Statistics New Zealand’s Framework for Measuring Sustainable Development defines the concept of sustainable development and provides a basis for selecting indicators to measure progress towards sustainable development.
The framework builds on Statistics New Zealand’s previous work on measuring sustainable development – the 2002 publication Monitoring Progress Towards a Sustainable New Zealand, and the 2003 Review of the Monitoring Progress Towards a Sustainable New Zealand Report.
At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, New Zealand, along with many other nations, adopted the Agenda 21 plan and Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. By signing Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration, New Zealand committed itself to making progress towards sustainable development.
Statistics New Zealand acknowledges the support and assistance of the MONET team at the Swiss Federal Statistical Office in the development of the framework.