Ecological footprint and carrying capacity of mining cities: A case study of Wu'an

The ecological footprint is an important method to measure the regional sustainable development level. This paper taking the mining city Wu'an as an example, amends the ecological footprint model and adds the pollution discharge account including waste water, waste gas and solid waste. The dynamic changing process and feature of the ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity of the city from 2010 to 2014 are measured and discussed, and the sustainable development degree of Wu'an is evaluated. The study result shows that from 2010 to 2014, the per capita ecological footprint and per capita ecological carrying capacity of Wu'an showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, the per capita ecological footprint of Wu'an was much more than that of per capita ecological carrying capacity during the period of 2010-2014, and Wu'an is in a serious state of ecological deficit. This paper evaluates the existing problems and sustainable development of Wu'an in the process of social and economic development, with a view to provide scientific basis for mining city to correctly handle the relationship between population, resources, environment, economic and social development and formulate relevant policies.