Piloting indicators for the global environmental impacts of UK consumption

The overall aim of this project is to develop a global sustainability indicator that can be used to assess the global environmental impacts of UK consumption.

A methodology will be developed following a literature review of current indicators and consideration of the potential integration of novel technologies such as Earth Observation (EO).

This methodology will be tested in pilot studies focused on evaluating the extent to which two environmental pressures (deforestation and water stress) are caused by up to three specified UK agricultural commodities, within one or two selected trading partner countries.

The effects of these impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services will also be considered in the methodology.

The government's 25 Year Environment Plan (25 YEP) highlights their commitment to "leave a lighter footprint on the global environment by enhancing sustainability and supporting zero deforestation supply chains," in a way which "avoids improving our domestic environment at the expense of the environment globally." However, an indicator does not currently exist to measure the UKs environmental impact overseas and therefore progress against these targets.

Therefore, a MoA has been agreed between Defra and JNCC to begin work on its development.

This work will build on previous projects undertaken by JNCC on the impacts of global trade, and on other methodologies described in the literature, such as multi-regional input-output models.