Environmental Indicators: Better Coordination Is Needed to Develop Environmental Indicator Sets that Inform Decisions

GAO identified the purposes for developing environmental indicator sets and major challenges facing their development and use to inform decisions by interviewing key experts, surveying developers and users, and studying eight major indicator sets. GAO found that federal and nonfederal organizations develop environmental indicator sets for several purposes, including assessing conditions and trends, communicating complex issues, and supporting performance management activities. Some environmental indicator sets are limited to use within specific political jurisdictional boundaries, while others are confined to specific natural areas, such as watersheds, lake basins, or ecosystems. Similarly, some sets address specific resources, such as water quality or land use, while others focus on quality of life issues or sustainable development. The indicator sets GAO reviewed are primarily used to assist in strategic planning efforts,
communicate complex environmental issues, and track progress toward environmental goals.