The Ecological Footprint
Channel: Salvatore Babones
Date: 2016-05-17

The "ecological footprint" or "carbon footprint" is a clever way to evaluate things or actions on the basis of their impact on the environment.
The fundamental principle of the ecological footprint is that the costs of a thing or action should be attributed to the purchaser or doer, not to the producer.

For example the ecological footprint of driving a car is calculated as the total environmental impact of producing the car (apportioned for the time used) plus the impact of producing the gasoline, burning the gasoline, maintaining the road, etc.

If oil is produced in the Middle East but used in North America, it is charged against North America's ecological footprint.