Ajayi, A.O. (author), Ajayi, O.C. (author), Akinnifesi, F.K. (author), Sileshi, G. (author), and Mng'omba, S. (author)
Format:
Abstract
Publication Date:
2010-09-14
Published:
Ivory Coast
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 178 Document Number: C30710
Notes:
Paper presented at Tropentag 2010, Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Zurich, Switzerland, September 14-16, 2010. 1 page.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08705
Notes:
Pages 240-249 in Gordon Wilson, Pamela Furniss and Richard Kimbowa (eds.), Environment, development and sustainability: perspectives and cases from around the world. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England. 290 pages.
30 pages., via online journal., Faced with the task of communicating their combined social, environmental
and economic impact, water service providers are seeking to report overall performance
in an aggregated way. Such a methodology must be scientifically robust, easily
communicated and allow benchmarking of performance while reflecting a transition
towards sustainability. In this paper the ecological footprint (EF) is calculated for
Sydney Water Corporation (SWC), using input–output analysis and land disturbance in
an innovative approach that overcomes problems identified in the original EF concept.
This pilot study has allowed SWC to gain some valuable insights into its impacts:
SWC’s annual EF is about 73 100 ha in terms of land disturbance. Of this, 54 000 ha
are projected to become disturbed as a consequence of climate change, with the remainder
of 19 100 ha being disturbed on SWC’s premises (2400 ha) and on those of upstream
suppliers (16 700 ha). Total on-site impacts equal 9300 ha, while indirect land disturbance contributes 63 600 ha. The EF appears promising as an educational and communication tool and may have potential as a decision support tool. However, further research
is needed to incorporate downstream impacts into the EF, which would have significant
benefits to SWC in terms of assessing and communicating the organization’s overall
progress towards sustainability.
