VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1   Tell a Friend   Subscribe   Unsubscribe     Learn More   Ecological Footprint Footprint Standards National Accounts Partnerships Resources     About the Global Footprint Network   We coordinate international research and work with the sustainability community to develop methodological standards that protect and enhance the credibility of the Ecological Footprint tool.   Learn More     Advisory Council   E.O. Wilson Manfred Max-Neef Rhodri Morgan Wangari Maathai David Suzuki Emil Salim Julia Marton-Lefévre William E. Rees Lester Brown Jørgen Randers M S Swaminathan Eric Garcetti Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker Michael Meacher Karl-Henrik Robèrt Will Steffen Dominique Voynet Fabio Feldman Oscar Arias Herman E. Daly Peter Raven   Welcome Welcome to the first edition of Footprint Network News. The mission of the Global Footprint Network is to support the transition to a sustainable economy by advancing the Ecological Footprint, a tool that makes sustainability specific. This edition of Footprint Network News focuses on our new organization's mission and progress to date. Future editions will highlight the exciting work of our partners and report on major events in the world of Ecological Footprinting.   Why the Global Footprint Network? When Bill Rees and Mathis Wackernagel began developing the Footprint methodology over a decade ago at the University of British Columbia, they imagined people all over the world using these calculations to measure consumption and waste. Today, we have come a long way towards that reality. Over 100 cities and 40 regional and national government agencies have used the Footprint to inform their policies and planning. A Google search for the term yields over 50,000 web pages.   But for the Ecological Footprint to have greater impact, increased coordination is needed between practitioners to ensure that results are comparable worldwide. In June 2003, after four fruitful years with Redefining Progress, Mathis Wackernagel formed the Global Footprint Network and began the process of building consensus among the many Ecological Footprint practitioners, advocates, researchers and educators in order to harmonize methodologies and coordinate research. Response throughout the Ecological Footprinting community has been very positive. About the Ecological Footprint >   Our Science and Policy Advisory Council We are thrilled to announce the formation of our Science and Policy Advisory Council. We are fortunate to have the support and endorsement from some of the world's most respected science and policy leaders including E.O. Wilson, Peter Raven, Oscar Arias, David Suzuki and others. Full List >   FEATURE   Synergy Through Partnership By Susan Burns, Director   Since our success depends on involved partners, we are thrilled and proud to announce our first four: WWF International, Best Foot Forward, Stockholm Environmental Institute and EPA Victoria. We are in conversation with dozens of other organizations and will announce new partners in subsequent newsletters.   We invite organizations with shared goals to partner with us in strengthening the Footprint's reliability and credibility while enhancing its value as a catalyst for sustainability.  Read More >     RESEARCH AND STANDARDS UPDATE       Laying the Groundwork for Standards Many organizations around the world have developed Ecological Footprinting applications for cities, regions, products and processes. Over the past six months the Global Footprint Network has met with scores of organizations (by phone and in face-to-face meetings) in Europe, South America, The US, and Australia to listen to the community and collect advice and perspectives. We've found great enthusiasm about the possibility of harmonizing Footprint methodologies. Read More >   National Accounts Release (2004 Edition) All Ecological Footprint analyses are dependent on core information comprising the National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts or "National Accounts," detailed calculations for 150 countries based largely on United Nations consumption, production and trade data. The National Accounts, as summarized in WWF's Living Planet Report, are the cornerstone of footprinting and allow the Footprint of a Londoner to be compared, for example, to the Footprint of a Beijing resident.   The Global Footprint Network serves as the steward of the National Accounts database, coordinating research and continually improving the science behind the Accounts for the benefit of the entire sustainability community. The 2004 edition of the National Accounts will be available for license shortly. National Accounts Online >