6
1 General Introduction
RQ1: Does it make sense to bring together different environmental footprints
into a unified framework?
RQ2: How to make use of a selection of environmental footprints to constitute
a truly integrated footprint family?
RQ3: Is life cycle assessment a necessity for accounting for environmental
footprints?
RQ4: What are the complementarities of environmental footprints and planetary boundaries?
RQ5: How to allocate planetary boundaries to nations and how does this relate
to nation-specific environmental sustainability assessment?
1.7 Outline of the Book
In accordance to the research questions presented, this work of book comprises five
thematic chapters (Chap. 2–6), together with an introductory chapter (Chap. 1) and
a concluding chapter (Chap. 7), as illustrated in Fig. 1.1.
Chapter 2 develops a conceptual framework for a footprint family that consists of
the ecological, energy, carbon and water footprints. A comparative analysis of the four
environmental footprints is performed, with emphasis on their characteristics in some
key aspects. By evaluating the performance of the footprint family on data availability,
coverage complementarity, methodological consistency, and policy relevance, the
four footprint indicators are found to be complementary in assessing human pressures
or impacts associated with natural resource extractions and hazardous emissions. The
present footprint family captures a broad spectrum of sustainability issues and is thus
RQ1
RQ2
RQ3
RQ4
RQ5
Fig. 1.1 Outline of the book
1 General Introduction
RQ1: Does it make sense to bring together different environmental footprints
into a unified framework?
RQ2: How to make use of a selection of environmental footprints to constitute
a truly integrated footprint family?
RQ3: Is life cycle assessment a necessity for accounting for environmental
footprints?
RQ4: What are the complementarities of environmental footprints and planetary boundaries?
RQ5: How to allocate planetary boundaries to nations and how does this relate
to nation-specific environmental sustainability assessment?
1.7 Outline of the Book
In accordance to the research questions presented, this work of book comprises five
thematic chapters (Chap. 2–6), together with an introductory chapter (Chap. 1) and
a concluding chapter (Chap. 7), as illustrated in Fig. 1.1.
Chapter 2 develops a conceptual framework for a footprint family that consists of
the ecological, energy, carbon and water footprints. A comparative analysis of the four
environmental footprints is performed, with emphasis on their characteristics in some
key aspects. By evaluating the performance of the footprint family on data availability,
coverage complementarity, methodological consistency, and policy relevance, the
four footprint indicators are found to be complementary in assessing human pressures
or impacts associated with natural resource extractions and hazardous emissions. The
present footprint family captures a broad spectrum of sustainability issues and is thus
RQ1
RQ2
RQ3
RQ4
RQ5
Fig. 1.1 Outline of the book