Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - (CSIN) Program Overview and Budget July 4, 2006
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Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) Program Overview and Budget July 4, 2006
CSIN has helped me connect to other indicator practitioners in
government and academia, and provided us with a common reference
point for an open discussion on how to develop meaningful indicators.
– Indicator Practitioner and CSIN Member
I felt immediately enriched [by the CSIN learning event] and will not
look upon indicators, especially environmental indicators in the same
way ever again. – Indicator Practitioner and CSIN Member
CSIN Secretariat
Carissa Wieler
CSIN Coordinator
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Winnipeg, Canada
(204) 958-7719
csin@iisd.ca
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 2Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 5 2. Brief History of CSIN............................................................................................. 5 3. CSIN Purpose and Objectives ................................................................................. 6 4. CSIN Tools and Products ....................................................................................... 7 5. Governance and Organizational Structure .............................................................. 10 6. Budget ............................................................................................................. 12 Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 3
Executive Summary The Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network is working to further the development and use of sustainability indicators across multiple contexts and regions in Canada. Over 225 indicator practitioners are brought together under the common umbrella of the network to exchange information, learn from one another and seek opportunities for collaboration. As sustainability indicator practice continues to expand world-wide, CSIN plays a potentially vital role in raising the bar of indicator practice at national, provincial, municipal and community levels, ultimately leading to a society that is better equipped to make decisions in our complex and dynamic world. CSIN’s community of practice approach encourages practitioners to think beyond challenges, towards solutions and new approaches in a way that can be applied by other practitioners working in other contexts. Through CSIN’s cross-country Learning Events, practitioners come together in groups of 12- 15 people over a conference call to discuss relevant topics. Live Meeting technology is used to share PowerPoint presentations on-line during teleconferences. To date, 18 learning events have been held, on topics ranging from policy uses of indicators, to setting indicator targets and developing different types of indicators, such as cultural indicators. The CSIN website and listserv further support information sharing, in addition to a growing database of sustainability indicator practitioners working in Canada. Informal and formal networking opportunities are also created at CSIN side events or panel discussions at conferences. The CSIN secretariat is based at the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). A part-time coordinator maintains the network. A volunteer Advisory Committee, made up of CSIN members, provides advice to the network. CSIN members are from all levels of government, NGO, academia and consulting sectors, and span Canada from east to west, north to south. CSIN receives partial funding from the Gov. of Canada and various provincial and municipal governments and other institutions from the non-governmental sector across Canada. Fundraising for 2006/07 is currently underway, with approximately $33,350 remaining to be raised for this fiscal year for baseline activities. CSIN is a one of a kind Canadian network, with a focused mission to foster sustainability indicator development and effective use in decision-making. CSIN is working towards realizing the potential of indicators in achieving systematic and measurable progress towards sustainable development. Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 4
1. Introduction As a society we manage what we measure and we measure what we care about. Over the past 20 years, federal, provincial and municipal jurisdictions, businesses and non- governmental organizations across Canada have been developing indicators to inform decisions about environmental stewardship and sustainable development. Indicator specialists working at different levels of government and in private and public sector organizations across Canada are often faced with similar challenges and questions. Ultimately, there is a need for measurement efforts to converge on common or comparable methods. Awareness of what others are doing, how they are doing it, synergies and partnerships, and emerging trends, are therefore integral to advancing the use of indicators for navigating progress toward desired outcomes. The Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) was created by indicator specialists to connect people working in different fields across the country. The aim is to encourage more and better sustainability reporting, and greater consistency in indicator development and use. CSIN links people at the national, provincial, regional and local level, and provides connections to international developments. This report contains a program overview and budget for 2006 and beyond. As an evolving community of practice, CSIN develops products and services that enhance learning and collaboration. An emerging area for CSIN is the piloting of community of practice products that can be funded on an individual basis by interested parties. These products harness the collective knowledge of the network and contribute to research into best practices of indicator development in Canada. 