Study finds potential of the Ecological Footprint for monitoring environmental impacts from natural resource use in Europe

The report to the European Commission provides an analysis of the potential of the Ecological Footprint and related assessment tools for use in the EU’s Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. The Ecological Footprint, it found, is a useful indicator for assessing progress on the European Union’s Resource Strategy and is unique among the 13 indicators reviewed in this study in its ability to relate resource use to the concept of carrying capacity. The indicator is most effective, meaningful and robust at aggregate levels (national and above). Further improvements in data quality, methodologies and assumptions are required, however. With Executive summary and full report of the study.