Using ecological footprinting to change mindsets and delivering ambitious environmental programmes

Written by Cllr Andrew Dakers and published in Campaigner (publication of Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors) on Sun 10th Jun 2007

Ecological footprint is, at its most effective, used to communicate macro messages about the need for changes in all our behaviours on many fronts. It highlights the 'big hitters' in terms of resource use in our economy: energy, food and transport. Tackle resource consumption and you will also be tackling CO2 emissions. This deeper understanding is essential if Liberal Democrat councils are to implement informed policies that rapidly deliver substantial environmental benefits.

I first came across the ecological footprint measure on The New Economics Foundation's website in 2000. Since then the tool has hugely influenced my work both politically and professionally. The ecological footprint evidence base demonstrates how if everyone in the world lived like we do in the UK we would need three planets to support our current lifestyles. With powerful imagery like this, it provides a high impact communication tool for public awareness and education. No great surprise then that David Miliband has adopted WWF's 'One Planet Living' concept as Defra's new mission.

The more detailed footprint research available today goes down to a regional and local authority level. A summary report of every UK local authority's footprint can be downloaded from www.ecologicalbudget.org.uk The recent studies highlight regional differences in consumption of resources. Whilst the average UK footprint per person is 5.4 global hectares, the highest regional footprint is south east England at 6.3 global hectares per person. Wales has the lowest footprint at 5.2 global hectares per person.

GET A HANDLE ON THE BASELINE

Around the country Liberal Democrat councils have always led the way on environmental issues. Just read the LGA's new publication Power Actually to be reminded of our pioneering delivery of tangible results. Even so, for all the projects and larger programmes that we are launching around the UK, after months or years of work, it is still right to question whether our local authorities' environmental sustainability programmes' are yet of sufficient scale. This is why commissioning a detailed ecological footprint study should be top of the priority list for any incoming Liberal Democrat administration. It will provide the council with baseline data to inform all environmental policies and projects. Where we are not in control the need for ecological footprinting can be the basis of motions and questions from the opposition benches.

SET CHALLENGING GOALS FOR REDUCING RESOURCE CONSUMPTION

Underpinning recent footprint studies is a piece of modelling software called REAP. For a few thousand pounds a council can use this to analyse different policy scenarios, determine targets and predict footprint reductions based on taking alternative courses of action. This will give an evidence based view as to whether environmental programmes are sufficiently ambitious. Substantial local efforts are now more than ever essential in addressing the global environmental crisis.

INTEGRATE YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME

With an even more determined sustainable development and environmental strategy in place, a key next step is to integrate a commitment to one planet living within community strategies and local development frameworks. Ecological footprint could be established as a key performance indicator reviewed annually by full council.

2007/8 must be the year all our councils focus detailed action plans on reducing individual consumption from three to one planet's resource base. With these is place we can then continue to show how whilst Miliband continues to spin Labour's environmental credentials nationally, it is Liberal Democrat council's that are delivering environmental sustainability on the ground.