Global Footprint Network
Encyclopedia
Global Footprint Network, founded in 2003, is an independent think tank
based in the United States, Belgium and Switzerland. Global Footprint Network works on tools for advancing sustainability.
, and the UK consultancy Best Foot Forward. Their short-term ambition is to have 10 countries use the Ecological Footprint by 2015.
Global Footprint Network also advances the standardization of the Ecological Footprint method.
, Earth Overshoot Day is the day in a year by which humanity has consumed as many of Earth's ecological services as nature can provide in a whole year. The first Earth Overshoot Day was December 19, 1987. In 2011, it will be in late September. Global Footprint Network plans to accelerate the use of the ecological footprint
, which measures the amount of resources we have and how much we used.
, PhD
, and Susan Burns. Wackernagel received an honorary doctorate in December 2007 from the University of Bern in Switzerland
.
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
based in the United States, Belgium and Switzerland. Global Footprint Network works on tools for advancing sustainability.
Work
Global Footprint Network's goal is to create a future where all humans can live well, within the means of one planet Earth. Their headquarters are in Oakland, CA, but they also have offices in Geneva and Brussels. The Network brings together over 100 partner organizations, including WWF International, Sarasin bank, Pictet bank, the British think tank, the New Economics FoundationNew Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
, and the UK consultancy Best Foot Forward. Their short-term ambition is to have 10 countries use the Ecological Footprint by 2015.
Global Footprint Network also advances the standardization of the Ecological Footprint method.
Earth Overshoot Day
Also known as Ecological Debt DayEcological Debt Day
Ecological Debt Day, also known as “Earth Overshoot Day”, is the calendar date each year in which the total resources consumed by humanity will exceed the capacity for the Earth to generate those resources that year...
, Earth Overshoot Day is the day in a year by which humanity has consumed as many of Earth's ecological services as nature can provide in a whole year. The first Earth Overshoot Day was December 19, 1987. In 2011, it will be in late September. Global Footprint Network plans to accelerate the use of the ecological footprint
Ecological footprint
The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area necessary to...
, which measures the amount of resources we have and how much we used.
Founding
Global Footprint Network was founded by Mathis WackernagelMathis Wackernagel
Mathis Wackernagel is a Swiss-born sustainability advocate. He is currently President of Global Footprint Network, an international sustainability think tank with a presence in Oakland, California; Brussels, Belgium, and Zurich, Switzerland...
, PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, and Susan Burns. Wackernagel received an honorary doctorate in December 2007 from the University of Bern in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Leadership of US organization
- President: Mathis WackernagelMathis WackernagelMathis Wackernagel is a Swiss-born sustainability advocate. He is currently President of Global Footprint Network, an international sustainability think tank with a presence in Oakland, California; Brussels, Belgium, and Zurich, Switzerland...
- CEO: Susan Burns
- Board Chair: André HoffmannAndré HoffmannAndré Hoffmann is a former German Speed skater, who made a huge step forwards in the 1987–1988 season and won two 1500 metres races in the World Cup. It was even though highly surprising that he took gold medal in the 1500 m at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary...
- Board Member: Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency Razan Al Mubarak
- Board Member: entrepreneur and sustainability advocate Jamshyd Godrej
- Board Member: Energy Entrepreneur Michael Saalfeld
- Board Member: organizational consultant Kristin Cobble
- Board Member: professor and former secretary of environment Haraldo Mattos de Lemos
See also
- DemographyDemographyDemography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
- Reproductive healthReproductive healthWithin the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
- Sustainable developmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
- Carrying capacityCarrying capacityThe carrying capacity of a biological species in an environment is the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment...
- New Economics FoundationNew Economics FoundationThe New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
- ecological footprintEcological footprintThe ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area necessary to...