Wales’ Ecological Footprint - Scenarios to 2020

The report finds that Wales' 2003 ecological footprint was 5.16 global hectares (gha) per person, which is lower than Scotland, England, or any English region. However, the footprint grew by an average of 1.5% per year between 1990 and 2003, mirroring the growth in Gross Value Added (GVA). The analysis identifies housing, food, and personal travel as the three primary contributors, accounting for 63% of the total footprint. The report models scenarios to 2020, suggesting that while current policies may stabilise the footprint, a combined package of expanded retrofitting, food waste reduction, and sustainable travel initiatives could achieve a 6.6% overall reduction in the total footprint by 2020.

• Wales' 2003 ecological footprint was 5.16 global hectares (gha) per person, a figure lower than that of Scotland, England, or any English region. At the local authority level, Blaenau Gwent had the lowest footprint in the UK at 4.89gha per person, while Monmouthshire had the highest at 5.46gha per person.
• Between 1990 and 2003, the ecological footprint of Wales increased at an average annual rate of 1.5%, which closely mirrors the growth in Gross Value Added (GVA) in Wales. If this historical growth rate continued, the footprint would be 20% higher by 2020, reaching 6.19gha per capita.

APA

Dawkins, E., Paul, A., Barrett, J., Minx, J., & Scott, K. (2008). Wales’ Ecological Footprint - Scenarios to 2020. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Future/wales_ecological_footprint_report_270508_final.pdf

Chicago

Dawkins, E., A. Paul, J. Barrett, J. Minx, and K. Scott. Wales’ Ecological Footprint - Scenarios to 2020. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2008. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Future/wales_ecological_footprint_report_270508_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dawkins |first1=E. |last2=Paul |first2=A. |last3=Barrett |first3=J. |last4=Minx |first4=J. |last5=Scott |first5=K. |title=Wales’ Ecological Footprint - Scenarios to 2020 |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2008 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Future/wales_ecological_footprint_report_270508_final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dawkins2008wales, author = {Dawkins, E. and Paul, A. and Barrett, J. and Minx, J. and Scott, K.}, title = {{Wales’ Ecological Footprint - Scenarios to 2020}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2008}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Future/wales_ecological_footprint_report_270508_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }