Resources to support Chapter 2

Sharing Nature's Interest

Nicky Chambers * Craig Simmons * Mathis Wackernagel

ecologicalfootprint.com home page

1. Redefining Progress
2. Indicating Progress
3. Footprinting Foundations
4. Footprinting Fundamentals
5. From Activities to Impacts
6. 20 Questions about Footprinting
7. Global  and National Footprints
8. Regional Footprinting
9. The Impacts of Organizations & Services
10. Footprinting for Product Assessment
11. Footprinting Lifestyles
12. Next Steps

Chapter 2: Links & Resources

Why Bigger Isn't Better: The Genuine  Progress Indicator - 1999 Update http://www.rprogress.org/pubs/pdf/gpi1999.pdf

Compendium of Indicator Projects
http://iisd1.iisd.ca/measure

Lessons from the history of social indicators
http://www.rprogress.org/pubs/pdf/SocIndHist.pdf

mail the authors with your own suggested useful links for Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Summary

To track our progress down the road to sustainable development, it is necessary to be able to not only define, but also measure, the elements of sustainability – the bounds of nature, our impacts on it and our quality of life. Measuring any of the sustainability parameters in themselves – environmental, social and economic – is certainly not an easy task. 

Measurement is not the only problem. Even if we were able to accurately measure all sustainability parameters, we would be presented with serious data overload.  This must somehow be reconciled with the reality that everyone has a role to play in achieving sustainability. To make the right decisions we all need credible, accessible and timely information. Hence the advent of the indicator.

This chapter explores the essential qualities of sustainability indicators and reviews a number of commonly used systems including:

• The Natural Step

• Environmental Space

• System Models

• Environmental Impact Assessment and Critical Loads

• Corporate Environmental Performance Evaluation

• Life Cycle Analysis

• Material Accounts: MIPS and Regional Metabolism

• Energy and eMergy Analysis

This 'family' of approaches is complemented by the Ecological Footprint, which is briefly explained in the context of the aforementioned indicators systems.