Environmental indicators are simple data points that can be measured to better understand what is happening with the environment. They offer a practical and cost-effective way to monitor the current state of specific ecosystems, preventing the observer from getting lost in trying to understand all their complexity.
In the governmental sphere, an example of an indicator to be monitored would be the concentration of contaminants in river waters. In the business sector, a good example would be the consumption of electricity per unit of product manufactured.
In general, these indicators help organizations evaluate the effectiveness of their environmental policies. Through them, it is also possible to identify trends and make informed decisions for new strategies.
In this article, we will explain better what environmental indicators are, talk about their importance, and provide examples so that you understand everything about the subject!
What is the importance of environmental indicators?
As the famous statistician William E. Deming once said: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure, you can’t measure what you don’t define, you can’t define what you don’t understand, and there is no success in what you don’t manage.”
Managing and measuring environmental indicators — as well as health and safety indicators — effectively can bring numerous advantages to your company. Among them, we can highlight:
- Reduction of accidents and absences due to work-related illnesses;
- Improvement in employee engagement;
- Reduction in the consumption of water, energy, among others;
- Containment of environmental disasters;
- Improvement in waste management;
- Preservation of standards required by related regulations;
- Reduction of fines and non-compliance.
Benefits of using environmental indicators
Environmental indicators are valuable tools for assessing and managing the health of ecosystems. According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), they simplify monitoring by offering simple and direct ways to monitor complex areas of nature.
- Informed decision-making: Since indicators provide clear and quantifiable data, they allow stakeholders and policymakers to make data-driven choices regarding conservation and environmental management.
- Better resource management: Their use helps prioritize areas that need the most attention, such as sectors that pollute the most or locations affected by contamination.
- Early warning systems: Indicators can detect changes in the environment before they become severe problems.
- Public awareness: They can be used to communicate the current state of specific ecosystems to the general public, thereby raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices.
- Compliance and regulation: Environmental indicators can help your company assess compliance with environmental regulations and standards, ensuring that policies are effectively implemented.
How to define environmental indicators
Now that you know the importance of environmental indicators and the advantages of using them, it’s time to learn how to define them. For this, it is important to understand that your goal is to assess the current state of an area of the environment and monitor its changes over time.
The defined indicators can then be used to understand the impact of human activities on the environment and make informed decisions in pursuit of sustainable management.
Continue reading to find our step-by-step guide on how to define environmental indicators:
1. Determine your objective
Evaluate what you want to measure and why. You might be looking to better understand changes in water quality, biodiversity, air quality, climate, or a myriad of other things.
Defining a clear goal will help you direct your efforts and ensure that the chosen indicators are relevant and useful. Additionally, a well-defined objective facilitates the communication of results and data-driven decision-making.
2. Select relevant KPIs
Choose the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to your proposal. For example, in the case of air quality monitoring, a good KPI could be the reduction of pollutants like CO₂ or NO₂.
Ensure that the chosen KPIs are specific and measurable. This way, they can provide clear data that allows for action. Additionally, it is important that the KPIs are aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives, ensuring that monitoring efforts contribute to sustainability goals.
3. Consider time and space scales
Decide the geographical area where you will measure your indicators, which will facilitate focusing on a specific ecosystem. Environmental indicators can cover a neighborhood or a continent — it all depends on the size of your organization and your goals.
Also, determine the data measurement period, setting a deadline for achieving your goal. Here, you can focus on short-term objectives (just a few months) or long-term goals, which may include targets for the coming decades.
4. Use proven frameworks
Use well-established and proven guidelines in the market. The indicators from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) can be a great starting point. If you want an alternative, the indicators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can also be a great framework.
5. Validate and review your indicators
Now your environmental indicators are defined, but your work doesn’t stop there. Even with the framework defined and implemented, you still need to validate and regularly review your indicators.
Only then will it be possible to ensure that they remain relevant and accurate over time.
Examples of environmental, health, and safety performance indicators
According to ISO 14031, we have three basic types of environmental performance indicators:
Management performance indicators
Provide information on management efforts to influence the organization’s environmental performance.
Examples:
- Percentage of environmental goals achieved;
- Environmental costs with fines for environmental damage (non-compliance);
- Budget for employee training on related topics;
- Response time to environmental incidents.
Operational performance indicators
Provide information on the environmental performance of the organization’s operations.
Examples:
- Energy consumption per unit of product;
- Water consumption per unit of product;
- Generation of waste or effluents per month/year;
- Emission of atmospheric pollutants per month/year.
Environmental condition indicators
Provide information on the local, regional, national, or global condition of the environment.
Examples:
- Concentration of contaminants in nearby river waters;
- Fish deaths in a specific watercourse over time.
Conclusion
Environmental indicators are essential tools for monitoring, evaluating, and managing environmental impacts, both in governmental and business contexts. They allow for the precise measurement of critical factors affecting ecosystems, facilitating informed decision-making and the implementation of sustainable practices.
In addition to providing a clear view of the effectiveness of environmental policies, these indicators also help identify trends and anticipate potential problems, promoting environmental preservation and regulatory compliance.
By effectively defining and using environmental indicators, organizations across all sectors can significantly contribute to sustainability and environmental protection, ensuring a safer and healthier future for the next generations.
Looking for better efficiency and compliance in your operations? Our experts can help identify the best strategies for your company with SoftExpert solutions. Contact us today!
