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Rationale - what it means and why it is an important measure
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This indicates how businesses and public organisations endorse responsibility towards the environment and the local community.
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How it is compiled, what data are needed
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The percentage of private and public organisations that use a recognised environmental or social management/reporting/auditing system, such as:
- EMAS or similar environmental auditing system;
- ISO 14 000/14 001 or other recognised environmental management system;
- reports on social or community issues, and participation in social audit initiatives such as the standard AA1000;
- the emerging common European standard for social, ethical and corporate governance activity.
This indicator should be measured annually.
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Measurements and units
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Percentage of organisations (%)
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Possible temporal and spatial format
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Column charts, graphs, trend charts
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Reference to methodology resources
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EC, Directorate General Environment, Working Group of the Expert Group on the Urban Environment, 2000. Towards a Local Sustainability Profile - European Common Indicators. http://www.sustainable-cities.org/indicators/
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Objective
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To commit the local authority, local businesses and organisations to evaluating and improving their environmental performances, and to providing relevant information to the public.
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Targets, benchmarks, reference values
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There are no known targets; however, an upward trend in adoption is desirable for these issues.
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References to examples of application
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"Green Factories and Firms", Kristiansand, Norway: http://www.iclei.org/mia96-97/kristian.htm
ISO Certification. A step-by-step guide for cities. http://www.soc.titech.ac.jp/uem/iso14001/index.html
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Other comments / background
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EMAS and ISO 14000/14001 are certified, voluntary environmental management tools developed at European and international levels. Today, several organisations are working on the definition of more appropriate management tools linking environmental protection to cheaper production processes and social considerations. AA1000, which is the emerging common European standard for social management, was launched in November 1999 and is supported by most stakeholders in the field across Europe. Financed policies, at European and regional levels, work to raise awareness and assist in adoption of the EMAS scheme. An increase in use also shows the degree of innovation in management – low-impact technology and savings in processes – at the local level.
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