Executive Summary
B.Moldan and S. Billharz

SCOPE 58 Sustainability indicators: A Report on the Project on Indicators of Sustainable Development, B.Moldan, S. Billharz & R. Matravers eds., 1997.

This book has five major sections. Chapter I covers methodological issues and summarizes the technical aspects of the development and use of indicators. Chapter 2 is devoted to approaches that attempt to construct a complete picture or model of sustainable development, using a comprehensive set of indicators, highly aggregated indices, or other specific methods. Chapter 3, 'Pieces of a Greater Picture', is the most extensive section of the book. It surveys many lands of indica-tors that are built on the basis of certain perspectives, such as environment, economy or other dimensions of sustainable development. It also includes sectoral approaches such as health, industry, forestry or agriculture, and other specific points of view. Chapter 4 provides country reports that describe the current situation and the use of indicators in a variety of countries. Chapter 5 defines the most important research needs and draws conclusions from the current body of work.

The first aim of this volume is to contribute to a deeper understanding of the idea of sustainability. Principle 1 of the Bellagio Principles (see Box IA) states, 'Assessment of progress toward sustainable development should be guided by a clear vision of sustainable development and goals that define that vision.' The paradox we face is that we aim to measure sustainability, yet we cannot precisely define it. There are many definitions of sustainable development, and no consensus on a single definition, as outlined in the Introduction to Chapter 2. However, there appears to be sufficient understanding and agreement to warrant developing indicators. Moreover, the very process of developing indicators contributes to the creation of a better definition of sustainable development. These processes are parallel and complementary: working on indicators helps us to see the important processes and linkages among aspects of sustainable development at many levels and to appreciate fully the complex interactions among its different dimensions.

The second aim is to make the concept of sustainable development more operational. The most important goal of all work on indicators is to help bridge the gaps between the concepts and day-to-day decision-making. In contrast to the detailed data and other quantitative information which are combined and aggregated into indicators, the crucially important feature of indicators, as a whole, is their relevance to policy and decision-making. Chapter 1 emphasizes this aspect, but it is also a key theme throughout the volume.

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Last updated: 26.03.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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