Environmental Performance Indicators for Decision Making and Stakeholders Interests

Today, different tools are associated with environmental protection context, which ca include, among others: environmental programmes, objectives and targets, training, incentive schemes, audit frequency, site inspections, administration and community relations. The assessment of different aspects of environmental quality and protection, in a qualitative or quantitative manner is based on various indicators, addressing the three components of sustainability: economic, social, environmental. The main objective of our article is the establishment and analysis of specific categories of environmental performance indicators. These indicators are able to provide a scientific basis for decision making in environmental management. This paper presents and make a short analysis of the main environmental performance indicators as they are perceived and developed by our research group. Although cost-effective, these indicators are tailored so as to fit well with the size and type of the assessed organization, and according to its prerequisites and priorities. Besides, having in mind that any organization should use in an optimal way the environmental information it collects, our article presents the main performance indicators we consider opportune in decision making process, like: comparability, balance between problematic (bad) and prospective (good) areas, continuity, timeliness. Based on these measuring tools, the management of any interested organization can make the most appropriate decision relative to its environmental performance. More than that, it will be able to provide accurate information to stakeholders. The set of diagnostic indicators ensure the necessary conditions to obtain real data regarding the ecological status.