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WWF is working to reduce humanity's ecological footprint – the amount of land and natural resources needed to supply our food, water, fibre and timber, and to absorb our CO2 emissions.
Reducing humanity's impact
The ecological footprint is a monitor of human demand on ecosystems.
It shows that humanity is already using nearly 30% more natural resources than the Earth can replenish.Under a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050 people are predicted to be using twice as many natural resources than the Earth can replenish.
If this happens, large-scale ecosystem collapse becomes increasingly likely, as does dangerous climate change.
To prevent this, we need to find ways to maintain a high standard of living while using far fewer natural resources – getting our footprint down to One Planet Living.
We are specifically focusing on 5 priority footprint areas that we believe need addressing most urgently:
The aim is that everyone lives within the Earth’s capacity to sustain people and nature, and has equitable access to, and use of, natural resources.
- Carbon, Energy & Climate
(energy use, impact of forest loss, and the need for a new global policy on climate change) - Farming
(food, fibre, grazing, aquaculture, and biofuels) - Fishing
(over-fishing, illegal & unregulated fishing, and bycatch) - Forestry
(timber, paper, pulp, and fuel wood) - Water
(dams, irrigation, and drinking supplies)
The aim is that everyone lives within the Earth’s capacity to sustain people and nature, and has equitable access to, and use of, natural resources.
- WWF's Strategic Plan for Conservation 1.12 MB pdf
Footprint Goals
- By 2020, humanity’s global footprint falls below its 2000 level and continues its downward trend, specifically in the areas of:
- Energy and carbon
- Commodities
(crops, meat, fish and wood)
- Water
- By 2050, humanity’s global footprint stays within the Earth’s capacity to sustain life and the natural resources of our planet are shared equitably
One Planet Living is possible...
It might seem impossible to reduce the huge footprint of industrialized countries without sacrificing the comforts and advantages of a modern, mobile lifestyle.
But this is not the case.
One London housing development has halved the ecological footprint of an average Londoner – and the people living there didn’t need to change a thing.
The homes were built with reclaimed steel and timber from responsibly managed forests. They are also energy efficient, needing only 10% of the heating of regular houses. Rainwater is harvested and sewage water is recycled. Hot water and electricity are provided by solar panels and an onsite combined heat and power plant running on tree surgery waste.
It doesn’t stop there.
Residential, business, and tourist developments in Europe, North America, China and South Africa – and even the London 2012 Olympics and a whole new city in Abu Dhabi – have similarly embraced WWF’s One Planet Living concept for a more sustainable future.
But this is not the case.
One London housing development has halved the ecological footprint of an average Londoner – and the people living there didn’t need to change a thing.
The homes were built with reclaimed steel and timber from responsibly managed forests. They are also energy efficient, needing only 10% of the heating of regular houses. Rainwater is harvested and sewage water is recycled. Hot water and electricity are provided by solar panels and an onsite combined heat and power plant running on tree surgery waste.
It doesn’t stop there.
Residential, business, and tourist developments in Europe, North America, China and South Africa – and even the London 2012 Olympics and a whole new city in Abu Dhabi – have similarly embraced WWF’s One Planet Living concept for a more sustainable future.
