Ecological Footprint and Human Impact on the Environment
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by: terence
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Word Count: 418
CO2 - gas, which is responsible for the greenhouse effect is assimilated by planet’s vegetation and processed into oxygen. Capacities of this assimilation process have their limits. The planet's vegetation continues to decline year by year, but the volume of CO2 emissions will increase. In such a situation, there will come a time when the vegetation is unable to cope with the large volume of CO2 emissions and the world would be on a brink of a global ecological crisis.
To understand the processes of nature better, British scientists have introduced a measure of Ecological footprint (EF). The Ecological footprint is a biologically clean area (100% filled with trees, shrubs and grass), which would be able to cope with assimilation of adverse substances produced by one ecological resource consumer. A single consumer is generally considered a human or a car. One man’s Ecological footprint is a minimum of 1.9 ha of green area. This means that for the purpose of recycling chemical and organic waste created by a single global citizen within one year’s time, we need a clean 1.9 ha of forest land. Looking at the composition of a human Ecological footprint, it shows that a big part of EF is consumed by a car. One car needs a 1.4 ha area of pure forest in order to assimilate CO2 and harmful organic compounds (hydrocarbons).
However, while the nominal fixed Ecological footprint is 1.9 ha, the population of Europe consumes 5 - 7 hectares. The situation in other developed countries - the United States, Australia, India, China - is as bad. The smallest Ecological footprint is measured in certain South American and African populations.
Slightly altering the data of Ecological footprint, we can ascertain that the nominal EF is able to absorb and recycle 5.4 tons of CO2 (medium car with an internal combustion engine will produce 4 tonnes of CO2 per year). However, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is rising constantly.
The planet's vegetation is unable to cope with such a large amount of CO2. To halt the progression of the greenhouse effect, humans have to stick to the 1.9 hectares of Ecological footprint. The nominal EF should not be overdrawn, but even that unfortunately is not enough.
If CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is not reduced over the next 20 years, the greenhouse effect will only gain its force. To reduce the CO2 concentration we have to reduce the nominal Ecological footprint by saving electricity and developing green cars.
About the Author
Terence Green is an environmental activist campaigning about green energy development. Learn more about corn energy and support the environmental article directory by submitting your own thoughts and publishing the materials on your sites for other people's consideration.
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