Our experimental statistic exploring the global environmental impacts of consumption has been updated today.
Following its initial release this time last year, this is the first annual update of the data, which explore different measures of the environmental effects of UK consumption.
Results estimate the hectares of deforestation, the biodiversity loss, and the scarcity of weighted water use associated with UK consumption, alongside a range of other impact types. The data are published as an experimental statistic with an accompanying technical document which outlines the methodology, while the full global dataset is published on an interactive dashboard that allows users to visualise and interact with the data. The data can be broken down to see results for specific commodities and producer countries of interest, which makes it particularly useful as a potential tool for targeting action.
It is planned that these data will feed into the 2022 update for the UK Biodiversity Indicators (due on 14 December 2022) and the 2023 reporting for the 25 Year Environment Plan. The Expert Workshop on the monitoring framework for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework also identified the indicator as a potential headline indicator for the 15th Conference of the Parties of the United National Convention on Biological Diversity (CoP15 of the CBD) to consider adopting internationally.
The ongoing work to produce and to continue to develop the indicator is being funded by Defra, with JNCC leading on its development, and analyses undertaken by the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York. Additional support towards developing the dashboard was also provided by Trase and the GCRF Trade Hub.
To find out more, take a look at the experimental statistic and accompanying technical documentation, and the dashboard.