The ability to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. |
| 3. Carbon Footprint |
C. The impact of human activities measured in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. |
| 4. Biocapacity |
D. The amount of biologically productive land and sea area available to provide the resources a population uses and to absorb its wastes. |
| 5. Waste |
E. The measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems. |
βοΈ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided (reuse, reduce, recycle, resources, environment):
To minimize our ecological footprint, we can practice the three R's: _______, _______, and _______. These actions help conserve ________ and protect the ________.
π€ Part C: Critical Thinking
Describe three specific changes you could make in your daily life to reduce your ecological footprint. Explain how each change would make a difference.