Can Italy Succeed in the New Era of Biocapacity Constraints? Dr. Mathis Wackernagel April 8, 2011 – Agende 21 Locali Italiane Biocapacity Creditors and Biocapacity Debtors Biocapacity Creditors and Biocapacity Debtors Biocapacity Creditors and Biocapacity Debtors Global Footprint --------------------------- = 1.5 Global Biocapacity Accounting Framework for Ecological Services Biocapacity: How much bioproductive area is available to us? Ecological Footprint: How much bioproductive area do we demand? The Ecological Footprint CARBON footprint Biocapacity per person Ecological Footprint The Basic Equation Amount per year Yield = ------------------------Area The Basic Equation Amount per year Area = ------------------------Yield Translate area from ha into global ha… Components of the Footprint Cropland Forest Grazing Land Carbon Footprint Fishing Grounds Built Area Humanity’s Ecological Footprint (1961 onwards) Most of the carbon debate communicates about “global Tragedy of the commons“ Is this a useful perspective? EITHER: ~ 2°C X 450 ppm? 350 ppm? Tragedy of the Commons? Y but… OR: 1700 ppm Italy Ecological Footprint Biocapacity per person Italy’s relative GDP per capita (compared to World) Italy’s Ecological Deficit Ecological Footprint per person Deficit Biocapacity per person 3.00 ITALY gha per capita 2.50 2.00 Food Housing Mobility Goods Services Government GFC Other 2007 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 Cropland Grazing Land Forest Land Fishing Grounds Carbon Built-up Land Uptake Land Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors in Europe Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity PER CAPITA,1961-2005 DE BY AT BE ES SK FR FI GR NL HU IT IR PO PT CZ UK RO RU RS CH SE UA DK Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors in Africa Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity PER CAPITA,1961-2005 Alge. CM AO BF CI EG ET GH KE MG MW ML MA MZ NE NG TZ UG ZA ZM SD ZW CG RW Preparing for resource constraints is in overwhelming self-interest of cities and countries. (much more so than for individuals or companies…) [email protected] Uganda Biocapacity per person Iran Ecological Footprint Biocapacity per person Ecological Footprint Ecological Footprint Switzerland The Ecological Footprint and biocapacity (per capita) of three countries from 1961-2005. A country runs an Biocapacity per person ecological deficit if its Footprint exceeds what its ecosystems can renew. The deficit is made up through net-imports, net-carbon emissions to the global atmosphere, or local resource degradation. Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors in MENA Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity PER CAPITA,1961-2006 Houston, you have a problem.. offical national gov Footprint studies we’re working on national govs WBCSD UNDP EP and EC UNEP Green Econ. SEEA (?) (2011) Summary • The planet has limits. Do you know how much biocapacity you have? and how much you use? • Blindness costs lives & opportunities. • Economic stability and competitiveness depends on managing eco-deficits [email protected]