2. Brief History of CSIN Environmental reporting and the use of indicators evolved in the 1970s, and began in earnest in the 1980s. Canada was one of the pioneering countries in this field. Sustainability reporting, which seeks to show the interconnections among environmental, economic and social issues, evolved in the 1990s, following the release of the 1987 Brundtland Report, Our Common Future. Although people around the world were doing environmental and sustainability reporting, there was no organization to help them connect and share information, approaches and methods on an ongoing basis. IISD’s Compendium of Sustainability Indicator Initiatives was an early and well regarded effort to facilitate communication among members of the practitioner community worldwide. In 2001, a group of experts including several Canadians, founded the International Sustainability Indicators Network (ISIN). In March 2003, an ISIN meeting in Toronto provided the springboard for the creation of a Canadian network. With the leadership and support of Environment Canada’s National Indicators and Reporting Office, a gathering of interested people founded CSIN. The organization quickly took shape, operating with a volunteer Steering Committee and a part-time coordinator provided by Environment Canada. In March 2005, CSIN coordination was moved to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) under the Measurement and Assessment Program. A part- time coordinator position was created at IISD and the CSIN website was transferred to the IISD server. The volunteer Advisory Committee continues to provide strategic direction to the network. Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 5
3. CSIN Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of CSIN is to accelerate progress toward sustainable development by furthering
the state of the art in sustainability indicator development, reporting and use in decision-
making. CSIN helps members build capacity through discussion and information sharing
about theoretical, strategic, technical, and practical issues of importance. CSIN also seeks
further collaboration among a multitude of indicator and reporting initiatives. 1
The specific objectives of CSIN include the following:
1. Act as a key Canadian focal point for discussing the linkages among practitioner
approaching indicators from the point of view of science, monitoring, policy planning
and decision-making.
2. Encourage and promote better understanding of sustainability indicators,
assessment and reporting, and effective use of indicators in policy- and decision-
making processes.
3. Provide access to a pool of expertise in the form of contact information and
documented knowledge from indicator experts.
4. Promote best practices in indicator development, assessment and reporting.
5. Facilitate collaboration on specific issues as "sub-communities" or "working
groups".
6. Improve co-ordination among indicator assessment and reporting initiatives.
7. Provide opportunities for professional training, advancement and recognition.
8. Understand at a practical level how to market sustainability indicators to expand
user opportunities.
A cornerstone of CSIN is the community of practice approach. A community of practice can
be defined as “a voluntary, self-governing network that provides a forum for problem
solving, innovation and learning. Knowledge exchange and creation are key elements of a
functional community of practice”.2
A primary purpose of a community of practice is to build capacity in its members who in
turn effect change in their own context. This occurs through mutual learning and problem
solving within a structure that supports new idea generation on a level playing field. 3,4
1 Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) (2003). CSIN Accord. http://www.csin-
rcid.ca/downloads/CSIN%20ACCORD%20EN.pdf
2 Ibid.
3 Wegner, E., McDermott, R., Snyder, W. (2002) Cultivating Communities of Practice. Harvard Business School Press.
4 Creech, H. and Willard, T. (2001) Strategic Intentions: Managing Knowledge Networks for Sustainable Development. International
Institute for Strategic Development (IISD).
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 64. CSIN Tools and Products
CSIN was formed in response to a need among indicator practitioners for peer-to-peer input
and for a review process in developing and using sustainability indicators. There are often a
number of information and knowledge related needs encountered by indicator practitioners.
These include:
responding to needs and opportunities where indicators and measurement stand a
chance of informing and influence major policy decisions;
obtaining peer review on indicator work;
consulting with indicator specialists on a methodology or approach;
researching complementary work being done in other contexts or in other ways;
capacity building for indicator development;
increasing visibility of in-house indicator initiatives and;
becoming more networked with front-running indicator practitioners.
Over time, CSIN has developed information and knowledge sharing tools that can assist
indicator practitioners with networking and collaboration. These tools can be conceptualized
as a tiered triangle, shown in Figure 1.
