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by Random
(quotes)
But couldn't it be argued that the point is to make people acquire that knowledge and understand the implications of their actions and choices?

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Perhaps but it strikes me as a bad idea with web-based stuff to induce people to go away and maybe come back later. It's either that or guess wildly. Some examples on screen would have helped. e.g. representative distances, car mileages etc. After all, the more confidence people have in their inputs, the more confidence they'll have in the output result and the more likely it is to make an impact on them.

I've got to agree with Ming, there's a world of difference between demonstrating ignorance and educating -- the website demonstrates our ignorance of our environmental far more than it educates us on how to be more aware of our impact.

Just tried it again based on the time before we moved to where we are now. When I worked 10 mile from home and we lived in a sensible house for two people I only needed 1.6 planets!

I feel all socially irresponsible now...

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by Ming
Perhaps but it strikes me as a bad idea with web-based stuff to induce people to go away and maybe come back later. It's either that or guess wildly.

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I just opened another browser window and did a quick google for the things I didn't know, like the population of my city and how to convert miles to kilometres

If everyone lived like me we would need 1.5 planets, this was a big surprise to me because i expected it to be much worse. I also tried it giving answers that were accurate 2 years ago and found that we would need 3.9 planets if we were all like i was then, most of the changes since then being driving related.

'If everyone lived like you, we would need 2.7 planets.

Food 1.5
Mobility 1.5
Shelter 0.4
Goods/Services 1.4
Total Footprint 4.8

In comparison, the average ecological footprint in your country is 5.3 global hectares per person.'

Hmm. Expected to do better on the mobility, seeing as I walk or cycle pretty much everywhere. Although I did put down an average of 25 hours flying per year...

Somethings I had no idea about. Personally, I don't compare how much trash I produce with that of my neighbours. Just the way I am, I guess. Also, had to guess at the size of the house I live in. It's just not something I'm likely to ever know, as a renter.

As for the educative aspect of the quiz, just how many of us *actually* intend to change their life one iota as a consequence of their result? I can't see myself eating less meat, or spending less time visiting my mates who live abroad.

i'd be 2.1 planets. 3.8 footprints. but i'm less than the average which is 5.3, so i'm trying my best, i just like meat

If everyone lived like you, we would need 1.8 planets.

global hectares

Food 1.9
Mobility 0.3
Shelter 0.5
Goods/Services 0.6
Total Footprint 3.3

I think we better speed up the colonisation of Mars!

3.3 - under the average. Food let me down at 1.5. The others were about 0.5 or 0.8

Total Footprint 3.9