The ecological footprint, as an environmental indicator,
has advanced conceptually as well as methodologically from
its early applications. Challenges for the future are to make
commonplace the standards formulated by the ecological
footprint network, to assure quality and transferability of
results for comparison among and within studies. Sectorspecific
examination can lend clarity for those sectors which
include mobility beyond the bounds of the study area; for
material, energy, or even people as is the case with tourism.
Another challenge for future research involving the ecological
footprinting will be the scalability of results. Transparent
accounting and use of an agreed-upon format can help to
bring this about