Includes best practices reports,
Collabor- learning event summaries and reports
ation
Level of Influence Includes learning events, advisory
Knowledge meetings, face to face gatherings,
Sharing conference participation
Information Dissemination Includes website, listserv, member
database, electronic newsletter
CSIN Member
Participation
Figure 1: Conceptual Diagram of Tools and Services
At the first tier, information dissemination has the broadest reach to sustainability
indicator practitioners in Canada. Related services include the CSIN website, listserv,
newsletter and member database.
At the second tier, knowledge sharing includes activities usually involving smaller groups,
such as attendees at CSIN learning events, advisory meetings and face-to-face gatherings.
Knowledge sharing may also address specific interest groups, such as attendees at
conference presentations. The level of influence is higher than information dissemination as
practitioners share expertise and experience by more directly interacting with one another.
At the third tier, collaboration includes knowledge-sharing compilations, such as meeting
summaries and research reports, as well as knowledge-generating activities, such as a best
practices report. Collaborative outputs and action have the greatest potential to meet
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 7CSIN’s goal of accelerating sustainability indicator practice in Canada because they are a
tangible result that have broader applicability. The success of collaborative efforts largely
depends on the stability and strength of the first two levels – information dissemination and
knowledge sharing.
Information Dissemination
Website www.csin-rcid.ca The CSIN website is a resource containing information
about and for members on CSIN activities, conferences, and information resources
on indicators.
Listserv Over 225 CSIN members have the opportunity to share documents and
communicate over the CSIN listserv. Typical communication includes a range of
announcements, reports and member queries.
Newsletter A periodic newsletter featuring upcoming events, new reports, new
members and other information is also distributed.
Member Database The member database provides a growing list of indicator
practitioners in Canada.
Knowledge Sharing
CSIN Learning Events Peer-to-peer learning I found that [the presenter]
largely occurs during facilitated conference calls gave a fresh perspective on
known as CSIN Learning Events. Learning event indicators and policy
topics are developed organically, based on CSIN development, and introduced
member suggestions and periodic informal some new ways (new to me!) of
network surveys. Live Meeting technology approaching this issue. I will be
enables sharing of PowerPoint and other reflecting further on her
applications (internet sites, databases, and presentation.
documents) during the Learning Events. One or – Indicator Practitioner and
more CSIN members are invited by the CSIN Member
coordinator to volunteer to present their work in
a PowerPoint presentation, providing fodder for
further discussion. Presentations are then I think these calls help us
posted on the CSIN website, as well as a written validate what we are struggling
summary of the event. with on a daily basis at work (or
on a voluntary basis). To make
CSIN Gatherings Formal and informal CSIN us realize that there are
gatherings are organized where possible and success stories despite all the
feasible. Two formal gatherings have taken challenges!
place in conjunction with meetings of the - Indicator Practitioner and
CSIN Member
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network
(EMAN). A number of informal, smaller
gatherings took place in 2005 and early 2006 in conjunction with CSIN participation
in conferences, including the EMAN National Science Meeting in Penticton (November
2005) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Sustainable Communities
conference in Ottawa (February 2-4, 2006). Several other informal gatherings have
taken place when members met as a group on the fringes of non-CSIN events.
