Research Conference on Sustainable Development Indicators

Luxembourg, 30 September 2009

Matthias BrucknerMatthias Bruckner

Division for Sustainable DevelopmentDivision for Sustainable Development

Department of Economic and Social AffairsDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs

United NationsUnited Nations

Indicators of Sustainable Development Indicators of Sustainable Development - International Experiences and - International Experiences and

Research Needs Research Needs

OutlineOutline

1.1. CSD Indicators of Sustainable CSD Indicators of Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

2.2. Experiences and research needs Experiences and research needs

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UN DESA – Division for Sustainable UN DESA – Division for Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

• Mission Statement: To provide leadership and to be an authoritative source of expertise within the United Nations system on sustainable development

• DSD serves as the Secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)

• CSD:– Functional Commission of the UN Economic

and Social Council (ECOSOC)– Attended by non-CSD member states,

UN system, NGOs and IGOs– Includes high-level segment with

60-70 ministers in attendance• DSD conducts normative work, analytical

work and technical cooperation.

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CSD Indicators of Sustainable CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development Development

• UN DESA publishes a set of Indicators of UN DESA publishes a set of Indicators of Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development.

– First edition published in 1996, second First edition published in 1996, second edition in 2001. edition in 2001.

– Third edition released in late 2007.Third edition released in late 2007.

• These indicators serve as reference for These indicators serve as reference for countries to develop or revise national countries to develop or revise national indicator sets.indicator sets.

– They are intended to be adapted to national They are intended to be adapted to national conditions.conditions.

• They originate from a work programme They originate from a work programme adopted by the United Nations Commission on adopted by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in 1995.Sustainable Development (CSD) in 1995.

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CSD Indicators of Sustainable CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development Development

• Detailed methodology sheets for each indicator available online.

• Methodology sheets will be updated regularly.

• Guidelines address use of the indicators for monitoring strategies.

• Currently most downloaded document on DSD website.

• http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/indicators/isd.htm

The CSD indicators consist of 96 indicators of The CSD indicators consist of 96 indicators of sustainable development, of which 50 are sustainable development, of which 50 are regarded as core indicators.regarded as core indicators.

The CSD indicators are organized in 14 The CSD indicators are organized in 14 themes with 44 sub-themes.themes with 44 sub-themes.

Indicator themes:Indicator themes: Poverty Governance Health Education Demographics Atmosphere Land Oceans, seas, coasts

Freshwater Biodiversity Economic Development Natural hazards Global partnership Consumption and

production patterns

CSD Indicators of Sustainable CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development Development

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications – purpose (1)implications – purpose (1)

• CSD indicators serve as reference for CSD indicators serve as reference for countries to develop or revise sustainable countries to develop or revise sustainable development indicators (SDI) at the national development indicators (SDI) at the national level.level.

• Most countries use their SDI for monitoring Most countries use their SDI for monitoring national sustainable development strategies national sustainable development strategies (NSDS).(NSDS).

• Purposes of other (comprehensive) indicator Purposes of other (comprehensive) indicator sets include SD assessment, cross-country sets include SD assessment, cross-country comparisons, communication.comparisons, communication.

• Different purposes are a main factor in Different purposes are a main factor in explaining heterogeneity of SDI sets, in explaining heterogeneity of SDI sets, in particular for differences in frameworks and particular for differences in frameworks and selection criteria. selection criteria.

SDI research must recognize different SDI research must recognize different purposes as critical determinant of SDI.purposes as critical determinant of SDI.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications – purpose (2)implications – purpose (2)

• There is a trend to develop sets of SDI for There is a trend to develop sets of SDI for specific or cross-cutting issues (e.g., energy specific or cross-cutting issues (e.g., energy indicators of SD, sustainable consumption and indicators of SD, sustainable consumption and production indicators).production indicators).

• Coherence of indicator sets at the national Coherence of indicator sets at the national level becomes an issue.level becomes an issue.

• There is a risk of duplication of efforts. There is a risk of duplication of efforts. • Comprehensive SDI sets could for the basis for Comprehensive SDI sets could for the basis for

issue-specific sets. issue-specific sets. This area could warrant further research. This area could warrant further research.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications - frameworksimplications - frameworks

• CSD indicators are embedded in a theme-CSD indicators are embedded in a theme-based framework, oriented along common based framework, oriented along common policy-areas. policy-areas.

• First edition used DPSIR framework, but this First edition used DPSIR framework, but this proved to be impractical and limiting in proved to be impractical and limiting in national testing.national testing.

• Policy frameworks are dominant in SDI sets at Policy frameworks are dominant in SDI sets at the national level. the national level.

