You have become familiar with considerations and processes involved in collecting and developing data for use as indicators and indices. The next step in the process is to package the data into a form that can be more easily interpreted from a policy relevance perspective. The following section will provide you with an overview of conceptual and methodological considerations associated with developing and using indicators and indices.
The section reviews the process of selecting indicators, including criteria for good indicators, participatory processes and indicator frameworks. Examples of core sets of indicators from UNEP and UN CSD are also provided. The section also includes a review of indices, including a range of examples of indices, from the well-known GDP and Human Development Index http://hdr.undp.org/ to the more recently released Environmental Performance Index (2006) http://www.yale.edu/