Environmental Change and Biodiversity

Global Challenges excerpt from the 2010 State of the Future report

This section includes indicators that can measure change for the following challenges:

Sustainable Development

How can sustainable development be achieved for all while addressing global climate change? [Challenge 1]

Water

How can everyone have sufficient clean water without conflict? [Challenge 2]


Sustainable Development

How can sustainable development be achieved for all while addressing global climate change? [Challenge 1]

 -- Indicators --

The suggested indicators for this challenge were:

  1. Composite indicator of levels of economic growth, infant mortality, life expectancy, and living standards
  2. Assessment of total penalties imposed by courts for crimes against the environment
  3. Levels of contributions by corporations to funds such as the Global Sustainable Development Facility (GSDF)
  4. Government and industry R&D expenditures for zero or low emission technology and for other projects related to sustainable development
  5. Level of trading in pollution permits
  6. Percentage of ecologically based agriculture in total agriculture
  7. Number of countries and companies that use ISO I4000 and I4001
  8. Development and use of a “green” GDP; a system of national accounts that includes the economic impacts of the depletion of natural resources
  9. Total and per capita energy consumption by type of user
  10. Composite indicator of the per capita consumption of materials and generation of waste
  11. Acres of land in uses associated with sustainability (e.g. reforestation, amount of land set aside as pristine reserves, and in low intensity agriculture)
  12. Reserves of petroleum and key minerals
  13. Measurements of the economic gap between rich and poor
  14. Per capita expenditure on material goods versus expenditure on services
  15. Calvert-Henderson quality of life indicators
  16. Measures of biodiversity
  17. CO2 emissions and other energy related air pollutants, by source
  18. Average annual global temperature

The indicators most highly rated as per their usefulness and availability were:
[The numbers in brackets represent the order number of the indicator in the original (above) list.]

  1. Composite indicator of levels of economic growth, infant mortality, life expectancy, and living standards (1)
  2. Average annual global temperature (18)
  3. CO2 emissions and other energy related air pollutants, by source (17)
  4. Reserves of petroleum and key minerals (12)
  5. Number of countries and companies that use ISO I4000 and I4001 (7)
  6. Total and per capita energy consumption by type of user (9)
Top of the Page

Water

How can everyone have sufficient clean water without conflict? [Challenge 2]

 -- Indicators --

The suggested indicators for this challenge were:

  1. Percent of population in the world by country and by region sufficiently supplied with clean drinking water
  2. Water consumption broken down into personal, industrial, and agricultural use
  3. Cost of pure water
  4. Numbers of international or bilateral treaties that document cooperative agreements on water rights
  5. Number of governments that use water prices to improve efficiency of water usage
  6. Funds allocated for water desalination research and development
  7. Level of financial support for cleaning and creating new water sources
  8. Prevalence of water borne diseases
  9. Irrigation efficiencies
  10. Measures of salinization, desertification and erosion
  11. Rainfall and recharge rates
  12. Percentage of water catchment from total rainfall
  13. Changes in water tables
  14. The level of pollutants (salt, agricultural runoffs, industrial and household wastes) in the waterways
  15. Percentage of drip agriculture versus other forms
  16. National and regional rates of investment in water infrastructure
  17. Investment in Eco-awareness, education programs
  18. Percentage of waste water that is treated before discharge

The indicators most highly rated as per their usefulness and availability were:
[The numbers in brackets represent the order number of the indicator in the original (above) list.]

  1. Percent of population in the world by country and by region sufficiently supplied with clean drinking water (1)
  2. Percentage of drip agriculture versus other forms (15.)
  3. Cost of pure water (3)
  4. Irrigation efficiencies (9)
  5. Funds allocated for water desalination research and development (6)
  6. Percentage of waste water that is treated before discharge (18)
Top of the Page