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 8Overview of Learning Event Topics in 2005-2005 Indicator databases and other online tools are being developed to support the collection and storage of data. Increasingly innovative tools enable multiple groups to upload data in a central location. A presentation of the Watersheds InfoXchange by Sarah Roselen, Centre for Sustainable Watersheds and The Pathways Project by Natural Resources Canada occurred on May 27, 2005. Visualization of indicators can be complex when the indicators are being communicated to multiple audiences. Successful techniques include simple, yet relevant and informative graphic representation of indicators. A presentation by Andrea Scheller, Swiss Federal Statistical Office occurred on June 23, 2005, reflecting on key findings of an international workshop in Switzerland. Setting indicator targets becomes important when indicators are being use to measure progress. Developing targets often involves interplay between scientists, citizens and policy makers so that the targets are credible, acceptable and politically relevant. Presentations by Steve Litke, Fraser Basin Council and Andrée Chevrier, Environment Canada took place on July 21, 2005. Initiatives across Canadian provinces are being developed in ways unique to the circumstances of each province. A range of reporting types, from State of Environment reports to Sustainability reports are being developed, in both hard copy and online formats, Presentations from five provinces focused on challenges and lessons learned associated with the process of developing indicators. The event occurred on September 22, 2005. National indicator initiatives are being developed collaboratively and among individual departments. Presentations from Natural Resources Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Health Canada, and Agriculture Canada occurred at the learning event on October 28, 2005. Policy uses of sustainability indicators were presented in the context of research conducted on Sustainable Seattle by Meg Holden, faculty member at Simon Fraser University. The Regional Vancouver Urban Observatory initiative was also presented. The learning event was held on December 8, 2005. Sustainable Calgary: Community Sustainability Indicator Project Outcomes was presented by the Executive Director of Sustainable Calgary, Noel Keough. The presentation highlighted benefits and challenges of including community members in indicator projects. The learning event was held on January 18, 2006. Delivering sustainability indicators to municipal decision-makers: What makes indicators applicable in the municipal context? A CSIN-coordinated panel discussion involving municipal councillors and planners was held at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, February 3, 2006 in Ottawa. Panelists spoke freely about challenges and lessons learned associated with the use of indicators by decision makers. What are cultural indicators? How are they being developed and for what purposes? These questions were explored during presentations by Nancy Duxbury, Creative City Network of Canada, and Luisa Maffi, Terralingua, on June 8, 2006. Participants engaged in lively discussion about the types and roles of cultural indicators. Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 9
Collaboration
Best Practices Compilation A compilation of Best Practices would be a living
document drawing from CSIN practitioner events and additional research. Topics
would be based on a table of contents collectively developed by the network. A best
practices document would help build capacity of indicator practitioners and provide a
tangible outlet for practical experiences shared through the network.
5. Governance and Organizational Structure
CSIN has a simple governance structure with strategic direction provided by a voluntary
Advisory Committee. This enables the network to keep operating costs at a lower level than
what would be required for a more formalized structure. It also aligns with the community
of practice approach, which is driven from the ground up by member interests.
Broad and diverse participation in the network is encouraged through free membership and
direct involvement in developing CSIN products with the CSIN Secretariat. Operating costs
are covered largely through financial and in-kind contributions from individual and
institutional members.
Figure 2: Governance Structure
CSIN Advisory Committee
Participation on the CSIN Advisory Committee is voluntary and open to all members. The
Committee teleconferences 6-8 times per year to discuss CSIN direction, function and
funding strategies. Typically 6-9 CSIN members participate on the committee. Detailed
minutes from Advisory Committee meetings are distributed electronically to the Committee
and brief summaries of decisions are distributed to the CSIN membership over the CSIN
listserv.
Membership on the CSIN Advisory Committee reflects the diversity of CSIN membership as
a whole with representation of government, business/consulting, academic, community, and
NGO interests.
Current Members of the CSIN Advisory Committee
Barb Buckland, Knowledge Integration Strategies Division, Environment Canada
Nancy Doucet, Masters Candidate, Environmental Studies, Queen’s University
Brian Free, Education and Outreach Section, Alberta Environment
Tony Genco, Downsview Park, Toronto
Susanne Jakobsen, Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Michael Keating, Sustainability Reporting Program
Steve Litke, Fraser Basin Council
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 10Dennis O’Farrell, Environmental Reporting Research, Statistics Canada
László Pintér, Measurement and Assessment Program, International Institute for
Sustainable Development
John Robinson, Sustainable Development Research Institute, University of British
Columbia
Mark Roswell, Eastern Ontario Model Forest
Darren Swanson, Measurement and Assessment Program, International Institute for
Sustainable Development
Jay Walmsley, Jacques Whitford Environment Ltd.
