f r e s h s e a w a t e r q u a l i t y a n d w a s t e w a t e r s u s t a i n a b i l i t y（f r e s h s e w t e r问u l i t y n d w s t e w t e r s u s t我n b l t y）（15页）.docVIP

Fresh/Sea water quality and wastewater sustainability indicators for Malta 1.0 Introduction What are sustainability indicators? Indicators are presentations of measurements. They are bits of information that summarize the characteristics of systems or highlight what is happening in a system. Indicators simplify complex phenomena, and make it possible to gauge the general status of a system. There is already a package of internationally accepted key economic indicators that are widely understood, and used to monitor how the economy is performing. These include gross domestic product, the rate of inflation, the level of interest rates and balance of payments. Governments use them in making economic policy decisions. They are also widely reported in the media and are recognized by the public. Sustainability indicators should be used in the same way, helping to inform policy decisions and helping people understand what sustainable development means. Indicators of sustainability translate the concept of sustainable development into numerical terms, descriptive measures, and action-oriented signs and signals. Measures and indicators of sustainability are set apart from economic indicators by the way they combine social, economic and environmental trends. They also help educate the public, inspire people to take individual action and press for change in sustainable directions. From those developed for rural communities to those for the United Nations, hundreds of sustainability indicator sets have been created. The growing ranks of indicator projects and professionals worldwide face two challenges that seemingly contradict each other: Growing complexity. As our understanding of the complexity of sustainability grows, how do we manage the mountains of data required to monitor it? The demand for simplicity. Since public education and resulting political action are seen increasingly and urgently as the purpose for creating indicators, how do we present them in ways th