Aim of the project is to quantify sustainable development in Alto Adige and to provide the basis for planning sustainability for the future. Sustainable development has been a central topic of spatial development models since the UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro (1992). A regional monitoring-system based on indicators is a useful tool for decision makers, such as politicians, planners, and other interest groups.  

Project description

Regions are a suitably sized unit in which to implement sustainability monitoring systems. Regions have relatively homogenous populations, economy, and environmental conditions. The necessary political institutions to carry out measures are present, and offenders can be identified. At the regional level the population is concerned and feels responsible. But in spite of these advantages very few regional indicator sets for sustainable development have as yet been established.

In this project a monitoring system for sustainable development is evolving, that will meet the special needs of a mountain region, but is still linked to systems at the international level. The indicators refer to ecological as well as socio-economic development of the region. Derived ecological indicators refer to topics like water, air, biodiversity, land use, energy, waste and transportation. Economic indicators look at the labour market, the structure of companies as well as important economic branches such as tourism and agriculture. In the social area demographic structure and development, education and politics, social services, housing and commuters are considered.

Methods

• Starting off with existing systems
  In a first phase of the project existing indicator sets (UN-CSD, EEA, EUROSTAT) were analyzed and adapted to the special needs of an alpine region. Every single indicator was tested and documented for its significance in the context of sustainability.
• Data administration and dynamic development
  Indicators are calculated separately for all 116 municipalities of Alto Adige. The data for calculating the indicators is collected in the „basic data bank", facilitating easy updating and, over time, fine-tuning.
• Condensed information
  Factor analysis is used to condense indicator information. This method investigates the phenomena and driving forces behind the measurable indicators.

Results

The indicators are described on an Homepage which also provides interactive tools for their visualization.

Duration: 2001 - 2007

Project partners und Financing

Initiator/Funding:

• Dr. Walter Huber, Director of the Environmental Agency of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (Landesagentur für Umwelt, Agenzia Provinciale per l'Ambiente)

Project Partners:

• IER - (Institute for Economic Research) of the Chamber of Commerce of Bolzano/Bozen, Focal Point: Economic and Social Indicators.

Contact

 Ulrike Tappeiner
 eMail

 Uta Schirpke
 eMail

Selected publications

[127kB]

Troi, Alexandra / Leichter, Karin / Perini, Stefan: Sustainable development in South Tyrol: Indicators for the assessment of the development in an alpine region. In: Bottarin, Roberta / Tappeiner, Ulrike (Hrsg): Interdisciplinary Mountain Research. Berlin: Blackwell, 2002, p. 256-262.

More publications