Sustainable Development Indicator (SDI) Group

SDI Inventory, Organized by Sponsoring Organization

Sustainable Development Indicator (SDI) Group

President's Council on Sustainable Development SDI

Collaborations (41)

Definition: number of public-private partnerships, goal-setting projects, and consensus-building efforts

Issue: Social Cohesion/Alienation

SDI Framework Element: Organizing People

Organizing People Characteristic: Number of Programs

Community Group Participation (40)

Definition: The average number of hours per week per capita devoted to participation in community organizations

Issue: Social Cohesion/Participation

SDI Framework Element: Social Processes

Social Processes Characteristic: Number of Participants

Community Income Per Capita (29)

Definition: local per capita income and employment

Issue: Poverty/Poverty

SDI Framework Element: Income

Income Characteristic: Income

Community Information Use (34)

Definition: Increase in library use

Issue: Education/Information Access

SDI Framework Element: Social Institutions

Social Institutions Characteristic: Number of Users

Community Organization Participation (39)

Definition: Percent of population participating in community organizations

Issue: Social Cohesion/Participation

SDI Framework Element: Social Processes

Social Processes Characteristic: Number of Participants

Decreased Poor People (7)

Definition: Decreased number of people living below the poverty line.

Issue: Poverty/Poverty

SDI Framework Element: Determining Access to Resources

Determining Access to Resources Characteristic: Number of People

Ecosystem Health (14)

Definition: Increase in the health of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, surface waters, and coastal lands:

Issue: Biodiversity/Ecosystem Health

SDI Framework Element: Ecological Capacity

Ecological Capacity Characteristic: TBD

Endangered Species (21)

Definition: number of endangered species

Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity

SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity

Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species

Energy Efficiency (27)

Definition: energy used per unit of output

Issue: Production/Production Efficiency

SDI Framework Element: Economic Output

Economic Output Characteristic: Amount of Energy

Environment Technology Exports (50)

Definition: dollars of exported technology that is cost-effective and environmentally sound

Issue: Environment Quality/Environmental Technology

SDI Framework Element: Economic Output

Economic Output Characteristic: Amount of Money

Environmental Equity (12)

Definition: exposure by income level

Issue: Equity/Environmental Equity

SDI Framework Element: Ecological Capacity

Ecological Capacity Characteristic: Number of People

Environmental US Aid (48)

Definition: dollars of US contribution to environmentally targeted development aid

Issue: Government/International Cooperation

SDI Framework Element: Expenditures

Expenditures Characteristic: Amount of Money Spent

Exotic Species in US (443)

Definition: The total number of exotic species in the United States

Issue: Biodiversity/Exotic Species

SDI Framework Element: Introduction of Biota

Introduction of Biota Characteristic: Number of Exotic Species

Genetically Threatened Species (386)

Definition: number of species with nearly identical genetic makeup

Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity

SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity

Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species

Global Climate Change (24)

Definition: CO2 emissions

Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change

SDI Framework Element: Emissions into Air

Emissions into Air Characteristic: Amount of Greenhouse Gases

Global Environment Research (51)

Definition: amount of money spent on research on global environmental problems

Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change

SDI Framework Element: Expenditures

Expenditures Characteristic: Amount of Money Spent

Graduation Rate (57)

Definition: high school graduation rates and number of students going on to college or vocational training

Issue: Education/Education Quality

SDI Framework Element: Educational Institutions

Educational Institutions Characteristic: Number of People

Gross Domestic Product (5)

Definition: Gross Domestic Product, GNP

Issue: Economic Performance/Economic Productivity

SDI Framework Element: Expenditures

Expenditures Characteristic: Amount of Money Spent

Health Care Spending (32)

Definition: amount of resources dedicated for health care, maternal care, child development, and education

Issue: Health/Health Care Infrastructure

SDI Framework Element: Expenditures

Expenditures Characteristic: Amount of Money Spent

Healthy Lakes (18)

