The
NRTEE's Approach to Indicators
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The first phase of the ESDI Initiative
focussed on existing indicator work, developing conceptual framework,
and seeking input on this approach. This phase ended in March 2001,
after a workshop
for potential users of these indicators.
The NRTEE is recommending a "capital approach,"
that will track stocks of key types of capital (produced, natural
and human) needed by future generations. Some of the important assets
that will be tracked will include stocks of natural resources, as
well as the crucial ecosystem services (such as the provision of
clean water and soil) that our society and our economy depend upon.
This emphasis on capital shifts the focus of indicators
from traditional measures of economic activity such as GDP, to trends
in the investment and stocks of the different forms of capital,
that all support a high quality of life.
While the concept of produced capital is relatively
easy to identify and place a value upon, and progress has been made
in the area of human capital, the most difficult challenge is that
of natural capital. For example, developing indicators for ecosystem
services such as wetlands does not easily lend itself to simple
measurement processes. This is one of the major issues for the next
program phase, which will focus on defining specific indicators.
Existing indicator and data collection work will be
examined through the use of cluster groups of experts, which will
be tasked with recommending national indicators, valuation methodologies
and data sources for each domain or category the ESDI Initiative
proposes to tackle. These groups will act in advisory capacity to
the ESDI Steering Committee.
The NRTEE will also continue to ask potential users
to provide input concerning the relevance and usefulness of the
proposed indicators.
The NRTEE also recognizes the social aspects of sustainable
development. In response to stakeholder input the NRTEE will increase
its existing support of organizations working in these areas so
as to increase the capacity to eventually develop national indicators
on social aspects.
The testing, refining and validation of the
indicators will form the third phase of the Initiative.
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