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Mathis Wackernagel
Ecological footprint pioneer and sustainability advocate
Mathis Wackernagel is a prominent Swiss sustainability advocate and a key figure in ecological metrics. He is best known as the co-creator of the Ecological Footprint concept and the founder of the Global Footprint Network, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability through resource accounting.
Professional Background
Wackernagel holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and earned his Ph.D. in community and regional planning from the University of British Columbia in 1994. His doctoral work focused on developing the Ecological Footprint methodology alongside Professor William Rees.13
He has extensive experience in sustainability, having worked with various governments, corporations, and NGOs across six continents. Wackernagel has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers and has contributed to several influential books on sustainability.23
Current Roles
As of August 2021, Wackernagel serves as a Board Member at rePLANET, an organization that aims to enhance the financial viability of ecological restoration by attracting private sector funding, particularly for mangrove reforestation projects.456 He is also a co-founder and the President of the Global Footprint Network, where he continues to advocate for the use of the Ecological Footprint as a tool for measuring humanity's demand on nature.34
Awards and Recognition
Wackernagel has received numerous accolades for his contributions to sustainability, including the IAIA Global Environment Award and the Zayed International Prize for Environment. He has also been honored with honorary doctorates from the University of Bern and the University of Stirling.134
In summary, Mathis Wackernagel is a leading figure in sustainability, recognized for his innovative approaches to measuring ecological impact and promoting sustainable practices globally.
Highlights
Here, I am spending a few days in Uruguay, one of the richest countries in the world - with much social capital and strong, collaborative institutions, and with a significant biocapacity reserve. Biocapacity is becoming the most limited and critical portion of the wealth equation, being the most limited resource in the world. Uruguay has 5 times more biocapacity per person than the world.
What does this mean for the competitiveness of countries as lucky as Uruguay, and what kind of approaches help them build on their strength?
This we discussed with many political leaders here in Uruguay, mayors and ministers at this inspiring event in Punto del Este
For those wondering what kind of investments may do better in a future of climate change and resource constraints, I wrote a mini-brief for investors: https://lnkd.in/gu5J7t3c.
It is a simple logic building on what leading companies like Schneider Electric or leading investors like André Hoffmann have already experimented with. Just check out André Hoffmann and Peter Vanham are proposing in their new book "The New Nature of Business."
#EarthOvershootDay #Overshoot #Climate
