In Australia, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development's (OECD's) 'pressure-state-response' (PSR) model is
most commonly the basis for SoE Reporting.
In South Australia and nationally, an expanded version of the
OECD-PSR model, the driving force-pressure-state-impact-response
(DPSIR) model is used to take into account driving forces or causes
for the change as well as the impacts to environmental, social
and economic systems.
To simplify our interpretation of a complex environment, SoE
reports are structured around a number of environmental themes,
issues and indicators.
Environmental themes are broad categories by which you can classify
the environment. In South Australia seven themes are used: atmosphere,
inland waters, coasts and marine, land resources, biodiversity,
human settlements as well as natural and cultural heritage.
Issues are the main topics of concern within each of the themes.
For example, under the atmosphere theme, the major issues are
air quality, ozone depletion and the enhanced greenhouse effect.
For each issue, environmental
indicators are used to measure the condition of the environment
with respect to that particular issue. Environmental indicators
help track changes in the environment. These key measures illustrate
trends and changes within a system. Indicators simplify the reporting
process. They can be measured and reported on frequently and their
information can be gathered and interpreted in a uniform manner.
When applying the PSR Model (or adaptations of the model) there
are three types of indicators:
- pressure indicators - describe the pressures from human activity
that affect the environment
- state (or condition) indicators - measure the quality of
the environment and the functioning of important environmental
processes
- response indicators - identify the human actions or efforts
that have been made to address pressures on the environment.
A set of indicators has been developed at the national level
in an attempt to standardise the reporting process across Australia.
A comprehensive suite of key environmental indicators was developed
by independent experts for each environmental theme, from which
a set of core indicators (www.deh.gov.au/soe/publications/indicators/core-indicators.html)
were selected. The national core indicators, wherever possible,
should be included in an SoE Report to allow comparability between
jurisdictions and data sharing between local, state and federal
government. Additional indicators are then included according
to the particular reporting requirements of a jurisdiction.
At a regional scale a report Local and Community Uses (www.environment.gov.au/soe/publications/indicators/community.html)
was prepared to assist councils to identify potential environmental
indicators at the regional level.
Sustainable Development is 'development which meets the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs'. Sustainable development recognises the
interdependence of environmental, social and economic systems
and promotes equality and justice through people empowerment and
a sense of global citizenship.
The indicators used for sustainability reporting differ from
state of the environment reporting as they are based on different
models that combine social, economic and environmental trends,
and the inter-relationships between these systems.
Some examples of sustainability reporting frameworks and indicators
include The
Natural Step (TNS), Sustainability
Counts and the Indicators
of Sustainable Development prepared by the Division for Sustainable
Development. Sustainability frameworks have also been developed
for specific industries and agendas including The Montreal Process
(www.mpci.org)
for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and
Boreal Forests, Sustainable Fisheries, and Agricultural Sustainability
Indicators for Regions of South Australia (www.pir.sa.gov.au).
Further details on some Sustainability Reporting Frameworks:
