Measuring Progress: Environment and the SDGs
One of the many lessons that 2020 taught us it is to better understand how actions are impacting the environment. Environmental data and statistics play an essential role in government decision-making.
Many countries have made good progress in building capacity and developing datasets for environmental statistics.
“The Measuring Progress: Environment and the SDGs” showed that out of the total environmental indicators with data, 67 percent followed a positive trend and 33 percent showed little change or negative trend.
However, when we see progress or stalling, questions remain why?
This report presents a simple correlation between indicators, but further data and techniques are needed to allow in-depth insight for impactful policy design. Big gaps still remain. It is essential to fully populate SDGs, build statistical systems and use fine-grained data to adapt environmental policies to local contexts.
Stronger environmental data capacities allow policy makers to better understand the priority actions required to bend the curve of environmental deterioration. This will undoubtedly have positive implications for a sound environmental management now and in the future.
