1. Regional eco-efficiency indicators – a participatory approach
- Author
-
Mickwitz, Per, Melanen, Matti, Rosenström, Ulla, and Seppälä, Jyri
- Subjects
- *
SOCIOECONOMICS , *SUSTAINABLE development , *ECONOMIC development & the environment , *ENVIRONMENTAL engineering - Abstract
Abstract: Eco-efficiency emerged in the 1990s as a measure of “the efficiency with which ecological resources are used to meet human needs.” Eco-efficiency indicators as tools for regional sustainability policy were demonstrated in a Life-Environment project, ECOREG, in the Finnish region of Kymenlaakso. A participatory approach was utilised to produce indicators that are relevant for regional decision-makers and that will actually be used. The approach established a system through which decision-makers are able to monitor changes using several economic-environmental ratio indicators, and at the same time obtain information on the social progress taking place in the region. In the future, there will be a need for an ongoing dialogue among the different actors in the region in order to ensure that the indicators are indeed used to promote sustainable development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF