Feasibility Study on Strengthening the Environmental Footprints and Planetary Boundaries Concepts within the Green Economy Progress Measurement Framework

This feasibility study examines the integration of environmental footprint indicators into the Green Economy Progress Measurement Framework by combining existing measurement efforts and assessing data availability and suitable databases. It evaluates the feasibility of calculating country-specific greenhouse gas, biodiversity, and water footprints using consumption-based accounting and life cycle assessment approaches, while aligning these indicators with the framework’s environmental sustainability dashboard. The study reviews multiple data sources, including multi-regional input-output databases, and analytical tools to determine appropriate methodological options, coverage, and limitations. It further analyses differences between production- and consumption-based perspectives and their implications for indicator calculation and comparison. In addition, the study explores how these indicators can be operationalised within the framework, linked to existing tools such as the Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspot Analysis Tool, and used to support national policy design, monitoring, and evaluation.