Definition: Number of water systems classified as safe for fish harvest

Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality

SDI Framework Element: Water Systems

Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies

Homeless People (35)

Definition: number of homeless people in communities

Issue: Equity/Homelessness

SDI Framework Element: Population

Population Characteristic: Number of People

Illegal Immigrants (46)

Definition: number of illegal immigrants

Issue: Population/Illegal Immigration

SDI Framework Element: Recruitment and Immigration

Recruitment and Immigration Characteristic: Number of People

Income of Women (43)

Definition: disparity in incomes between men and women for similar occupations

Issue: Equity/Gender Equity

SDI Framework Element: Income

Income Characteristic: Income

Income Trends (11)

Definition: wage level for different economic groups

Issue: Poverty/Income Equity

SDI Framework Element: Income

Income Characteristic: Income

Infant Mortality Economic Group (37)

Definition: infant mortality rates by economic group

Issue: Health/Health Care Equity

SDI Framework Element: Length of Life

Length of Life Characteristic: Number of Deaths

Internet Access (52)

Definition: number of communities with infrastructure that allows access to government information, public

Issue: Education/Information Access

SDI Framework Element: Community

Community Characteristic: Number of Internet Hookups

Lifelong Learning Communities (55)

Definition: number of school systems and communities with programs for lifelong learning

Issue: Education/Education Infrastructure

SDI Framework Element: Educational Institutions

Educational Institutions Characteristic: Number of Schools

Materials Consumption per Output (25)

Definition: tons of raw materials used per unit of output

Issue: Production/Production Efficiency

SDI Framework Element: Economic Output

Economic Output Characteristic: Mass of Materials

National Achievement Test Scores (56)

Definition: standardized achievement test scores

Issue: Education/Education Quality

SDI Framework Element: Educational Services

Educational Services Characteristic: Test Scores

National Standard Schools (54)

Definition: number of school systems that have adopted K-12 voluntary standards for learning about sustainable development

Issue: Government/Sustainable Development Education

SDI Framework Element: Educational Institutions

Educational Institutions Characteristic: Number of Schools

Native Grasslands (19)

Definition: Increased number of acres of healthy native grasslands.

Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change

SDI Framework Element: Rangeland

Rangeland Characteristic: Area of Grasslands

Natural Resource Accounting (9)

Definition: modified Gross Domestic Product

Issue: Economic Performance/Economic Satellite Accounts

SDI Framework Element: Expenditures

Expenditures Characteristic: TBD

Nutrients and Toxics (22)

Definition: tons of toxins per year

Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Soil

SDI Framework Element: Waste Production

Waste Production Characteristic: Mass of Releases

Old Growth Forest Area (17)

Definition: total old growth forest area

Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity

SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity

Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

People Drinking Water (2)

Definition: # of people living in areas that do not meet safe drinking water standards

Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality

SDI Framework Element: Water Capacity

Water Capacity Characteristic: Number of People

People in Clean Air Nonattainment Areas (1)

Definition: Number of people living in areas that do not meet air quality standards

Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality

SDI Framework Element: Dispersal of Air Emissions

Dispersal of Air Emissions Characteristic: Number of People

Population Growth Rate (42)

Definition: rate of population growth in the US

Issue: Population/Population Shifts

SDI Framework Element: Population

Population Characteristic: Number of People

Productivity Per Capita (10)

Definition: per capita production per hour worked

Issue: Production/Production Efficiency

SDI Framework Element: Labor Time

Labor Time Characteristic: Money per Hour

Public Transportation Use (33)

Definition: use of public and alternative transportation systems

Issue: Land Use/Traffic Congestion

SDI Framework Element: Transportation, Communications, and Utilities industry

Transportation, Communications, and Utilities industry Characteristic: Number of People

Renewable Resource Use (28)

Definition: ratio of amount extracted to amount regenerated

Issue: Resource/Renewable Resources

SDI Framework Element: Productive Capacity

Productive Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Natural Resources

Savings Per Capita (8)

Definition: savings rate per capita

Issue: Infrastructure/Capital Investment

SDI Framework Element: Wealth

Wealth Characteristic: Amount of Money Saved

School Internet Access (349)

Definition: Increase in percentage of schools and libraries with access to the Internet and National Information Infrastructure.

