3Criteria for choosing and developing indicators

According to the definition of the European Environment Agency (EEA), relevant indicators are the ones that are measurable and have scientific bases and policy relevance.

The main criteria for choosing indicators in the Slovenian indicator system are as follows:

  • relevance of indicators for Slovenia within the five-part assessment framework (DPSIR);
  • reliability of data sources;
  • clarity of set objectives;
  • international comparability of the methodology for calculating indicators.

In addition to the criteria mentioned above, an indicator in the system is suitable when:

  • it gives a representative picture of the state of the environment, pressures, impacts, driving forces and responses of the society;
  • it represents environmental issues in a simple way, including long-term trends;
  • it indicates connection between environmental changes and human activities;
  • it applies internationally verified methodologies to enable international comparison;
  • it incorporates clear methodology in technical and professional terms
  • it is based on data obtained from relevant data sources.

Slovenian environmental indicators are established and developed in accordance with the EEA methodology or recommendations. Data and information which are part of the environmental indicators are summarised from the Slovenian international reports or data gathered within the Environment Information and Observation NETwork – EIONET. Slovenian part of the Eionet network connects more than 20 institutions in Slovenia, which administer environmental or environmentally relevant data and information (Jožef Stefan Institute, Agricultural institute of Slovenia, National Institute of Public Health, Statistical Office of the RS, Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, National Institute of Public Health, Forestry Institute of Slovenia, Slovenia Forest Service and others).