What's YOUR footprint? No, we're not talking about your shoe size. Your "environmental footprint" is, simply put, how much water, trees, and other natural resources you consume in order to maintain your lifestyle. According to The Footprint Network, the ecological footprint of the world is now almost 25% larger than what the earth can regenerate. In other words, we are using up natural resources faster than we can replace them.
In environmental terms, "sustainability" is the equivalent of a balanced budget. Sustainability occurs when our demands on our natural resources are equal to or less than the earth's ability to produce those resources, resulting in a balanced environment. To estimate your individual impact on the environment, take the Ecological Footprint Quiz at http://www.earthday.net/footprint/
When you think about your ecological footprint, it might be worth remembering this old Native American saying: “We do not inherit the Earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children."
