Scientists at the Global Footprint Network calculate the energy
component of our ecological footprint by estimating the amount
of ecologically productive land and sea required to absorb the
carbon released from fossil fuel combustion. This translates into
4.9 ha of the average American’s 7.2-ha ecological footprint.
Another way to think about our footprint, however, is to estimate
how much land would be needed to grow biomass with an
energy content equal to that of the fossil fuel we burn.
Assume that you are an average American who burns about
6.3 metric tons of oil-equivalent in fossil fuels each year and
that average terrestrial net primary productivity (p. 32) can be
expressed
as 0.0037 metric tons/ha/year. Calculate how many
hectares of land it would take to supply our fuel use by presentday
photosynthetic production.
Compare the energy component of your ecological footprint
calculated in this way with the 4.9 ha calculated using
the method of the Global Footprint Network. Explain
why results from the two methods may differ.
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