Ecological Footprint Calculator

Estimate your demand on Earth's resources (in global hectares).

Dietary Consumption Score (1-5) Score your typical diet (1: Vegan to 5: High Meat).

Transportation Dependence (1-5) How often you rely on high-emission travel.

Goods/Consumption Score (1-5) How often you buy new clothes, gadgets, etc.

Housing/Energy Efficiency (1-5) Energy usage and home size relative to efficiency.

Resource Demand Estimate

Ecological Footprint (gha)

Earths Required

Resource Status

The sustainable limit is 1.6 global hectares (gha) per person.

Understanding Your Ecological Footprint (gha)

The **Ecological Footprint Calculator** measures your individual **resource demand**—the amount of productive land and sea area (in **global hectares** or **gha**) required to support your lifestyle and absorb your waste. This powerful metric compares human consumption to the Earth's available regenerative capacity (**biocapacity**). When the average global footprint exceeds the available **biocapacity** per person, we enter into **ecological deficit**.

Calculating Resource Demand in Global Hectares (gha)

This calculator uses a simplified model based on major consumption categories to estimate your total demand on the planet. Key inputs reflecting **resource demand** are:

**Food:** The largest component, heavily weighted by **meat consumption**.
**Mobility:** Emissions from driving and flying.
**Goods/Consumption:** The land needed to produce all items purchased.
**Energy/Housing:** The land required to neutralize CO2 emissions from home energy use.

The **ecological footprint** is typically reported in **gha** (Global Hectares).

The Ecological Deficit and Sustainable Living

The Earth currently has about $1.6$ **gha** of **biocapacity** available per person. Any **ecological footprint** exceeding $1.6$ **gha** contributes to the global **ecological deficit**. This tool aims to promote **sustainable living** by showing how many Earths would be needed if everyone lived like you. The goal is to keep your personal **resource demand** as close to or below the sustainable limit as possible to combat **climate change**.

Ecological Footprint FAQs

What does 'gha' stand for?

'**Gha**' stands for **Global Hectares**, the standard unit used to measure the **Ecological Footprint**. One **global hectare** represents a hectare of biologically productive space with world-average productivity.

What is the difference between Ecological Footprint and Carbon Footprint?

The **Carbon Footprint** measures only **CO2 emissions**. The **Ecological Footprint Calculator** measures total **resource demand**, including land required for food, materials, and absorbing waste. The **carbon footprint** is just one component of the larger **ecological footprint**.

What is the sustainable limit for the ecological footprint?

The sustainable limit (or the world's available **biocapacity** per person) is approximately **$1.6$ gha**. Any footprint above this figure means your lifestyle is contributing to the global **ecological deficit**, making **sustainable living** necessary.