Use of embodied energy and ecological footprinting to assess the global environmental impact of consumption in an Irish city-region

David Browne, Bernadette O'Regan, Richard Moles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to compare the carbon emissions produced as a result of product consumption by the residents of an Irish city-region, that is Limerick City and its environs. The resulting carbon footprints are used to compare imports of food items, manufactured products and construction materials with domestic production as well as changes between 1996 and 2002. The total ecological footprints (EF) associated with product consumption are also calculated by aggregating the theoretical land required to sequester carbon emissions and the terrestrial land area appropriated for agricultural production and industrial activity. It is suggested that this approach be used to allocate producer or consumer responsibility for environmental impacts from trade.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)447-470
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Environmental Planning and Management
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2008

Keywords

  • Ecological footprinting
  • Embodied energy
  • Globalisation
  • Trade

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