| BACKGROUND
What is an 'environmental' indicator?
Environmental indicators are used specifically
to present information regarding the biophysical environment,
the social and economic interactions with the biophysical
environment, and the consequences thereof.
Environmental indicators should therefore:
- Provide a representative picture of environmental
conditions, the pressures on the environment or society's
response;
- Be responsive to changes in the environment and
related to human activities;
- Be able to show trends over time; and
- Provide a basis for international comparisons.
Environmental indicators perform a variety of functions, which
can either be proactive or reactive in nature. Firstly, they
act as an early warning system. Secondly, they provide a useful
mechanism through which the effectiveness of a policy can be
monitored and measured over time. Thirdly, they can serve as
tools to facilitate community action.
A good environmental indicator has the following characteristics:
- an agreed, scientifically sound meaning;
- it is representative of an environmental aspect of importance
to society;
- it provides information of value, and its meaning is readily
understood;
- it has a sound and practical measurement process;
- it helps focus information to answer important questions;
and
- it assists decision-making by being effective and cost-efficient
to use.
The aim of the National Environmental Indicators
Programme was to develop nationally-relevant environmental
indicators that may be used for sustainability reporting. The
focus on indicators of the biophysical environment stems from
the realisation that social and economic indicators are well
understood, while there is little information and data available
for environmental indicators.
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