Ekološki odtis je najširše uporabljan sintezni kazalnik okoljskega razvoja, ki se uporablja za spremljanje okoljske dimenzije trajnostnega razvoja. Izražen je v standardizirani enoti biološko produktivne površine, t. i. globalnih hektarjih (gha). To je rodovitna površina, potrebna za zadovoljitev človekovih potreb po hrani in ohranjanje njegovega življenjskega sloga ter odlaganje pri tem nastajajočih odpadkov. V njegovi strukturi je največ ogljičnega odtisa, zaradi velikih izpustov ogljikovega dioksida in drugih toplogrednih plinov. Sledita mu biološki odtis, to je odtis obdelovalnih površin, gozdov, pašnikov in drugih rodovitnih površin, ter odtis infrastrukture, to je pozidanih površin.

Ecological footprint is the most widely used high aggregated indicator of environmental development, used to monitor the environmental dimension of sustainable development. It is expressed in a standardized unit of biologically productive surface, t. i. global hectares (gha). This is a fertile area that is needed to meet human food needs and preserve its lifestyle and to lay waste in it. Its structure has the highest carbon footprint due to large emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It follows the biological footprint that is the imprint of cultivated areas, forests, pastures and other fertile areas, and the imprint of the infrastructure, that is, the built-up areas.