Sustainability, considered as the target of our actions, is defined as development that satisfies the needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations. These needs can be summarized in three main sectors: environment, society and economy, which are all equivalent and influence each other.

In order to define a development as sustainable, evaluation criteria and measuring instruments are required. Indicators provide a suitable tool for this purpose. The essential task of an indicator is to make a complex system understandable and to illustrate it.

The indicators for environment, society and economy should create a basis for constant monitoring of the sustainable development of each municipality in Alto Adige. According to Agenda 21, municipalities play a major role. Conditions and problems often vary dramatically from one municipality to another, so that different strategies must be implemented. This is why specific local indicators that the inhabitants can identify with are necessary, so that all those involved in the district can understand and are able to change any developments and processes.

This indicator set is mainly of benefit to municipalities already working with indicators in the context of their municipal sustainability strategy or those that intend to do so in the future. Moreover, it should act as an incentive for municipalities, together with their citizens, to adopt independent and original ways towards achieving sustainability (local Agenda 21).

It will also serve to support public administration, decision-makers and other interested parties with political and planning decisions.

The data is being continuously updated, making the indicators a more meaningful tool year after year. This will allow different values of the indicators to be compared with each other in various municipalities over a number of years and such comparisons can create a basis for learning from forerunning municipalities in terms of “Best Practice”.