What is meant by ecological footprint?

The concept of an ecological footprint refers specifically to the environmental impact of an individual or population. It quantifies the demand placed on Earth's ecosystems and resources by measuring how much land and water area a person or a community requires to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste generated. This includes factors such as carbon emissions, food consumption, water usage, and the use of natural resources.

By understanding the ecological footprint, one can assess whether a population is living within the planet's ecological capacity or overshooting it, which contributes to environmental degradation. This measure is essential for promoting sustainable practices, as it highlights the need to reduce consumption and waste to mitigate impacts on the environment.