Definition: EF/BC accounting

Category: Environment

EF stands for Ecological Footprint, BC for biocapacity.

The ecological footprint (EF) measures how much bioproductive area (whether land or water) a population would require to produce on a sustainable basis the renewable resources it consumes, and to absorb the waste it generates, using prevailing technology. Biocapacity (BC) measures the bioproductive supply that is available within a certain area (e.g. of arable land, pasture, forest, productive sea). EF and BC are tantamount to the concepts demand and supply in Economics. When used together, they form the EF/BC accounts. "EF/BC accounting" is frequently referred to only as "EF accounting". However, use of "EF/BC accounting" is more appropriate as it considers the fact that the accounting tool compares demand and supply - and not just demand.

The mathematical difference between EF and BC is called either reserve or deficit (or overshoot for the globe). The algebraic difference between BC and EF is also called "Ecological Deficit" if it is negative or "Ecological Reserve" if it is positive.

The EF/BC concept is a good tool for awareness rising; EF/BC accounts link ecosystems and their (over-) use. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/product?code=KS-AU-06-001&mode=view