In 1990, Dr. William Rees of UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning introduced a new way to measure human demands on the planet.

Working with doctoral student Mathis Wackernagel, he originated “ecological footprint” analysis (EFA) – a framework that describes the amount of productive land needed to support a given population. With EFA, Rees showed that North Americans use far more than their share of the world’s resources.

Ecological footprint is now an idea that’s used routinely when thinking and talking about sustainability. Professor Rees has been internationally recognized for outstanding achievement, innovative approaches to issues of public policy, and commitment to public engagement.

Sustainability on campus

UBC is the only Canadian university and one of only 15 in North America to earn top marks in the most recent College Sustainability Report Card. The campus has also received Green Campus Recognition from the National Wildlife Federation. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to factor ecological, social and economic consequences into all their personal and professional decisions.

For more information about UBC’s leadership on sustainability, visit us at UBC Sustainability.