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Climate change Climate change

3.2.3 Green gas emissions 3.2.4 The Ecological Footprint

Baldwin (2015, 15) says that food supply
contributes to climate change up to one- The Ecological Footprint Counter is
third of global greenhouse gasses. one of the ways you can figure out

Photo from Kosovo by Esko Lius. (CC-BY-NC-ND) how your lifestyle affects Earth’s
durability.

A prerequisite for ecologically sustainable development is nature and the pre-
servation of its diversity. Siirilä (2015, 9) says that we cannot destroy nature
with our own preferences or economic desires.
(Siirilä 2015, 9.)

Salonen (2010, 20) emphasizes that we have the opportunity to improve or
degrade biodiversity and vitality through our behavior. Salonen (2010, 41)
also says that the ecological dimension is a key starting point for biologists
and natural sciences.

The Norden report (2013, 17) says that the EU has set a target of reducing The Ecological Footprint is a method that measures the quantity of the pro-
20% of greenhouse gases by 2020 compared to 1990. Also, Europe 2020 ductive land needed to produce resources (e.g. heat, fuels and food)
strategy, aims to reduce climate change. Berninger (2013, 18) notes that the used one year, as well as Photo Plastic bottles from Cairo, Egypt by Esk Lius.
EU Commission estimates that the carbon footprint could fall by about 42- the reprocessing, place- (CC-BY-NC-ND)
ment or recycling of waste
49% in the agricultural sector by 2050. The EU Commission emphasizes the and pollution generated.
importance of the food chain in consumption. The report says that “food waste If the consumption of re-
should be minimized, and the people’s diet should be changed from the current sources and the amount
use of livestock products into a more vegetarian way.” of waste exceeds the ear-
th’s natural bearing capa-

In 2050 EU’s aim is to be a low-carbon economy. It means that by 2050 the EU city, human activity is not
aims to cut its emissions by 80% compared to 1990 levels.The next milestones ecologically sustainable.
are in 2030 when the greenhouse gas emission cuts should be 40% and in
2040 when the cuts should be 60%.
(European commission 2018c)

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