Indicators

EEA indicators are designed to support all phases of environmental policy making, from designing policy frameworks to setting targets, and from policy monitoring and evaluation to communicating to policy-makers and the public.

Each indicator tells the reader about the trend (or status) of the phenomenon being investigated over a given period of time. It also specifies whether or not associated policy objectives are being met and quantitative targets reached. Where these are not being achieved, it discusses the reasons for this.