What is an ecological footprint?
Dr. Aleksandra Ziemińska-Stolarska's research focuses on life cycle analysis and calculating the carbon footprint of materials, products, technological processes and organisations. During her lecture, she introduces listeners to the concept of the ecological footprint, coined in the early 1990s by William Rees and Mathis Wackernagel. It is a measure of human impact on the natural environment.
Ecological debts of modern times
Everyday activities – drinking, eating, moving, using transportation, consuming energy and heat, as well as generating waste – have an impact on nature. Our planet's resources are not infinite, and we currently live on ecological credit. This means we are exploiting more resources than the Earth can provide. Our lifestyle, based on overconsumption, exceeds the planet's regenerative capacity.
Carbon footprint – a consequence of our choices
Carbon footprint, the total emissions of greenhouse gases (not only carbon dioxide, but also methane, nitrous oxide, and so-called f-gases), constitutes a part of the ecological footprint. These originate primarily from human activities – fuel combustion, transport, industrial production – and directly contribute to the increase in emissions of these gases into the atmosphere.
When nature can't keep up with the man
European Union countries strive to achieve climate neutrality, meaning balancing greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing them through the so-called natural sinks, such as oceans, seas, forests and vegetated soils. However, as the speaker points out, the current balance is still not zero – natural sinks cannot compensate for total emissions. As a result, we are experiencing climate changes that are already visible to the naked eye. Examples include mass floods in Poland and Valencia, wildfires in Los Angeles and drying reservoirs. Dr Ziemińska-Stolarska underlines that the number of climate migrants may soon outnumber economic or demographic migrants.
Small changes, big impact
The speaker reminds us that each of us can contribute to environmental protection by making simple everyday decisions:
- Use our own thermal mugs
- Use reusable water bottles
- Buy only what you can eat
- Choose certified products
- Don't leave devices on standby
- Save water
- Take e-waste to special collection points
- Buy second-hand clothes, donate them or sell those you no longer wear
Water crisis
Water conservation is particularly important. Poland ranks last among European countries in terms of water quality. The poor condition of retention reservoirs and pollution – including chemical pollution – are the result of years of neglect.
Environmental awareness matters
We must become conscious consumers, as excessive consumerism is directly linked to an increase in our ecological footprint. It's important to consider not only our own generation but also future generations. Every change in our habits can contribute to a significant change in the environment.
Dr. Aleksandra Ziemińska-Stolarska is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering at the Lodz University of Technology. She specialises in LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) analyses of new materials and technologies in chemical and environmental engineering. She is responsible for the implementation of three EU projects and has also participated in two other grants as a carbon footprint expert. She is the author of the Lodz University of Technology's carbon footprint report. She has published 17 articles in journals from the Philadelphia list and presented over 20 papers at national and international conferences.
Edit: Michał Gruda and Małgorzata Jasińska (Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, University of Lodz)