"It is no longer sufficient to develop passive lists or reports to ‘inform’ citizens of changes in our environment. We need to engage with citizens and ask how they can ‘inform’ us. Obtaining and using local knowledge will help us empower citizens, and it will also give us a better indication of what we need to do to be truly sustainable." Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Global citizen observatory - The role of individuals in observing and understanding our changing world. Lecture by Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, European Environment Agency. Annual Earthwatch lecture - Citizen Science, Oxford, 16th February 2009. / Inspiring Quotes 18

Indicators simply measure or indicate what’s going on, and answer straightforward questions about chosen issues. Indicators can show

• Where we are now, and provide a ‘benchmark’ against which to assess future progress
• What’s improving, what’s getting worse, and what’s not changing
• The strengths or good aspects of an area as well as challenges it faces

Sustainability Indicators or local Quality of Life Indicators are about questions that affect us all

• What’s going on in your community?
• Is crime on the increase?
• Is the environment in trouble?
• What shape is the local economy in?

Contents 1 Action Ideas 2 Village cinema 3 Resources 4 Related 5 Comments

Action Ideas Edit

• Local quality of life indicators
• Local quality of life Index
• Community surveys
• Footprint analysis - see International links
• Data visualization

Village cinema Edit

Resources Edit

• The Open Data Handbook, discusses the legal, social and technical aspects of open data. It can be used by anyone but is especially designed for those seeking to open up data. It discusses the why, what and how of open data – why to go open, what open is, and the how to ‘open’ data.
• Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, available in English, French and Spanish

Related Edit

SCA Community resources Communities online Local needs met locally Sustainability networks, general article, including action ideas, within the Ideas Bank Information by topic - see topic pages - e.g. Climate change global links Global connections resources	Wikipedia Ecological footprint W, Environmental Performance Index W, Category:Lists of countries by international rankings W, Ecological Debt Day W	Wikisphere Wikiprogress.org, global platform for sharing information in order to evaluate societal progress. Open to all. Environment monitoring, Future scenarios

Wanted pages and external links

• Tim Berners-Lee on the next Web, video on TED.com
• Global Footprint Network
• Worldmapper
• Integrated Approaches to Participatory Development (IAPAD) - Participatory Avenues acts as focal point for sharing information and technical progress on community-based mapping and Public Participation GIS (PPGIS). The website provides ample documentation on Participatory 3D Modelling (P3DM), an efficient tool for merging indigenous technical knowledge and traditional spatial information. P3DM applications include community-based natural resources management, collaborative research and planning, resource use, control and tenure, and related conflict management.
• Water footprint
• Google Public data explorer

References

• Defra news release, Ref: 440/06, 13 October 2006