Implementing ecological footprinting in decision-making processes

Ecological footprinting is widely accepted as a tool for awareness raising and environmental education on the one hand, on the other hand some objections are brought up against the original calculation method as it seems to have no policy advising component and that it is not possible to distinguish between different qualities of environmental impacts. In recent years some modifications of the footprint methods have been established that can overcome some of the weaknesses of the original model. They all include guidance for action and some of them consider different qualities of material and energy flows. Therefore, authors of the modifications claim that ecological footprinting is a valuable tool for shaping policies and preparing decisions on different levels. The aim of this article is to discuss the possible contributions of ecological footprinting to decision-making processes on behalf of the following examples: Local and Regional Agenda 21, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment.