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Update of the CNTS Data Archive

The new edition (July 2012) of the CNTS Data Archive from Databanks International contains 196 years of global data, from 1815 through 2011. A new option this year is the Domestic Conflict Event Variable LINKS, which provides links to news reports of each event, starting with the 2011 data. Additionally, the World Bank country codes and country names have been matched to the data.

Global Health Observatory (GHO)

The Global Health Observatory database is the World Health Organization's main health statistics repository. It provides data and analyses for key health themes, as well as direct access to the full database. The WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS) has been upgraded and incorporated into the latest version (February 2011) of the GHO, to provide more data, more tools, more analysis and more reports.

World Bank Frees up Data

In April 2010 the World Bank Group opened up the World Development Indicators database (and several other databases) and offered free access to more than 2,000 financial, business, health, economic and human development statistics that had mostly been available only to paying subscribers. The decision was part of a larger effort to increase access to information at the World Bank. And, for the first time, data was made available in languages other than English, with an initial 330 indicators translated into French, Spanish and Arabic.

European Social Survey: Contextual data

This 2008 report formed the origins of this website. It examines the availability and comparability of extant sources of contextual statistics of particular interest to users of ESS data. This website seeks to broaden the scope and be a valuable resource for social science data users worldwide (PDF).

 

 

Environmental Performance Measurement Project

Research project

The Environmental Performance Measurement (EPM) Project aims to provide policymakers with data on environmental sustainability and performance. The project produces two composite indices: the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) and the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The project is an initiative of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP) and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) of Columbia University, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.

Datasets

Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI)
Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

Environmental Performance Index

Data types and sources

Composite index based on various indicators, e.g. data from national accounts, administrative records and official registers, and data on pollution. The data source is in most cases specialised agencies of the United Nations.

Data downloads

Environmental Performance Index, Yale

Environmental Performance Index, Columbia

Topics

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) identifies targets for environmental performance and measures how close each country comes to these goals. The index articulated goal is to focus on two overarching environmental objectives, namely "reducing environmental stresses to human health" and "promoting ecosystem vitality and sound natural resource management" (Esty, et.al. 2008). The 2010 Environmental Performance Index ranks 163 countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across ten policy categories covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. See the EPI Data set for complete list.

Geographical coverage

The dataset covers 163 countries and territories. See the EPI Data set for complete list.

Time coverage and updates

Year covered: 2010. 2008 index is available in a separate site.
Frequency of updates not stated.

Documentation

On the website there is extensive documentation of how the EPI was constructed, including country selection criteria, target selection, missing data issues, data quality and coverage, and description of statistical and analytical techniques. In addition there is a downloadable indicators methodology with detailed description and documentation of every indicator used in the index.

Access conditions and cost

Available free of charge.

Access procedures

Predefined table.

Data formats

Excel, PDF

Comparability and data quality

Not examined. See Parris and Kates (2003) for an overview of sustainability indicators.

Literature

Jha, Raghbendra, and K.V. Bhanu Murthy. 2003. “A critique of the environmental sustainability index”. Departmental Working Papers 2003-08, Australian National University, Economics RSPAS.

Parris, Thomas M., and Robert W. Kates. 2003. “Characterizing and measuring sustainable development”. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 28: 559-586.

Esty, Daniel C., Christine Kim, Tanja Srebotnjak, Marc A. Levy, Alex de Sherbinin and Valentina Mara. 2008. “2008 Environmental Performance Index”. Yale University. Columbia University.

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