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Case Studies
For the first time, the Indicators in Practice component of the 2012 EPI identifies interesting examples and good practices in the use of environmental indicators in policy and management contexts. The criteria for inclusion is that the indicators have had an observed policy impact, and preferably that they are used in an operational way to address environmental problems, manage resources, or track the implementation of policies and programs. The scale of application can range from local to national to transnational regions. If you or your organization has an example of Indicators in Practice, please visit the Community section of the website to tell us about it. The most successful example will be awarded a prize in January of 2013.
Arizona Indicators
Major environmental issues in Arizona include the sustainable use of land, water, and energy. To begin addressing these issues so as to protect the quality of life for all current and future residents, Arizona Indicators was initiated as a project aimed at centralizing data to demonstrate the state’s status on sustainability topics. The goal of this project is to promote informed decision-making at the individual, community and policy level by fostering data-driven dialogue and civic action through the presentation of actionable metrics, public opinion data, and expert analyses. MORE
Millennium Challenge Corporation
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a global initiative offering two grant programs to countries that are committed to improving their policy performance. MCC recognizes that sustainable economic growth and a healthy environment are related, and the initiative utilizes performance indicators for selecting countries into funding programs and monitoring a country’s progress and improvement throughout the grant period. MORE
Environmental Quality Indicators of Malaysia
Following the release of the 2010 Self-Assessment Study of Environmental Performance Index in Malaysia, stakeholders recognized the need to assess performance and address the growing importance of environmental sustainability in the new economic model of Malaysia through gathering and developing important environmental indicator data. MORE
Environmental Indicators and Monitoring Information Systems of Kuwait
Environmental sustainability is one of the major challenges Kuwait is facing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Data for environmental performance indicators is limited for important issues in Kuwait, such as the consumption of ozone-depleting substances carbon dioxide emissions. Although Kuwait has performed well in other areas related to MDGs and has reached 100% population coverage for safe drinking water and basic sanitation resources, the government of Kuwait recognizes the need to develop and utilize additional indicators to address other important environmentally related goals. MORE
The Water Shed Management Act of Korea
Two accidents in 1991 and 1994 led to the contamination of the Nakdong River in Korea. The incidents led to the release of volatile organic pollutants, including dichromethane, into the drinking waters of the Busan Metropolitan Area and Gyeongsangnam Province. Carcinogenic compounds, such as benzene and toluene were later discovered, and two massive fish kills occurred in the Yeongsang and Imjin Rivers. Following the Nakdong pollution incident, regional management conflicts, and the release of Korea’s water quality ranking in the 2002 EPI stakeholders recognized water quality as a collective action problem for Korea. MORE
The Volume Based Waste Fee System of Korea
Waste management has major effects on human and environmental health and is a major source of environmental pollution. After failing to effectively manage wastes, South Korea sought to restructure their policies on the decentralization of waste management. In the early 1990s, the Local Autonomy System for waste was introduced, and the focus of South Korea’s government changed from waste collection and processing to the reduction and reuse of waste as a resource. MORE
Danish Action Plan for the Environment
The Danish Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment (APAE) addresses pollution of Denmark’s rivers, lakes, groundwater, and marine waters. Several action plans focus on specific links between urban, industrial, and agricultural sectors and the aquatic environment.
APAE was developed in 1987 and includes several action plans to assess ecosystems and the key causes of environmental problems. These action plans contribute to APAE’s objective for improving ecosystems in accordance with environmental targets. Several cases have been implemented to demonstrate links between agricultural and environmental sustainability. These are important lessons learned for policy development and implementation, and achieving the goal of environmental rehabilitation. MORE
The Tonle Sap Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project of Cambodia
Adequate water supplies and sanitation are among the greatest challenges in public health related to the environment. Cambodia has suffered from high rates of diseases as a result of inadequate water and sanitation resources, and although Cambodians have made improvements their rural water coverage remains one of the lowest in Asia. As a result, the government of Cambodia has developed the national water supply and sanitation policy, which established the objective that “every person in rural communities has sustained access to safe water supply and sanitation services and [is] living in a hygienic environment by 2025.” MORE
Energy, Environment and Development Network for Africa
Energy resources and policies are major topics for sustainability goals around the world. To begin in addressing these issues in Africa, the Energy, Environment and Development Network for Africa (AFREPREN/FWD) was initiated in 1987 by a group of experts as a non-governmental organization that embraces a variety of indicators for several projects related to energy policy in Africa.
AFREPREN/FWD has a range of focal areas including Energy Sector Reform, Energy Services for the Urban Poor, Renewables and Energy for Rural Development, and Special Studies of Strategic Significance. AFREPREN/FWD is aimed at promoting cleaner energy investments and better energy strategies and policies through capacity building. The program also aims to identify cleaner alternatives from renewables, and to establish efficiency priorities and strategies in conjunction with national and international organizations. MORE
The Air Quality Index for Seoul, South Korea
When Korea was ranked 136th out of 146 countries in the 2002 Environmental Sustainability Index, and 120th out of 122 countries for air quality, the South Korean government and major stakeholders recognized that air quality needed major attention.
The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Construction and Transportation, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Environment worked together with “The Alliance,” a group of non-governmental environmental organizations and major auto industries throughout Korea to start addressing urban air quality. The initiative focused particularly on the Seoul Metropolitan Area of South Korea where the primary concern is PM10, which has both environmental and human health impacts. MORE