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Second Interim Report of Finland for the Testing of CSD Indicators of
Sustainable Development

MARCH 1997 - State of Indicator Testing

The CSD indicator testing in Finland was started in January 1997. A special data collection sheet was designed for the testing purpose. The sheets were distributed to specialists who commented on the relevancy of the indicator, comprehensibility of the methodology sheets, the international comparability of the data, and submitted the data (if available). A group of 12 people from different ministries and research institutions took part in four workshops, where the data sheets were evaluated. Experts on particular subjects were also invited. The group concentrated on the relevancy of the indicators nationally and globally, as well as on the context of the methodology sheets. By the end of March all the indicators have been preliminary examined.

Selection of priority indicators

We felt that testing of all CSD indicators would be beneficial to DPCSD indicator development as well as a good platform to further indicator development in Finland. Thus none of the CSD indicators have been given a national priority. There are, however, Agenda 21 chapters such as "Sustainable mountain development" that is not relevant to Finland and no data exists. There are also few social indicators unsuitable for a developed country, but we have still strived to test as many indicators as possible for international comparison. The goal was to keep a global view in mind when considering the relevancy of the indicators.

Finland is starting to develop a national set of indicators for sustainable development later on this year. That work will be based strictly on Finnish priorities.

Twinning with South Africa

The twinning process with South Africa has started well. A Finnish delegation visited South Africa in February where the twinning was planned in detail. We decided that both countries will analyse the relevancy of the indicators and collect the data (if available) separately. After the completion of data collection we will meet again. The date was set for September. In the workshop we will compare the results. One of the most fruitful parts of the twinning will be those indicators that we cannot judge but South Africa will have much to say. For example, we cannot say much about desertification but our twinning partner is an expert. Similarly, many of the social problems that are being measured do not exist in Finland, but may be quite acute in South Africa. We look forward to an extremely successful meeting. After the workshop we can decide whether we should join the results in one report or report separately as an individual country. In order to keep close cooperation, a joint report might be preferable.

Future

At the moment we are concentrating on compiling the results from our indicator workshops. We are going to hold a larger scale seminar for all interested parties in Finland in September. This seminar could be held at the same time the South African delegation is visiting Finland which would give them a possibility to share testing results from South Africa with a large audience and get feedback from a Northern hemisphere point of view.

We are also trying to establish close contacts with other testing countries, especially in Europe. Connections via e-mail have been initiated with Germany and the Czech republic.

With the experience of working with the CSD indicators we will now start the development of national indicators. Once the set is ready, it may be of benefit to the CSD indicator work in turn.

Additional Reports