Measuring Sustainable Development of Baltic States Based on Ecological Footprint

This study assesses the sustainability of the Baltic States-Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania-by analyzing trends in ecological footprint and biocapacity from 1992 to 2022 using data from the Global Footprint Network.The ecological footprint measures the demand placed on ecosystems by human consumption, while biocapacity reflects the ability of ecosystems to regenerate resources and absorb waste.The findings reveal significant disparities among the three countries.Estonia maintains the highest biocapacity per capita but also the highest ecological footprint, largely due to its reliance on carbon-intensive oil shale energy.Latvia demonstrates the most balanced sustainability profile, with moderate biocapacity and the lowest ecological footprint, consistently staying within ecological limits.Lithuania, in contrast, faces the greatest sustainability challenges, with the lowest biocapacity and a steadily increasing footprint resulting in a persistent ecological deficit.The paper discusses the underlying drivers of these differences, including land use, energy structures, economic development, and policy approaches.The study concludes that differentiated strategies are required to enhance sustainability in each country, and that ecological footprint and biocapacity are effective indicators for guiding policy and evaluating progress toward sustainable development.