Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator Initiatives: A Global Directory of Comprehensive Indicator Systems László Pintér, IISD Henning Hansen, IFEH Presented at the OECD World Forum: Statistics, Knowledge, Policy June 29, 2007 Istanbul, Turkey

Overview Context: Global and local importance of comprehensive indicator systems Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator Initiatives Examples of comprehensive indicator systems across nations, scales and sectors Conclusions

Context Call for the development of SD indicator systems by Brundtland and Ch. 40 of Agenda 21 Success: A large and growing number of measurement initiatives, across scales, sectors, themes etc. Challenges –Fundamental methodological questions – relationship of economic valuation (full cost accounting, green GDP) vs. non- economic indicators –A variety of conceptual frameworks –Indicator selection methods, role of experts vs. stakeholders –Indicator analysis and interpretation –Data access and availability –Use of indicators in strategic policy processes etc.etc. Need for cross-fertilization, co-learning, coordination, leadership

What defines comprehensive indicator systems Structure of indicator model (PSR – DPSIR – other) Relevance in terms of: Headline issues Target groups for the information Geographic scope How to influence the indicator values Public involvement Public access to information and supporting data Reliable frequency of updating information Global and local importance of comprehensive indicator systems

What defines the comprehensive indicator  From the reading of the indicator values over time you should be able to definitively and objectively conclude whether the changes describe a positive or negative development.  The indicator shall be based upon objective data measurements, where the specific data leaves no room for interpretation besides the monitoring inaccuracy.  The indicator must be easy to comprehend and there has to be a recognized causal link between the used data that the indicator is based upon and the development one wishes to describe.  The indicator is closely linked to planned targets Global and local importance of comprehensive indicator systems

How to construct comprehensive indicator systems By adopting best practice through mechanisms as the Compendium on Sustainability Indicator Initiatives By involvement of responsible decisions makers By involvement of the public – and stakeholders By keeping the process open By defining the purpose and scope with the initiative Global and local importance of comprehensive indicator systems

Why are comprehensive indicator systems important If you don’t know where your are located and where you are coming from you won’t be able to define where you are heading and you won’t be able to decide whether you are moving in the right or wrong direction! Only by the use of a comprehensive indicator system you will be able to navigate. Global and local importance of comprehensive indicator systems

Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator Initiatives Global directory of SD indicator initiatives By practitioners for practitioners Collaborative Free access Long-term Embraces diversity of methods and terminology, as long as whole-system approach is followed

Compendium goals Improve communication, promote the sharing of experiences, methods and approaches; Facilitate harmonization of indicator development approaches and indicator sets; Help avoid duplication, facilitate the integration of monitoring, data analysis and reporting activities; Provide access to a pool of experts working on indicator development; Help identify areas of future research where required; and Provide access to products of indicator initiatives.

Examples of Indicator Systems 1.The Changing California – Forest and Range Assessment, United States 2.State of the Environment Reporting, South Africa 3.Indicators for Integrated Assessment in the Lake Balaton Region, Hungary 4.Katrina Index, United States 5.Iniciativa Latinoamericana y Caribeña para el Desarrollo Sostenible (ILAC) 6.Environmental Indicators, Melbourne, Australia

The Changing California – Forest and Range Assessment, United States

State of the Environment Reporting, South Africa

Indicators for Integrated Assessment in the Lake Balaton Region, Hungary

Katrina Index, United States

Iniciativa Latinoamericana y Caribeña para el Desarrollo Sostenible (ILAC) – Costa Rica

Examples of Indicator Systems Environmental Indicators, Metropolitan Melbourne, Australia

Examples of Indicator Systems Environmental Indicators, Metropolitan Melbourne, Australia

Examples of Indicator Systems Environmental Indicators, Metropolitan Melbourne, Australia

Final messages Need for continuing and periodic efforts to take stock of new directions and development of the indicator field, on multiple scales by making use of, among others, the Compendium Continuing efforts to harmonize indicator initiatives, with emphasis on headline indicators Need to undertake, support and learn from local indicator efforts, while strengthening their compatibility with higher scale indicator systems

Final messages Work on indicator systems should be coordinated with further development of the system of national accounts Identification and support for general principles, such as the earlier developed Bellagio Principles, that provide broad methodological guidance in indicator selection and use Take dialogue on measurement to the political level with a highlight on institutional, policy, capacity and resource implications

Final messages The need for guidelines to be used by local/regional authorities in order to build up local reporting systems in order to monitor the performance of the community - in order to communicate this information to the community / public - in order to involve the public - and finally with the backup of the public to adopt the most adequate local policies.

Thank you for your attention.