Carissa Wieler, Measurement and Assessment Program, International Institute for
Sustainable Development (CSIN Coordinator)
Douglas Worts, Art Gallery of Ontario
CSIN Members
CSIN membership has grown to approximately 225 members by the spring of 2006.
Membership is Canada-wide, with a larger proportion located in central Canada (Figure 3).
Indicator practitioners from multiple contexts, including all levels of government, academia,
NGO, and consulting, participate in CSIN activities (Figure 4).
Independent,
US, 2 First Nation
2
North, 2 Reserve, 1
Unknown, 14
Atlantic, 16 Industry, 1
West Coast, 16 Consultant,
18
Federal, 79
Unknow n, 19 Municipal, 18
Academia, 27
Prairies, 28 Central, 142
NGO, 28 Provincial, 36
Figure 3: Membership by Region, Figure 4: Membership by Sector, April
2006 2006
CSIN Supporters
CSIN Supporters are organizations and individuals who provide in-kind and financial support
to the network. In-kind contributions take the form of conference calls, use of ‘Live Meeting’
technology at CSIN meetings, translation, and editorial support. In 2005-2006, in-kind
support was received from the National Indicators and Reporting Office, Environment
Canada, Sustainability Reporting Program and the International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD).
Financial contributions for 2005-2006 ranged from $700 to $10,000 from the following
supporters:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Atkinson Foundation
Atlantic Coastal Action Plan, Environment Canada
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 11British Columbia Water, Land and Air Protection
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Manitoba Conservation
National Indicators and Reporting Office, Environment Canada
PEI Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Statistics Canada
Winnipeg Foundation
Financial contributions are received by IISD for CSIN in the form of payment for services.
CSIN Secretariat
The CSIN Secretariat manages and coordinates the core activities of the network. CSIN is
an ongoing project under IISD’s Measurement and Assessment Program. Oversight is
provided by László Pintér, Director of the Program, while Carissa Wieler provides network
coordination for a portion of her position at IISD. The Secretariat reports to the CSIN
Advisory Committee on project status, and looks to the Committee for input on network
activities. The Secretariat also ensures that operational costs are covered on a year-to-year
basis. The fiscal year end for CSIN is March 31. The Secretariat is responsible for the
delivery of any contracts developed on behalf of the network, unless otherwise stated.
6. Budget
CSIN’s core activities are projected to continue in 2006 and beyond. It is primarily the role
of the CSIN Secretariat to implement these activities via the part-time CSIN coordinator and
administrative/information services at IISD. Learning events, which involve the use of Live
Meeting technology, in addition to nation-wide conference calls, have been provided to the
network as an in-kind service by Environment Canada. It is anticipated that this support will
continue in 2006-2007, specifically for CSIN learning events that are not otherwise funded.
The following table estimates the CSIN budget for 2006-2007. Similar costs are anticipated
for future years of the network.
Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network - Program Overview and Budget – June 2006 12Table 1: Projected Operating Costs, 2006-2007
In-kind
Costs Total Cost
Support
Coordination
Communication and networking $39,000 $39,000
Events and services coordination
Advisory Committee coordination and
facilitation
Implementation and outreach
Participation in conferences
Administrative support
Communications and Travel
$1,000 $2,000
Advisory meeting calls
$500 $1,000 $500
Networking calls
$1,500 $1,500
Travel to Conferences
Website Maintenance and Development
$3,750 $3,750
Regular updates
Learning Events (12 per year)
Conference call costs $3,600
Live Meeting technology $12,000
** these are estimated costs for learning events
that are not directly funded; funded learning
events costs are borne by the client.
Totals
$45,750 $16, 600 $62,350
Amount fundraised (as of June 30)
$12,000
Amount remaining to be raised as of June 30
$33,750
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