Issue: Education/Information Access

SDI Framework Element: Intellectual and Cultural Organizations

Intellectual and Cultural Organizations Characteristic: Number of Internet Hookups

Social Equity (13)

Definition: services used by economic group

Issue: Equity/Social Equity

SDI Framework Element: Social Institutions

Social Institutions Characteristic: Number of People per Service

Soil Loss (15)

Definition: topsoil lost per year

Issue: Resource/Soil Quality

SDI Framework Element: Soil Capacity

Soil Capacity Characteristic: Volume of Soil

Sustainable Development Schools (53)

Definition: Increased number of curricula, materials, and training opportunities that teach the principles of sustainable development.

Issue: Government/Sustainable Development Education

SDI Framework Element: Intellectual and Cultural Organizations

Intellectual and Cultural Organizations Characteristic: Number of Schools

Teen Pregnancies (45)

Definition: number of teenage pregnancies in the US

Issue: Population/Teen Pregnancy

SDI Framework Element: Families and Households

Families and Households Characteristic: Number of Pregnancies

Toxic Exposures (3)

Definition: toxic emissions

Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota

SDI Framework Element: Waste Production

Waste Production Characteristic: Mass of Releases

Toxin Diseases (4)

Definition: Number of diseases and illnesses due to toxins

Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota

SDI Framework Element: Life Support Services

Life Support Services Characteristic: Number of Diseases

Unemployment Rate (6)

Definition: unemployment rate

Issue: Economic Performance/Unemployment

SDI Framework Element: Population

Population Characteristic: Number of People

Unintended Pregnancies (44)

Definition: number of unintended pregnancies in the US

Issue: Population/Unwanted Pregnancies

SDI Framework Element: Population

Population Characteristic: Number of Pregnancies

Urban Land Conversion (20)

Definition: land area converted to urban use per year

Issue: Land Use/Urbanization

SDI Framework Element: Ecosystems, Land

Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land

Urban Public Parks (31)

Definition: urban green space, park space, and recreational areas

Issue: Land Use/Outdoor Recreational Services

SDI Framework Element: Urban

Urban Characteristic: Area of Park Land

Urban Suburb Income (36)

Definition: disparity in per capita income between urban areas and their suburbs

Issue: Poverty/Income Equity

SDI Framework Element: Income

Income Characteristic: Income

US Aid Sustainable Development (49)

Definition: Development and use of new measures for assessing progress toward sustainable development in countries receiving U.S. assistance.

Issue: Government/International Cooperation

SDI Framework Element: National Security and International Affairs

National Security and International Affairs Characteristic: Number of Indicators

US Foreign Aid (47)

Definition: dollars of federal money dedicated to international aid or developing nations

Issue: Government/Sustainable Development Spending

SDI Framework Element: Expenditures

Expenditures Characteristic: Amount of Money Spent

Violent Crime Rate (30)

Definition: violent crime rates

Issue: Social Cohesion/Crime

SDI Framework Element: Human Relationships

Human Relationships Characteristic: Number of Crimes

Voter Turnout (38)

Definition: percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in national, state, and local elections

Issue: Social Cohesion/Participation

SDI Framework Element: Social Processes

Social Processes Characteristic: Number of Voters

Waste Recycling (26)

Definition: % of waste recycled

Issue: Waste/Waste Handling

SDI Framework Element: Solid, Liquid, and Gas Waste

Solid, Liquid, and Gas Waste Characteristic: Mass of Waste

Wetlands Lost (16)

Definition: Area wetlands lost per year

Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change

SDI Framework Element: Wetland

Wetland Characteristic: Area of Wetlands