Developing synthesis indicators for environmental performance

Abstract

The evaluation of environmental determinants that interfere in human health in the scope of municipal responsibilities has not spread yet in Brazil. However, the dramatic climatic change and the evolution of the Brazilian society demand that the public monitoring of the government's actions toward "healthy cities" is effectively valued. This paper presents the "Index of Environmental Performance" as a tool for promoting public actions transparency in the spheres of the environment and quality of life. The objective of this index is to allow environmental benchmarking between municipalities of the Campinas Metropolitan Region. With this purpose, a quantitative instrument was developed to support the monitoring of municipal responsibilities concerning the environment. This article presents the "Index of Environmental Performance" as a second generation index that aims to condense relevant information about the environment and quality of life in the municipal scope.