Assessing the Local Environmental Performance in Western Moldavia (Romania)

Abstract

The environmental performance is a result of measurable characteristics emerging from the functionality of integrated environmental management systems based on various sustainable development policies at different administrative levels. This paper aims to quantify some dimensions of environmental performance in terms of outcomes and administrative efficiency for Western Moldavia region, using the latest available data. The obtained results demonstrate the territorial heterogeneity of environmental state, pressure and spatial resilience by highlighting the importance of ecosystems viability (forest cover, land degradation), sustainable local governance (environmental expenditure), energy, water quality, sanitation and environmental health (sanitation services, access to water and sewage, use of renewable energy). If completed in future by integrating other local environmental performance indicators the outcome of this research could become a viable tool for local and regional system of government in establishing policies in order to effectively preserve the environment.

Keywords

• environmental performance
• indicators
• local level
• cluster analysis