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Kommunale Nachhaltigkeitsindikatorensysteme in Deutschland: zum aktuellen Stand von Entwicklung und Anwendung

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  • Thomas Döring
  • Stefan Heiland
  • Martin Tischer

Abstract

The paper provides a survey of the current status of development and application of indicator systems for measuring sustainable development at the local and regional level in Germany. For this purpose, 44 indicator systems have been analyzed on the basis of different criteria. Additionally, the indicators used in 25 of these systems have been examined. While the systems correspond regarding to basic questions, such as the underlying philosophy of sustainable development, they differ in the issues they address, especially concerning the indicators they use. Beyond that, it will be shown that the present use of sustainability indicator systems on a local level in practice remains far behind the potentials claimed for them in principle. Here mainly the possibilities for a benchmarking of sustainability in different local communities and for the use of local data measuring sustainability on a federal level are focused. Also the political objectives of local sustainability indicator systems are not yet reached completely. After all the systems are almost never used for supporting, monitoring and controlling political decisions and actions. The paper discusses the reasons for this situation and concludes with proposals for the further development of sustainability indicator systems. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick zum aktuellen Stand von Entwicklung und Anwendung von Nachhaltigkeitsindikatorensystemen auf kommunaler und regionaler Ebene in Deutschland. Zu diesem Zweck wurden 44 Indikatorensysteme anhand einer Reihe von Merkmalen ausgewertet. Für 25 dieser Systeme wurde zudem eine Analyse der verwendeten Indikatoren durchgeführt. Während in grundlegenden Fragen, etwa dem zugrunde gelegten Verständnis von Nachhaltigkeit, hohe Übereinstimmung zwischen den Systemen besteht, unterscheiden sich diese in den behandelten Themenbereichen und insbesondere hinsichtlich der ausgewählten Indikatoren. Ferner wird aufgezeigt, dass der derzeitige Einsatz von Nachhaltigkeitsindikatorensystemen auf der kommunalen Ebene weit hinter dem Anspruch der Systeme und ihren prinzipiellen Möglichkeiten zurückbleibt. Dies betrifft vor allem den interkommunalen Vergleich bei der Messung lokaler Nachhaltigkeit sowie die Verwendung lokaler Daten im Rahmen nationaler Systeme der Nachhaltigkeitsmessung. Dies gilt aber auch für die nur teilweise Erfüllung der intendierten politischen Zielsetzungen, wobei vor allem die erhoffte politische Steuerungsfunktion fast vollständig unerfüllt bleibt. Die hierfür verantwortlichen Ursachen werden diskutiert und Handlungsempfehlungen für die Weiterentwicklung von Indikatorensystemen skizziert.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Döring & Stefan Heiland & Martin Tischer, 2004. "Kommunale Nachhaltigkeitsindikatorensysteme in Deutschland: zum aktuellen Stand von Entwicklung und Anwendung," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 73(1), pages 96-111.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:73-10-7
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.73.1.96
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    1. Wallace E. Oates & Wallace E. Oates, 2004. "An Essay on Fiscal Federalism," Chapters, in: Environmental Policy and Fiscal Federalism, chapter 22, pages 384-414, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    1. Mariana Bode & Oliver Budzinski, 2005. "Competing Ways Towards International Antitrust: the WTO versus the ICN," Marburg Working Papers on Economics 200503, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).

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