Slight Progress in the Global Ecological Footprint

Overconsumption and Planetary Pressure

Since the beginning of the industrial era, humanity has been exerting increasing pressure on natural resources. Energy consumption, mining, deforestation, and urbanization contribute to a rapid increase in the ecological footprint. If the world population continues to grow and average consumption per person increases, the demand for resources will far exceed the planet's regenerative capacity.

Ecological Surplus and Deficit by Country

The table highlights the extent of ecological imbalances at the national level. Countries with high per capita consumption and industrialization, such as the United States, Canada, or Germany, have the largest ecological deficits, with a footprint far exceeding national biocapacity. In contrast, several countries with per capita biocapacity greater than their consumption have an ecological surplus. This is the case for Australia or Venezuela. These surpluses reflect both low population densities and abundant natural resources. This distribution clearly shows that ecological deficit is correlated with per capita consumption and industrial intensity, while ecological surplus mainly depends on the availability of renewable resources and population density.

Table of ecological surpluses or deficits by country

• Source: Global Footprint Network (new window), United Nations, Climate Change Science (new window).

Global Evolution of the Ecological Footprint

The human ecological footprint continues to grow slightly, exceeding Earth's regenerative capacity. Some positive effects of human corrective actions are beginning to be perceived, but they remain very modest on a global scale. The transition to renewable energies, the reduction of excessive consumption, and the protection of ecosystems are essential to avoid global ecological collapse.

Table of the evolution of global ecological footprint and biocapacity

• Source: Global Footprint Network, 2024 (new window)