ecological footprints

An ecological footprint measures the amount of Earth's resources—such as land, water, and air—that an individual, community, or country uses to support their lifestyle. It compares this consumption to the planet's ability to regenerate those resources and absorb waste, including carbon emissions. If the footprint exceeds the Earth's capacity to sustainably renew these resources, it leads to environmental degradation and resource depletion. Essentially, it's a way to understand and quantify how human activities impact the environment, encouraging us to adopt more sustainable practices to reduce our footprint and protect natural ecosystems.