Island Limits

Island Limits is the first full Material Flow Analysis and Ecological Footprint of Ireland and is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency via the ERTDI Programme 2000 – 2006 Sub-Measure 2 Sustainable Development. The project is being carried out by a partnership of EnviroCentre, Best Foot Forward and the University of Limerick.

The project involved collecting and collating datasets on domestic extraction of materials, domestic industrial production, trade, waste and other outputs to the environment and consumption of goods and materials by Ireland’s residents. Data quality was assessed and data gaps and needs identified.

An environmentally extended input-output model for Ireland was also developed which was used to determine direct and indirect material requirements of industrial sectors and allocate material flows to final demand categories linking industrial production with consumption.

The environmental impact of these activities was presented as an Ecological Footprint and a range of scenarios on electricity, food and waste were modelled.

The research was combined with Northern Limits II, the MFA/EF of Northern Ireland, to construct an all-island MFA and EF and enable the identification of complementarities and synergies in sustainable development decision making between both jurisdictions and on an all-island basis.

The project is nearing completion and details of the launch conference will be available in the near future.


Home Strategic Vision Key Themes Tools and Techniques Modelling and Measurement Ecological and Carbon Accounting Stakeholder Analysis Decision Support Scenario Building Research Northern Visions Northern Limits Island Limits Northern Limits II Updates and Downloads People and Contacts Advisory Group Search	Island Limits Island Limits is the first full Material Flow Analysis and Ecological Footprint of Ireland and is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency via the ERTDI Programme 2000 – 2006 Sub-Measure 2 Sustainable Development. The project is being carried out by a partnership of EnviroCentre, Best Foot Forward and the University of Limerick. The project involved collecting and collating datasets on domestic extraction of materials, domestic industrial production, trade, waste and other outputs to the environment and consumption of goods and materials by Ireland’s residents. Data quality was assessed and data gaps and needs identified. An environmentally extended input-output model for Ireland was also developed which was used to determine direct and indirect material requirements of industrial sectors and allocate material flows to final demand categories linking industrial production with consumption. The environmental impact of these activities was presented as an Ecological Footprint and a range of scenarios on electricity, food and waste were modelled. The research was combined with Northern Limits II, the MFA/EF of Northern Ireland, to construct an all-island MFA and EF and enable the identification of complementarities and synergies in sustainable development decision making between both jurisdictions and on an all-island basis. The project is nearing completion and details of the launch conference will be available in the near future.
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