Environmental indicators

Environmental indicators are an important tool for monitoring environmental progress. Used for planning and clarification of policy objectives and priorities for the environment.. The indicators have also been designed to highlight progress on key issues related to sustainable development and priority areas, while other elements, they help to identify items requiring action measures. Finally, indicators facilitate communication of the government with the public on environmental issues.

In the summer of 2010, the European Environment Agency will publish its next long-term Status Report for the Environment for Europe 2010. In this context, the EEA requires each EU country to calculate the environmental indicators. The National Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (NCESD), which is responsible for preparing national reports for the Environment is responsible for the preparation of these indicators for Greece to be submitted to the European Environment Agency.

The indicators presented here have been selected on the main indicators of the European Environment Agency and other criteria commonly used by other European countries and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The creation and development of these indicators stems from the need to establish an environmental information tool stable but not static, which provides answers to specific questions on environmental issues high priority.

The environmental indicators covering Greece:

• Climate change
• Air pollution
• Quality home water
• Land use
• Waste
• Biodiversity

We hope that the indicators presented here will be an easy and useful reference not only for experts in the field of environment and the general public and encourage readers to find out more.