Development of a web-based personal Ecological Footprint calculator for Japanese consumers : facilitating a sustainable lifestyle in accordance with "One Planet Living"

概要

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The authors have developed a computer- and internet-based calculator that can assess the demand of Japanese individuals for ecological services and natural resources in terms of their Ecological Footprint (EF). This personal calculator was designed as an environmental education tool to help Japanese citizens in realizing the degree of their dependency on the carrying capacity inside and outside their country. The ultimate aim of this calculator is to suggest scenarios to reduce their own EF by altering their lifestyles. The tool is sensitive to the characteristics of general Japanese consumption patterns as well as the individual traits of each respondent. Personal parameters include individual consumption behavior and willingness to engage in environmentally responsible activities such as buying locally grown and non-processed foods, choosing energy- and resource-saving devices, and choosing sustainable modes of transportation. Some preliminary case studies involving Japanese citizens and university students were conducted to test the validity and usefulness of this calculator. It appears that this tool will be able to influence the lifestyles of Japanese citizens and contribute to achieving the "One Planet Living" goal in Japan.
同志社大学の論文