ecoBUDGET, an environmental management tool designed specifically for local authorities, has been adopted by the City of Bologna in 2001 as a part of a larger European project. Through the use of ecoBUDGET, the traditional financial budgeting system of the city has been complemented by an environmental budget, which measures natural resources instead of money. ecoBUDGET provides a set of indicators together with short and long-term targets for planning, monitoring and reporting on the consumption of environmental resources within the area of the city. The main aim of ecoBUDGET is to keep the use of environmental resources within set limits.