• Indices most common for SDI used for Indices most common for SDI used for (international) awareness raising. (international) awareness raising.

• Theory-based framework often used for Theory-based framework often used for conceptual work and for assessments.conceptual work and for assessments.

SDI research on framework of main interest SDI research on framework of main interest for purposes other than NSDS monitoring.for purposes other than NSDS monitoring.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications – scope (1)implications – scope (1)

• CSD indicators based on ‘global CSD indicators based on ‘global intergovernmental consensus’ on sustainable intergovernmental consensus’ on sustainable development (Rio Principles, Agenda 21, JPOI, development (Rio Principles, Agenda 21, JPOI, CSD resolutions). CSD resolutions).

• Still, quite different views on scope of SD are Still, quite different views on scope of SD are reflected in SDI sets.reflected in SDI sets.

‘‘Global consensus on SD’ could be useful basis Global consensus on SD’ could be useful basis for research on defining SD and explaining for research on defining SD and explaining differences in interpreting SD. differences in interpreting SD.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications – scope (2)implications – scope (2)

• SD covers both intra- and intergenerational SD covers both intra- and intergenerational equity concerns. equity concerns.

Very relevant for research.Very relevant for research.• SD has an international dimension (e.g., SD has an international dimension (e.g.,

global partnership with ‘common but global partnership with ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’; cooperation; differentiated responsibilities’; cooperation; priority to special situation of developing priority to special situation of developing countries, in particular LDCs, supportive and countries, in particular LDCs, supportive and open international economic system)open international economic system)

More research on indicators addressing the More research on indicators addressing the international dimension (beyond trade and international dimension (beyond trade and ODA) warranted.ODA) warranted.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications – scope (3)implications – scope (3)

• SD integrates economic, social and SD integrates economic, social and environmental dimension.environmental dimension.

• Interlinkages are key to the concept of SD. Interlinkages are key to the concept of SD. • Despite progress in some areas (e.g. eco-Despite progress in some areas (e.g. eco-

efficiency), single-issue indicators remain efficiency), single-issue indicators remain more developed.more developed.

There is a need to identify indicators crossing There is a need to identify indicators crossing across all three dimensions. across all three dimensions.

There is a need for integrated databases There is a need for integrated databases allowing for the consistent calculations of allowing for the consistent calculations of indicators. indicators.

– SEEA has important role for indicators that integrate SEEA has important role for indicators that integrate environmental and economic dimensions. environmental and economic dimensions.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications - processimplications - process

• CSD indicators outcome of a consensus-CSD indicators outcome of a consensus-oriented process involving international oriented process involving international agencies and countries.agencies and countries.

• Indicators processes are key determinant for Indicators processes are key determinant for framework, size of indicator sets, design and framework, size of indicator sets, design and adherence to selection criteriaadherence to selection criteria

• Critical components includeCritical components include– Importance of consensus Importance of consensus – Number and diversity of stakeholder involved Number and diversity of stakeholder involved – Role of ‘demand’ and ‘supply’ side of indicatorsRole of ‘demand’ and ‘supply’ side of indicators

SDI research could address role of indicator SDI research could address role of indicator process.process.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications - dataimplications - data

• Data concerns remain important especially in Data concerns remain important especially in developing countries.developing countries.

– Data availabilityData availability– Data accessibilityData accessibility– Data organizationData organization– Data quality Data quality

• This holds in particular for environmental This holds in particular for environmental data.data.

SDI research can provide direction for data SDI research can provide direction for data collection and development, especially if collection and development, especially if taking cost considerations into account. taking cost considerations into account.

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Experiences and research Experiences and research implications - institutionsimplications - institutions

• Institutionalization critical to ensure actual Institutionalization critical to ensure actual application of SDI and feed-back to policy application of SDI and feed-back to policy processes. processes.

• Institutional capacity and structure of Institutional capacity and structure of countries are important.countries are important.

• Institutionalizing SDI often part of determining Institutionalizing SDI often part of determining institutional structure of NSDS. institutional structure of NSDS.

• No ‘one-size-fits-all’ even among countries No ‘one-size-fits-all’ even among countries with similar development status. with similar development status.

Additional research warranted.Additional research warranted.

Thank Thank YouYou

ContactContact: Matthias BrucknerMatthias Bruckner Division for Sustainable DevelopmentDivision for Sustainable Development

Department of Economic and Social AffairsDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs United NationsUnited Nations

email: email: brucknerm@un.org http://www.un.org/esa/dsdhttp://www.un.org/esa/dsd