Environmental Progress in the EUIndicators: a communication tool

Outline• Policy relevance & targets• ‘Definition’ of indicator• Examples• Nutrient enrichment• Floods• Water Framework Directive

The numbers given are illustrative

Policy Focus• Adoption of legislation• Answering questions (for example)• Are nitrates in rivers decreasing?• Are bathing waters acceptable?• Is water demand increasing or decreasing?

• Aimed at:• Decision makers• Policy makers• Public• Water managers

DPSIR

Indicators in policy • To provide simple information on complex environmental problems

for policy makers to evaluate seriousness • To support policy development and priority setting• To monitor effects and effectiveness of policy responses• To raise public awareness

What makes a good indicator?• Interest to target audience• Accessible /easy to interpret• Invites action• Representative of the issue• Shows progress with time• Comparable to reference values• Links to causes• Scientifically/statistically well-founded• Etc…..

Definition of the Indicator• What policy is being answered?• Why is the indicator being selected?• Specifically:• Policy context and targets• Legislation, agreements etc.• Scientific references to the indicator• Analytical method (if this defines the indicator) / units• Methodology for indicator calculations• Presentation of indicator• Uncertainties

An indicator for pollution?

Frequency diagram of average nitrate concentrations in fresh surface water classes (annual average nitrate concentrations).

Surface fresh water (rivers) eutrophication classification during the 2004-2007 and 2008-2011 (Flanders)

Phosphorous in Lakes

Public Awareness on water resources

Overview of the EU WFD• expanding the scope of water protection to all waters, surface waters

and groundwater • achieving "good status" for all waters by a set deadline • water management based on river basins • "combined approach" of emission limit values and quality standards • getting the prices right • getting the citizen involved more closely • streamlining legislation

WFD

To define “good ecological status”, the intercalibration exercise defines the upper and lower boundaries of good ecological status.

EU WFD Deadline

Achievement of milestones

Danube - Analysis

Achievements towards WFD objective (in 2015)

Caution…..• The misuse of indicators……