Footprint evaluation is an approach to assessing the environmental sustainability of policies, programmes, projects, and other interventions by examining their effects on natural systems alongside their social and economic outcomes ^[1][2]. It extends conventional monitoring and evaluation beyond intended objectives to consider both direct and indirect environmental consequences, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, water use, pollution, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation ^[1][2]. Depending on the evaluation context, evidence may be drawn from environmental footprint indicators, life cycle assessment, resource-flow analysis, ecological monitoring, and qualitative investigation of interactions between human and natural systems ^[2][3]. The findings help identify environmental trade-offs, unintended impacts, and opportunities for mitigation or ecological restoration, thereby informing policy design, programme adaptation, and accountability for sustainable development ^[1][3].