Global Footprint Network: Understanding Human Impact

Resource overview:
The Global Footprint Network is an online platform that provides interactive tools and datasets to explore humanity’s ecological footprint and sustainability challenges. Students can compare countries’ consumption patterns, carbon emissions, and natural resource use, helping them understand the relationship between human activity and environmental limits. The platform includes calculators, charts, and case studies that make abstract sustainability concepts tangible for learners. It encourages critical thinking about personal, local, and global impacts, and supports cross-curricular learning in Geography, Civics, and Science.

In the classroom:

Teachers can have students calculate their own ecological footprint, then compare results with national and global data. Year 8 students might investigate why some countries have disproportionately large ecological footprints, while Year 10 students could develop strategies for reducing resource use and present policy recommendations. It can also be linked to sustainability projects, debates, and inquiry-based learning about environmental management.

Five features teachers may find useful:

• Interactive calculators for individual, national, and global footprints.

• Visualisations and charts showing human impact on ecosystems.

• Case studies highlighting environmental challenges and solutions.

• Free, browser-based access suitable for classroom and homework.

• Supports inquiry learning, data analysis, and critical thinking.

Australian Curriculum links:

• Year 7: AC9HS7K04 – Examine the influence of human activity on environments.

• Year 8: AC9HS8K05 – Explore the interconnections between people, places and environments.

• Year 10: AC9HS10K06 – Evaluate the impact of human activity on environmental sustainability.