Use of sustainable development indicators in Finland

1
Use of sustainable development indicators in
Finland
Ulla Oksanen Sept. 19th, 2002
2
Why indicators?

• Finnish government programme on sustainable
  development Indicators chosen as a tool to
  monitor it
• Excellent communication tools
• Simplify information and make complex phenomena
  quantifiable
• Main purpose to inform and aid policymakers in
  their decision-making
• SDIs encourage broader, more integrated
  decision-making

3
Signs of sustainability

• 3 dimensions, 20 issues, 83 indicators
• Introductory page for each issue
• One page for each indicator, the graph is most
  important
• A short interpretation for each indicator
• Interpretations include description, development,
  targets/goals, and links to other indicators
• Internet pages (both .htm and .pdf)
• Three language versions, also in internet
• http//www.ymparisto.fi/eng/environ/sustdev/indica
  t/inds2000.htm

4
Who were involved?

• Ministry of the Environment
• Ministry of Transport and Communications
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Ministry of the Interior
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Education and Culture
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
• Ministry of Labour
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Justice
• Government Institute for Economic Research
• Statistics Finland
• The Association of Finnish Local and Regional
  Authorities
• Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

5
Generally the SDIs have been quite successfull

• Commitment and political will to develop
  indicators
• Democracy and wide support
• Resources to run the project

BUT
Are the indicators really being used?
6
Current activities

• Our next indicator report is due 2002/2003
• meanwhile study the use of indicators in
  decision-making
• objective is to find out what kind of indicators
  the members of the Finnish parliament and civil
  servants in ministries would like to have (if
  any)
• at the same time familiarise some of them with
  indicators as well
• The results will help us with updating of the
  core indicators and also indicate whether we
  should develop headline indicators.
• Co-operation with Czech Rep.

7
Use of indicators in decision-making

• Received special research funds
• First presentations to parliamentary committees,
  then interviews
• theme interviews, about 30 minutes, all
  interviews were recorded and transcribed
• n40, members of the parliament, their
  assistants, one MEP, one minister, DGs of all
  ministries, also information service of the
  parliament

8
General results of the study

• Regardless of the relatively good media coverage
  of the indicators, only the most enthusiastic
  politicians were aware of the product
• After the presentation to the committees, the MPs
  had studied the book ? direct marketing is
  worthwhile
• Yet, few MPs were familiar with the concept of
  indicators ? gap between scientists and
  decision-makers
• MPs tend to use expert consultations more than
  existing printed material

9
Potential uses of indicators

• Policymaking is hectic and matching indicators
  with current political issues is difficult
• Political ammunition, to prove their points
• Background material
• More indicators is better, decision-makers will
  find what they want
• indicators do not steer decision-making but
  rather give material for argumentation.
  Decision-makers need more analysis of facts and
  figures that tell whether we have moved in a good
  or bad direction current Min. of Env.
• Potential is there, but we need to promote them
  more

10
Some quotes

• and I must highlight that I really like
  statistics, especially in graphical pictures it
  is easier to get a whole picture with
  indicators...
• When I have to give a speech and I have been
  given a theme, it is easy by looking up facts it
  is more interesting to the audience that I give
  facts rather than only my own opinions
• useful when the Parliamentary Committee must
  give a comment on something, like background
  information on matters related to that question
• When there are choices and one must decide, then
  it is good check what the indicators are saying.
  
• Indicators are useful when we must consider
  trends and assess how different decisions will
  affect the nature, what is most sustainable for
  the environment

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Changes to indicators

• Change the order of dimensions social, env.,
  econ.
• Combine some issues (3), separate waste and
  energy, new issue environmental health
• The number of indicators will remain the same,
  headline indicators will not be developed at this
  stage
• Move some individual indicators around
• Main emphasis on the internet version of the
  book, publish only a small leaf-let, provide
  policymakers with a ready-made powerpoint
  presentation
• More emphasis on hyperlinks and on the graphic
  design of the www-pages

12
Conclusions

• Indicators are useful and there is a need for
  such tools
• The indicators must be made easily accessible
• The indicators must be appealing to the users
• The indicators must be promoted, more marketing
• The indicators need to be updated often and there
  must be resources to do that