Environmental indicators

Abstract

According to the definition given by the European Environmental Agency (EEA), an environmental indicator is an observed value representative of a phenomenon under study. Indicators are necessary information we use to understand the world and then to decide and plan the future. Communication is the main function of indicators but they also provide an early warning to prevent economic, social and environmental damage and they are used to assess, monitor and manage systems. Consequently they are of paramount importance for policy decision making as well as for communication and dissemination of important environmental information to the public. This Chapter deals with the broad issue of Environmental Indicators and provides the scientific and policy context in a concise and comprehensive way.