Review of composite environmental indicators

Abstract

Indicators are used in almost every scientific field to quantify and/or record and/or follow the evolution of a specific parameter. Environmental indicators are related to the environment quality and are specifically used to monitor the quality of the environment and to measure the environmental performance. They can be categorized into specific, composite and personal environmental indicators. A review of the composite environmental indicators used in the literature are presented here. Composite environmental indicators include indicators coming from the synthesis of specific indicators or cover the relationships between the environment and the economic and social sectors. The main composite environmental indicators reported in the literature are: Sustainable Development Goals Index, Ecological Footprint, Environmental Performance Index, Environmental Sustainable Index, Air Quality Index, Policy Performance Index, Genuine Progress Indicator, Living Planet Index and Bhutan Gross National Happiness Index.