1. Environmental Indicators In Relation to Environmental Data Radim Jäger, SYSNET s.r.o.

2. Agenda 1. Context 2. Essential issues a.Indicator characteristics b.Indicator construction c.Data collection d.Indicator computation e.Relations 3. Practical issues 4. A simple virtual example 5. Conclusion

3. Context (Action Plan Life Cycle)

4. Context (Cornerstone) Q: What is an indicator? Q: What is an indicator? A: An Indicator is a measurment tool. A: An Indicator is a measurment tool. Q: How to start with an indicator construction? Q: How to start with an indicator construction? A: The indicator purpose is the midpoint. Find answers for two crucial questions: A: The indicator purpose is the midpoint. Find answers for two crucial questions: –What to measure? –Why to measure it? (Is it useful for us?)

5. Indicator characteristics (planning + evaluation) Construction or selection of indicators (planning process) Construction or selection of indicators (planning process) –Analysis –Decomposition TOP-DOWN Reporting (evaluation process) Reporting (evaluation process) –Synthesis –Composition BOTTOM-UP

6. Indicator characteristics Ability to measure the results Ability to measure the results Based on quantifiable and statistical data Based on quantifiable and statistical data Simplicity and precision Simplicity and precision Cost-efficiency Cost-efficiency

7. Indicator construction Control flow (planning)

8. Data collection Local level Local level –Data needed for local reporting and measuring Regional level Regional level –Complement to local data National level National level –Complement to regional & local data

9. Data collection One-shot measurements One-shot measurements –Usually unusable. It does not alow to calculate trends Monitoring Monitoring –Most usual Acquisition Acquisition –Way to obtain data from third parties

10. Indicator computation Information flow (evaluation)

11. Practical issues (Indicators construction) The less information you require, The less information you require, the higher chance you really get it Too little information may not give a true image of the situation Too little information may not give a true image of the situation Require only information you really need Require only information you really need Sometimes subjective information gives the picture Sometimes subjective information gives the picture

12. Use indicators from lower level (if it is possible) Use indicators from lower level (if it is possible) Use data mesured at lower level (always if it is meaningful) Use data mesured at lower level (always if it is meaningful) Data shoud be Data shoud be –Consolidated (to be commensurable) –Standardized –Well described Practical issues (Indicator computation)

13. A simple virtual example (General objective) General objective General objective –Lower the solid waste generation in 5 years for 20% without additional expenses. Purpose Purpose –To know the general objective is reached What to measure What to measure –Amount of solid waste sent to the landfill –Cost of landfilling –Cost of waste transport –Cost of incinerating. When to measure When to measure –Once per year

14. A simple virtual example (Specific objective) Specific objective Specific objective –Increase capacity of incinerators in 5 years for 60%. Purpose Purpose –To know the specific objective is reached What to measure What to measure –Amount of solid waste sent to the incinerators –Waste disposal capacity of incinerators –Power capacity of incinerators When to measure When to measure –Once per year

15. A simple virtual example (Target) Target Target –To upgrade the incinerator capacity in city A for 100% and to build a new incinerator near city B Indicator purpose –To know if the planned incinerator capacity is ready to use in-time What to measure What to measure –Progress of actions related to the target When to measure When to measure –Once per quarter

16. A simple virtual example (Action) Action Action –To install two new boiler units in the incinerator in city A. Indicator purpose Indicator purpose –To know if the planned upgrade is made within proposed budget and time schedule What to measure What to measure –Costing, unfinished construction projects When to measure When to measure –Once per month

17. A simple virtual example (All together) Finally, there are data enough to know not only the objectives are reached, but we can compute several secondary indicators i.e.: Finally, there are data enough to know not only the objectives are reached, but we can compute several secondary indicators i.e.: –Overall investments spent to reach objectives –Overall financial efficiency –indicators –Action efficiency and costing –Etc.

18. Conclusion Construction stage Construction stage –Research the (environmental) impact both of succeeded and/or failed actions Evaluation stage Evaluation stage –Create consolidated countrywide data warehouse to be able evaluate the real impact of executed actions

19. Questions