Regional eco-efficiency indicators -: a participatory approach

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. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.