Development Observatory University of Costa Rica Dr. Edgar E. Gutierrez-Espeleta.

DevelopmentObservatory

University of Costa Rica

Dr. Edgar E. Gutierrez-Espeleta

10 years of experience in the systematization of indicators for

the sustainability of development: Costa Rica

Prof. Edgar E. Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Ph. D.

[email protected]

o A group is formed at the University of Costa Rica in order to measure the sustainability of the agriculture and natural resource sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean (gtz/IICA).

1993

Conceptual axes:

Productivity

Equity

Resilience

Stability

society nature

what to measure

1994

o The National Commission for Environmental Statistics is created (inter-institutional): CONEA

In 1996 the first national workshop on Environmental Statistics was held

o Establishment of the team that set forth the State of the Nation in Sustainable Human Development Project—sponsored by UNDP, the National Council of Presidents of Public Universities and the Ombudsman’s Office

The first report is published in 1995, and since then, annually

The conceptual framework focuses on five components:a) Equity and social integrationb) Opportunities, stability and economic solvencyc) Harmony with natured) Strengthening of democracy and good governancee) Primary relationships, social relationships and values

1994

Building upon the CONEA initiative, the National Planning Ministry offers to institutionalize this commission within the National System for Sustainable Development

The Technical Advisory Commission for the coordination and generation of information for sustainable development is thus created (INFODES)

It ceases to function in 1998 due to lack of funding ( = political backing)

1997

The National Council for Sustainable Development was not able to operate, and therefore, there hasn’t been a conceptual framework for sustainable development in Costa Rica, yet

Under this situation, it is proposed to establish a program for democratizing the access to

information on national development

1997

Creation of the Development Observatory at the University of Costa Rica, with support from Capacity 21/

UNDP and the Legislative Assembly

1997

It currently has four programs:

a) Quality of lifeb) Environment and developmentc) Software and methodology development d) Sustainable development network

CD ROM

To the clipboard

Combine variablesRe-initiate cycle

Start from the beginning

2001

UNCSD: testing of 57 proposed indicators

With the support from UNDESA

Each indicator presents:

DefinitionUnit of measurementPurpose and pertinenceCommentTable with data and annual variationAnd graphical exhibit

Environmental

Proposed indicators 19

Tested indicators 14

Additional indicators 2

Economic

Proposed indicators 14

Tested indicators 13

Additional indicators 1

Institutional

Proposed indicators 6

Tested indicators 6

Additional indicators 1

Social

Proposed indicators 18

Tested indicators 17

Additional indicators 3

These indicators have been introduced in the data base and will be presented as part of the TDC (CD ROM & Web site)

2001

I National Workshop of Environmental Experts, October 2001 - GEO-Costa Rica project

Among other things:

Define a minimum set of environmental variables in order to initiate the National System of

Environmental Information

Printed publication with some 180 statistics and indicators on environmental resources and socioeconomic factors. The data are presented in quinquennial historical series from 1970 to 1995, and annually from that year to the year 2000.

Work on environmental statistics produced under UNEP GEO project

GEO “Environmental statistics on Latin America and the Caribbean”

Development of UNEP regional data baseDevelopment of UNEP regional data base

Regional and UN sources have been used

Sources are specialized in the matter (for instance, although FAO publishes population data, this organization is used as reference only on statistics on agriculture, forests and fisheries)

Sometimes, even though there is information, access to it is restricted. Decision has been made to change regional sources for global ones, for which access is less restricted

Issues and sourcesIssues and sources

LAND FAO (United Nations Food and FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)Agriculture Organization)

FORESTS FAOFAO

BIODIVERSITY World Conservation Monitoring Centre World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)(WCMC)

FRESHWATER Pan American Health Organization Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)(PAHO)

MARINE AND COASTAL AREAS

WCMC; FAOWCMC; FAO

ATMOSPHERE Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis

Center (CDIAC); Latin American Energy Center (CDIAC); Latin American Energy

Organization (OLADE)Organization (OLADE)

URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS

Latin American and Caribbean Latin American and Caribbean

Demographic Center (CELADE); ONU; Demographic Center (CELADE); ONU;

CEPALCEPAL

NATURAL HAZARDS The Centre for Research on the The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of DisastersEpidemiology of Disasters (CRED)CRED)

GEO CD-ROM “Statistics and documentation on the environment“ UNEP

A compendium of more than 200 statistics and indicators on environmental resources and socioeconomic factors, with their definition, references and graphs, updated and presented in quinquennial historical series from 1970 to 1990, and annually from 1990 to 2002. This information is compiled by countries and is aggregated by sub regions.

2001

XIII Latin American and the Caribbean Forum of Environmental Ministers, Rio de Janeiro,

October 2001

Decision 6: Environmental indicators

Among other things:

• Designate country focal points in order to produce a work plan for Sustainable Development indicators for the 2002-2005 period

• Hold a workshop on this matter no later than November 2001

• Hold an expert workshop in March 2002 with support from the Forum’s Interagency Technical Committee

Decision 8: Working groups and coordinating countries

A new working group is established, coordinated by Costa Rica, on the issue of environmental indicators (Decision 6)

Coordination is under way with the Secretariat of the Interagency Technical Committee in order to constitute and initiate the group’s work

A meeting of the working group is being planned to be held beginning June 2003

What’s been done so far?

Costa Rica and UNEP main goal

Develop an environmental data hub

DevelopmentObservatory

University of Costa Rica

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