Report (Part 6): Sustainable Development Convention 2002

Dashboard: Sustainable Development Dashboard

Time: 31 October 2002, 14:30-15:30 Location: Salle C-2 Chair: Michael Hanssler, Bellagio Forum Presenters: Dr Peter Hardi, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Participants: Alex Lockwood, OneWorld International 
Theodore Modis, Growth Dynamics 
Johanna Bernstein, Stockholm Environmental Inst. 
Virginia Williams, Ventures Worldwide 
Robert Rescot, World Scout Bureau 
Eva Csobod, REC-Hungary 
Philip Darley, Morogo Films, UK  Reporter: John Copland (ICVolunteers) Languages: English Key words:

Michael Hanssler of the Bellagio Forum introduced Dr Peter Hardi, of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) who, as Coordinator of the Consultative Group on Sustainable Development Indicators (CGSDI), gave first a history of the project and after, a practical visual demonstration of the Dashboard on the computer.

The IISD (Canada) was established 12 years ago to undertake policy analysis and give advice on sustainable development. The GSDI was established in 1996 and subsequently developed the concept of the Dashboard of Sustainability. It has since supervised its testing and control. Dashboard is also a lead project of the Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development, and its several partners and the Canadian federal government have provided key funding for the project. 

Dashboard, propelled by specially designed software, is a visually engaging online presentation tool that displays the primary dimensions of sustainability, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Its data input comes from international sources, World Bank, UN Agencies and national statistical services. The general target audience is high level public and private sector decision makers, and through a staged approach they first must satisfy the experts, then the political audience and eventually develop an interface that is easy to use and appealing to media and the public.

The Dashboard must now find users and find supporters to develop the format. Eventual goals are to make it the best presentation tool available and to apply it to a variety of constituencies, in both public and private sectors. 

During the demonstration Dr. Hardi illustrated the system¹s mapping function, its multi-lingual functions, its links to dedicated internet sites, and the news service feature. He showed that the Dashboard system allows for presentation of complex relationships in a highly communicative format.