Evaluation of Environmental Footprint Indicators for the Calculation of Personal Overshoot Day

Human activities are exerting immense pressure on the planet, and we are fast approaching a critical transition at a planetary scale. To detect early warning signs and predict the ecological consequences of these pressures on ecosystems, tools must be developed. It is crucial to manage human interaction with the biosphere carefully to guarantee sustainable prosperity in the future. Systemic accounting tools are necessary to monitor the cumulative effects of the various pressures that humans are imposing on the planet. One such metric is the Ecological Footprint analysis, which quantifies the extent of human resource consumption (Ecological Footprint) and the biosphere's capacity to provide (biocapacity) ecosystem goods and services. This measurement is expressed in terms of the bio-productive land and sea areas (ecological assets) required to sustainably deliver these goods and services. The research aims to quantify the impacts on bio-productive land and sea due to the main activities and habits of the average inhabitant. The results of the research will be used to support the development of the Human srl web app. This web app will use the information obtained from a series of questions posed to the user to calculate the user's ecological footprint in global hectares, overshoot day, and the number of earths required and provide hints and suggestions to reduce it. Research begins by establishing a comprehensive understanding of the concept of ecological footprint. A detailed examination of the ecological factors and resources that contribute to the footprint, such as carbon emissions, land use, biodiversity loss, and the utilization of various materials, is executed, which is a critical part of this research. To facilitate user engagement and comprehension, a user-friendly calculator has been developed. Users are prompted to input data pertaining to their daily activities and consumption patterns, and according to their daily life activities and habits, they will get their ecological footprint and personal overshoot day. Additionally, users can also analyze their CLUM (consumption land-use matrix) for a more detailed analysis of the impacts of their daily life activities. This research also encompasses an exhaustive and rigorous approach to the calculation methodology associated with the Ecological Footprint and its constituent indicators. Within this methodological framework, critical elements such as conversion factors, yield factors, and equivalence factors are considered critically. These factors are essential for the precise quantification of the ecological footprint and its diverse indicators, which encompass carbon, cropland, grazing land, forest, built-up land, and fisheries