Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework

Environmental indicator sets (EIS) are tools to monitor and assess sustainability, and many environmental organizations have embraced their use. Due to the large number of EIS, it is a challenge to compare and reconcile their differences and gain a comprehensive view of their utility. To compare EIS...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado:	2017
Materias:	Causal chain framework Environmental indicator sets Sustainability index Biodiversity Chains Ecology Ecosystems Indicators (chemical) Societies and institutions Causal chains Design and implementations Environmental indicators Environmental organizations International organizations Nongovernmental organizations Production characteristics Sustainable development ecosystem health environmental indicator environmental legislation nature-society relations nongovernmental organization polarization policy implementation policy making sustainability
Acceso en línea:	https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila
Aporte de:	Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires

id	paper:paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila
record_format	dspace
spelling	paper:paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila2023-06-08T16:17:01Z Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework Causal chain framework Environmental indicator sets Sustainability index Biodiversity Chains Ecology Ecosystems Indicators (chemical) Societies and institutions Causal chains Design and implementations Environmental indicators Environmental organizations International organizations Nongovernmental organizations Production characteristics Sustainability index Sustainable development ecosystem health environmental indicator environmental legislation nature-society relations nongovernmental organization polarization policy implementation policy making sustainability Environmental indicator sets (EIS) are tools to monitor and assess sustainability, and many environmental organizations have embraced their use. Due to the large number of EIS, it is a challenge to compare and reconcile their differences and gain a comprehensive view of their utility. To compare EIS, the first step is to classify their component indicators, for which several frameworks exist. Among the most widely used, is the causal-chain framework, also referred to as PSR after its categories of Pressure, State and Response. Other frameworks classify indicators by subject, yet none is widely applied. Aiming to compare EIS, we first proposed a unified classification criteria for indicators using PSR and five subject categories (i.e., biodiversity and ecosystem health, E; natural resources, N; physical and chemical contamination, C; human environment, H; and general, G). Then, we used these classification criteria to describe and compare fourteen existing environmental indicator sets. Finally, we compared EIS based on their production characteristics and goals. Across the fourteen EIS, we analyzed 706 indicators (which represent ∼1200 variables) and selected 16 and 79 keywords for classification in the PSR and ENCHG categories respectively. We found on average that the ratio of categories in the causal chain framework was 2.5S:1.5P:1R, while we observed a large variability across EIS. For the subject categories, C-E-N were nearly equally represented among EIS, and better represented than H-G. Also, the evaluated EIS showed a polarization between C-H and E categories that we interpreted as a human vs. natural-ecosystem welfare focus. Finally, we identified three broad categories of EIS based primarily on the organization that produced them, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, and international organizations. Our results can contribute to the design and implementation of scientifically robust and representative EIS, which are key to incorporate environmental data to policymaking in the search of sustainability. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd 2017 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila
institution	Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str	I-28
repository_str	R-134
collection	Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic	Causal chain framework Environmental indicator sets Sustainability index Biodiversity Chains Ecology Ecosystems Indicators (chemical) Societies and institutions Causal chains Design and implementations Environmental indicators Environmental organizations International organizations Nongovernmental organizations Production characteristics Sustainability index Sustainable development ecosystem health environmental indicator environmental legislation nature-society relations nongovernmental organization polarization policy implementation policy making sustainability
spellingShingle	Causal chain framework Environmental indicator sets Sustainability index Biodiversity Chains Ecology Ecosystems Indicators (chemical) Societies and institutions Causal chains Design and implementations Environmental indicators Environmental organizations International organizations Nongovernmental organizations Production characteristics Sustainability index Sustainable development ecosystem health environmental indicator environmental legislation nature-society relations nongovernmental organization polarization policy implementation policy making sustainability Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
topic_facet	Causal chain framework Environmental indicator sets Sustainability index Biodiversity Chains Ecology Ecosystems Indicators (chemical) Societies and institutions Causal chains Design and implementations Environmental indicators Environmental organizations International organizations Nongovernmental organizations Production characteristics Sustainability index Sustainable development ecosystem health environmental indicator environmental legislation nature-society relations nongovernmental organization polarization policy implementation policy making sustainability
description	Environmental indicator sets (EIS) are tools to monitor and assess sustainability, and many environmental organizations have embraced their use. Due to the large number of EIS, it is a challenge to compare and reconcile their differences and gain a comprehensive view of their utility. To compare EIS, the first step is to classify their component indicators, for which several frameworks exist. Among the most widely used, is the causal-chain framework, also referred to as PSR after its categories of Pressure, State and Response. Other frameworks classify indicators by subject, yet none is widely applied. Aiming to compare EIS, we first proposed a unified classification criteria for indicators using PSR and five subject categories (i.e., biodiversity and ecosystem health, E; natural resources, N; physical and chemical contamination, C; human environment, H; and general, G). Then, we used these classification criteria to describe and compare fourteen existing environmental indicator sets. Finally, we compared EIS based on their production characteristics and goals. Across the fourteen EIS, we analyzed 706 indicators (which represent ∼1200 variables) and selected 16 and 79 keywords for classification in the PSR and ENCHG categories respectively. We found on average that the ratio of categories in the causal chain framework was 2.5S:1.5P:1R, while we observed a large variability across EIS. For the subject categories, C-E-N were nearly equally represented among EIS, and better represented than H-G. Also, the evaluated EIS showed a polarization between C-H and E categories that we interpreted as a human vs. natural-ecosystem welfare focus. Finally, we identified three broad categories of EIS based primarily on the organization that produced them, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, and international organizations. Our results can contribute to the design and implementation of scientifically robust and representative EIS, which are key to incorporate environmental data to policymaking in the search of sustainability. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
title	Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
title_short	Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
title_full	Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
title_fullStr	Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
title_full_unstemmed	Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
title_sort	comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework
publishDate	2017
url	https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1470160X_v83_n_p96_Brambila
_version_	1768546225137647616

Comparison of environmental indicator sets using a unified indicator classification framework

Ejemplares similares