Indicator

Question 1

Describe what it means that indicators should be operationalizations.
A: (operationalization = The process of defining a fuzzy concept so as to make the concept measurable)
B: Describe how such an operationalization was performed in practice in assignment 2.

Answer 1

An indicator is useful if it is of fundamental interest in decision-making, simplifies or summarizes important properties and quantifies, measures, and communicates relevant information.
Using these properties to systematically collect data and underline the problem to communicate for decision making.

Question 2

Give examples of relevant indicators for the three sustainability constraints that are used in the course (one indicator for each constraint). Explain why these indicators are relevant.

Answer 2

• Limited land: area of land for that compared to the total agricultural land available on earth
• Limited availability: recycling rate
• Emissions: leakage from stock in society into ecosphere

Question 3

Give examples of sustainability indicators that are clearly aligned to the research questions for lithium batteries and toxicity

Answer 3

Lithium availability:
o EOL recycling rate
o Annual demand for lithium compared to the annual possible extraction rate

Toxicity:
o Emissions compared to natural flows in historic cases
o Per capita use compared to per capita reserves and resources

Question 4

Describe why (for which reasons) it can be relevant to use a methodology, such as PICABUE, when developing indicators

Answer 4

• to underly and make sure of the utility of sustainability indicators – gives greater credibility to the indicator choice – allows for more effective participation in indicator development – simplifies indicator identification of relevant indicators – and can produce indicators with long-term robustness
• to make them more about the environment

Question 5

For what purposes (mention at least three) can it be relevant to use indicators?

Answer 5

o simplifies or summarizes important properties
o measures and communicates relevant info
o assess conditions and trends
o provide early warning info
o anticipate future conditions and trends

Question 6

Describe the steps in the PICABUE methodology.

Answer 6

• Framework: - build operational tree
  1. Principles
  2. Issue
  Construction:
  3. Construct
  4. Augment
  5. (Boundary)
  6. (Uncertainty)
  Evaluation:
  7. Evaluate
• 1. Four sociological principles for sustainability
     
     1. Substances extracted from the lithosphere must not systematically accumulate in the ecosphere
     2. Society-produced substances must not systematically accumulate in the ecosphere
     3. The physical conditions for production and diversity within the ecosphere must not systematically be deteriorated
     4. The use of resources must be efficient and just with respect to meeting human needs
• 2. Issue
     o Divide up resource use in different issues to focus on
     o Limited assimilation capacity of emitted substances: (connected to principle 1&2)
      Emissions of different characteristics causing different types of impact
      Emissions in diff time scales
     • Short term, such as dissipative use, from industrial processes
     • Long term, such as leakage from stock in society (ex. copper roofs)
     o Limited space (land use):
      Type of land use (eg agricultural, forest)
      Efficiency of land use (eg harvest, losses)
      Qualitative aspects of land use that causes losses of biodiversity or reduction of long-term productivity
     o Limited availability of non-renewable resources
      Diff applications of materials
      Efficiency of the use of materials (eg for a service, losses, recycling rate)
      Inflow
     • Mining
     • Distribution of resources and trade between countries
• 3&4 Construction (design) of indicators
  o Indicators = measurement (step 3) / Reference value (step 4)
  o 3. Construct: selection of measurements
   Provide comprehensive coverage of the issues
   Be concise and easy to understand
   Physical monetary units
   Availability of data
  o 4. Augment: selection of reference values relevant for sustainability
   To compare with eg:
  • Target values that identify desirable conditions
  o Typical social aspects
  o eg level of education
  • Threshold values that represent limitations
  o Typical ecological aspects
  o Eg natural flows or stocks of material, assimilation capacity
• 7. Evaluate
     o Evaluation of quality of indicators
     1. Relevance & scientific validity
      Purpose of indicators
      Principles for sustainability
      Scientific knowledge
      Have to be able to interpret the indicators and connect to research questions
     2. Sensitivity to change
      Across space or groups
      Over time
     3. Consistency of data
      To facilitate comparisons across space and groups & over time
     4. Comprehensiveness
      Easily understandable
      Distinguishing acceptable from unacceptable conditions
      Direction towards sustainability should be obvious
     5. Measurable data
      Technically and financially feasible – have to have data, numbers & values
      Repeatable on a regular basis – to monitor
      Existing monitoring networks if possible

Question 7

In the course literature (on PICABUE), some evaluation criteria of indicators have been suggested (to get good quality indicators). Describe and explain the 5 of them.

Answer 7

1. Relevance and scientific validity:– Purpose of indicators– Principles for sustainability– Scientific knowledge
2. Sensitivity to change:– Across space or groups and over time
3. Consistency of data:– To facilitate comparisons across space and groups and over time
4. Comprehensible:– Easily understood– Distinguishing acceptable from unacceptable conditions– Direction towards sustainability should be obvious
5. Measurable data:– Technically and financially feasible– Repeatable on a regular basis– Existing monitoring networks if possible