Humanity relies on ecosystem products and services including resources, waste absorptive capacity, and space to host urban infrastructure. Environmental changes such as deforestation, collapsing fisheries, and CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere indicate that human demand may well have exceeded the regenerative and absorptive capacity of the biosphere. | CALCULATION METHODOLOGY FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTPRINT ACCOUNTS 2008 EDITION 28 OCTOBER 2008 REVISED 16 DECEMBER 2008 GLOBAL FOOTPRINT NETWORK RESEARCH AND STANDARDS DEPARTMENT Global Footprint Network Advancing the Science of Sustainability Calculation Methodology for the National Footprint Accounts 2008 Edition Version Authors Brad Ewing Anders Reed Sarah M. Rizk Alessandro Galli Mathis Wackernagel Justin Kitzes Suggested Citation Ewing B. A. Reed . Rizk A. Galli M. Wackernagel and J. Kitzes. 2008. Calculation Methodology for the National Footprint Accounis 2008 Edition. Oakland Global Footprint Network. The designations employed and the presentation of materials in the Calculation Methodology for the National Footprint Accounts 2008 Edition do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Global Footprint Network or its partner organizations concerning the legal status of any country territory city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. For further information please contact Global Footprint Network 312 Clay Street Suite 300 Oakland CA 94607-3510 USA Phone E-mail data@ Website http Global Footprint Network 2008. All rights reserved. ABSTRACT Human demand on ecosystem services continues to increase and there are indications that this demand may be outpacing the regenerative and absorptive capacity of the biosphere. The productivity of natural capital may increasingly become a limiting factor for the human endeavour. Therefore metrics tracking human demand on and availability of regenerative and waste absorptive capacity within the biosphere are needed. The Ecological Footprint is one such metric it measures human appropriation of ecosystem products and services in terms of the amount of bioproductive land and sea area needed to supply these services. The area of land or sea available to serve a particular use is called .
