Global hectare (gha)

Footprint accounting therefore converts their demands into global hectares (gha), a common unit adjusted to world-average biological productivity. A footprint of 5 gha means demand equivalent to the output and services of five global hectares, not necessarily five hectares located beside someone’s home.

It is measured in global hectares (gha) rather than tonnes of emissions. A global hectare represents world-average biological productivity, allowing different types of productive area to be combined.