The OECD set of green growth indicators
The list of indicators has been kept flexible so that countries can adapt it to their particular contexts. It also balances the desire to be exhaustive and the need for simplicity. Not all issues of importance to green growth can be measured in quantitative terms. Not all indicators proposed here are equally relevant to all countries.
The set, which has been reviewed by member countries, is neither exhaustive nor final. Indeed, it requires the context of other OECD indicators to acquire its full meaning. In that sense, the indicators specified are a starting point. The list may be modified as the discussion evolves and as new data become available.
The list of indicators includes main and proxy indicators. Each indicator is also accompanied by an evaluation of the measurability of the underlying data:
Type: |
M = Main indicators (numbered and in bold), and their components or supplements (numbered) |
P = Proxy indicators (bulleted) when the main indicators are not available |
|
Measurability: |
S = Short term, basic data currently available for a majority of OECD countries; |
M = Medium term, basic data partially available, but calling for further efforts to improve their quality (consistency, comparability, timeliness) and their geographical coverage (number of countries covered); |
|
L = Long term, basic data not available for a majority of OECD countries, calling for a sustained data collection and conceptual efforts. |
Group/Theme |
Proposed indicators |
Type |
Measurability |
Presented here |
---|---|---|---|---|
The socio-economic context and characteristics of growth |
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Economic growth, productivity and competitiveness |
Economic growth and structure
Productivity and trade
Inflation and commodity prices
|
M M M M M M M M |
S S/M S M M S S S |
x x x examples x x fuel prices |
Labour market, education and income |
Labour markets
Socio-demographic patterns
|
M M M M M M |
S S S S/M S/M S |
x x DALYs |
The environmental and resource productivity of the economy |
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Carbon & energy productivity |
1. CO2 productivity 1.1. Production-based CO2 productivity GDP per unit of energy-related CO2 emitted 1.2. Demand-based CO2 productivity Real income per unit of energy-related CO2 embodied in final demand 2. Energy productivity 2.1. Energy productivity GDP per unit of TPES 2.2. Energy intensity by sector (manufacturing, transport, households, services) 2.3. Share of renewable energy sources in TPES, in electricity production |
M M M M M |
S S/M S S/M S |
x x x – x |
Resource productivity |
3. Material productivity (non-energy) 3.1. Demand-based material productivity (comprehensive measure; original units in physical terms) Real income per unit of materials embodied in final demand, materials mix 3.2. Production-based (domestic) material productivity GDP per unit of materials consumed, materials mix
3.3. Waste generation intensity and recovery ratios by sector, per unit of GDP or value added, per capita 3.4. Nutrient flows and balances (N, P)
4. Water productivity Value added per unit of water consumed, by sector (for agriculture: irrigation water per hectare irrigated) |
M P M M P M |
M/L S/M M/L L S/M M |
– x x municipal waste – x – |
Multifactor productivity |
5. Environmentally adjusted multifactor productivity (comprehensive measure; original units in monetary terms) |
M |
S/M |
x |
The natural asset base |
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Natural resource stocks |
6. Index of natural resources Comprehensive measure expressed in monetary terms |
M |
M |
– |
Renewable stocks |
7. Freshwater resources Available renewable natural resources (groundwater, surface water) and related abstraction rates (national, territorial) 8. Forest resources Area and volume of forests; stock changes over time 9. Fish resources Proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits (global) |
M M M |
S/M S/M S |
x x x |
Non-renewable stocks |
10. Mineral resources Available (global) stocks or reserves of selected minerals: metallic minerals, industrial minerals, fossil fuels, critical raw materials; and related extraction rates |
M |
M |
– |
Biodiversity and ecosystems |
11. Land resources Land cover conversions and cover changes from natural state to artificial state
12. Soil resources: Degree of topsoil losses on agricultural land, on other land
13. Wildlife resources (to be further refined)
|
M P M P P P P |
M S M S/M S/M S S/M |
x example – – – x example x x |
The environmental dimension of quality of life |
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Environmental health and risks |
14. Environmentally induced health problems and related costs (e.g. years of healthy life lost from degraded environmental conditions)
15. Exposure to natural or industrial risks and related economic losses |
M P M |
L S/M L |
– x – |
Environmental services and amenities |
16. Access to sewage treatment and drinking water 16.1. Population connected to sewage treatment (at least secondary, in relation to optimal connection rate) 16.2. Population with sustainable access to safe drinking water |
M |
S |
x x |
Economic opportunities and policy responses |
||||
Technology and innovation |
17. Research and development expenditure of importance to green growth
18. Patents of importance to green growth (% of a country’s patent families worldwide)
19. Environment-related innovation in all sectors |
M M M |
S/M S S S S S S M |
x x – |
Environmental goods and services |
20. Production of environmental goods and services (EGS)
|
P P |
M M/L |
x example – |
International financial flows |
21. International financial flows of importance to green growth % of total flows and % of GNI 21.1 Official development assistance 21.2 Carbon market financing 21.3 Foreign direct investment |
M |
L S S M/L |
x x – |
Prices and transfers |
22. Environmentally related taxation and subsidies
23. Energy pricing (share of taxes in end-use prices) 24. Water pricing and cost recovery (tbd) |
M M M |
S S S/M S S/M |
x x x x – |
Regulations and management approaches |
25. Indicators to be developed |
.. |
.. |
|
Training and skill development |
26. Indicators to be developed |
.. |
.. |