Synopses & Reviews
Environmental decision-making has long been plagued by uncertainties and a lack of critical information. The data and analyses needed for thoughtful and systematic action to minimize pollution harms and to optimize the use of natural resources are often unavailable or seem too costly to obtain. As a result, choices are made on the basis of generalized observations and best guesses, or worse yet, rhetoric or emotion.
Environmental Performance Measurement: The Global Report 2001-2002 presents a new approach to environmental decision-making based on facts and analytic rigor. It collects in one place the largest amount of environmental data that has ever been assembled at the nation-state scale. Presented here is the first serious attempt not only to measure environmental sustainability in one summary indicator, but also to rank 122 countries on the basis of this index. In addition, country profiles provide detailed information about the environmental performance of these countries across 22 critical environmental indicators. Written by both academics and practitioners, this report is an essential tool for environmental performance decision-making in many realms and in all countries across the world.
Table of Contents
World Economic Forum Global Leaders for Tomorrow Environment Task Force
Contributors
Foreword, Klaus Schwab
Preface, Michael E. Porter
1. Why Measurement Matters, Daniel C. Esty
2. Measuring Nations' Environmental Sustainability, Marc A. Levy
3. National Environmental Performance Measurement and Determinants, Daniel C. Esty and Michael E. Porter
4. Bridging the Gap: How Improved Information Can Help Companies Integrate Shareholder Value and Environmental Quality, Forest Reinhardt
5. Financial Markets and Corporate Environmental Results, Frank Dixon
6. Corporate Sustainability and Financial Indexes, Alois Flatz
7. Creating Green Markets: What Do the Trade Data Tell Us?, Peter K. Cornelius, Friedrich von Kirchbach, and Mondher Mimouni
Annexes
Annex 1: Making Environmental Data Comparable: The ESI Methodology
Annex 2: Component and Indicator Scores
Annex 3: Country Profiles
Annex 4: Variable Descriptions and Data