Description of Local Indicator Rating System

The rating system used to evaluate indicators in the Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Second Edition, uses a checklist containing 14 questions. None of the criteria are absolute, and at times a less desirable indicator may be selected when there are no reliable data sources for a better indicator. However, it is important to remember that sustainability is a long-term concept. Sustainability indicators are not just a statement of what exists, they also show the community's vision of the future.

The checklist does not address whether an indicator is a good indicator in general. It assumes that the indicator meets the general criteria for effectiveness. This checklist concentrates on the characteristics that make an indicator a good indicator of sustainability.

The checklist has 14 questions. Positive answers to the first 13 questions earn one point each for the indicator being evaluated. This means that the total possible score for an indicator is 13 points. Few indicators earn more than 8 points, however, because it is difficult to create an indicator that simultaneously measures all six types of community capital and links the economy, society and environment. The final question is the show-stopper question, because local sustainability is not something that can be achieved at the expense of global sustainability.

The questions generally address the issue of the community's carrying capacity relative to the four types of community capital: natural, human, social, and built. They also highlight the links between the community's economic, social, and environmental well-being; focus on a long range view; assess whether the indicator can be understood by the community; and measure local sustainability that is not at the expense of global sustainability.

A more detailed description of the rating system, including the checklist, is available elsewhere.

http://www.sdi.gov/indicators/rating.htm Last Modified: 6/07/02