EEA/UNECE Workshop on Core Environmental Indicators for EECCA 27-28 June 2003, St Petersburg EEA Core set of indicators: methodological concepts and description of indicators

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EEA/UNECE Workshop on Core Environmental
Indicators for EECCA27-28 June 2003, St
PetersburgEEA Core set of indicators
methodological concepts and description of
indicators

• Andrus Meiner
• European Environment Agency

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Air pollution ozone layer depletion
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
How is the problem developing? (distance to targets, overall de-coupling) 312 242
How are actors, sectors and processes contributing? 3 3
How are impacts developing? 22 12
How effective is the response (What are the socio-economic implications of measures? Overall policy effectiveness Efficiency of measures) 1 1
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Climate change
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
How is the problem developing? (distance to targets, overall de-coupling) 4 4
How are sectors and different pollutants contributing? 15 13
How are impacts developing? 24 13
How effective is the response (in the past and projected) 2 2
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Biodiversity
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
What is the state and trends of biodiversity?   Will the loss of biodiversity be halted 2010? 20 12
What are the causes of the loss of biodiversity? Will this change? 8 3
What measures are taken to conserve or restore biodiversity? 10 9
Are these measures effective in reaching the objectives? 23 5
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Terrestrial environment
Environmental issue Indicators Short Term indicators
Soil pollution and erosion 10 4
Land use and land cover changes 7 3
Urban environment 3 0
Coastal environment 3 0
Natural hazards 1 1
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Water - quantity
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Are the abstractions from our water resources sustainable over the long term? 1 1
Is the water use by socio-economic sectors sustainable? 8 4
Is water stress due to water abstractions being reduced? 3 0
Are water prices and water saving technologies used as a tool for water conservation? 3 0
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Water nutrients and organic pollution
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Are nutrients and organic pollution decreasing? 5 5
Are discharges of nutrients and organic matter from socio-economic sectors decreasing? 6 1
Are we enhancing the status of the aquatic ecosystems and lowering the adverse effects of organic pollution and eutrophication? 8 3
How effective are existing policies in reducing loading of nutrients and organic matter? 2 2
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Water hazardous substances
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Are we reducing pollution of waters with hazardous substances? 7 1
Are discharges of hazardous substances from socio-economic sectors decreasing? 9 4
Are the levels of hazardous substances so that they do not give rise to unacceptable impacts on, and risks to, human health and the environment? 4 0
How effective are existing policies in reducing pollution with hazardous substances? - -
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Water ecological quality
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Are we enhancing the status of the aquatic ecosystems? 11 5
How effective are existing policies in improving the ecological quality? 2 0
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Waste and material flows
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Material flow indicators 4 policy questions 6 3
Waste generation indicators 4 policy questions 12 4
Waste management indicators 7 policy questions 14 0
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Agriculture
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Is the environmental impact of agriculture improving? 11 4
Is the efficiency of the sector improving? 4 3
How is the size and shape of agriculture developing what are key trends in agricultural production systems? 7 1
What is the progress in economic integration What policy and market incentives are available to encourage environmentally friendly farm management? 3 2
What is the progress in management integration how widespread is the use of environmental policy measures and farm management knowledge? 5 1
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Energy
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Is the environmental performance of the sector improving? 18 18
Is the efficiency improving? 4 4
How are the size and the shape of the sector developing? (less polluting fuels and share of renewables) 4 4
What is the progress in economic integration are we moving towards a pricing system that better incorporates environmental costs? 5 5
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Transport
Generic / policy question Indicators Short Term indicators
Is the environmental performance of the sector improving (use of space, emissions, resource use)? 15 8
How is the size and shape of the sector developing (including technological advances)? 15 9
What is the progress in economic integration are we moving towards a fairer and more efficient pricing system, which ensures that external costs are recovered? 6 6
What is the progress in management integration How effectively are environmental management and monitoring tools being used to support policy- and decision-making? 5 5