BOX 3M
OECD INDICATORS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS INTO TRANSPORT POLICIES

Myriam Linster¹

INTRODUCTION

As part of its specific programme on environmental indicators initiated in 1990, following a request at the 1989 G-7 summit (see Box 3A), the OECD developed several sets of sectoral indicators to contribute to the integration of environmental concerns in sectoral decision-making.

The OECD indicators programme recognizes that there is no universal set of indicators but rather several sets responding to specific conceptual frameworks and purposes. The OECD work focuses principally on sets of indicators to facilitate the integration of economic and environmental decision-making at national, international and global levels and to provide a tool for environmental performance evaluation.

Those indicators for which internationally comparable, comprehensive and readily available data exist are published and used in current OECD work, particularly in OECD Environmental Performance Reviews.

CONCEPTUAL APPROACH AND FRAMEWORK

Sectoral indicators are not restricted to 'environmental indicators' per se but also concern linkages between the environment and the economy, placed in a context of sustainable development. As defined by the OECD Group on the State of the Environment, sectoral indicators have been organized along a framework which derives from the pressure-state-response (PSR) model and distinguishes:

• indicators to reflect sectoral trends of environmental significance; 
• indicators to reflect interactions between the sector and the environment: this includes positive and negative impacts of sectoral activity on the environment as well as impacts of environmental changes on the sectoral activity; and 
• indicators to reflect economic linkages between the sector and the environment.

This framework has been applied by the OECD to the transport and energy sectors. Sets of sectoral indicators are also being developed for the agricultural and forestry sectors. All indicators are reviewed according to the criteria of policy relevance, analytical soundness and measurability.

TRANSPORT-ENVIRONMENT INDICATORS

Transport systems play a major role in the economic life of industrialized countries and in the daily lives of their citizens. The transport sector (production, maintenance and use of transport infrastructure and mobile equipment) accounts for 4 to 8 per cent of GDP in the economies of industrialized countries, and for 2 to 4 per cent of employment. It also has substantial importance in international trade (in transport equipment and services), in business operating and household consumption expenditure, and in public expenditure. Negative effects of transport activities include air pollution and noise, consumption of energy, of land and of other natural resources, and congestion and accidents, which are also part of environmental concerns. The non-internalized social costs of road transport are estimated to amount to five per cent of GDP for industrialized countries.

In light of these considerations, transport policies need to be modified to take account of environmental constraints and to avoid unsustainable patterns of development. This will necessitate much stronger integration of governments' transport and environmental policies than has been achieved so far by OECD countries, and wider adoption of result-oriented policies. Progress requires broad strategies that fully take into account both economic and environmental dimensions and that incorporate environmental requirements from the outset. Three levels of integration can be outlined:

• actions concerning vehicles and the motor vehicle fuels; 
• actions concerning traffic management; 
• actions concerning transport infrastructures.

Each of these levels addresses specific groups of actors or decision-makers in the private and public sectors. These groups are, respectively:

• the automobile and fuel industry and related administrations; 
• the central and local transport administrations, enterprises and private households; 
• the public works industry and related administrations.

Transport-environment indicators identified by the OECD, following the three-part structure indicated above, are presented below. They are not necessarily final or exhaustive and may evolve over time.

NOTES

¹ This text reflects the authors own opinions and not necessarily the views of the OECD.