HELIO's Indicator Sets...

are all based on the same philosophy - that the underlying metric (the actual measurement of statistic used) - must be generally available for most, if not all, countries.  Data collection and vector calculation must be do-able and if calculation is required to derive an indicator, it must be simple to do.

Overall the indicators themselves must:

• be clearly definable, simple to understand, and easily communicated to citizens and decision-makers alike;
• be relevant to actual or anticipated policies;
• reflect an important aspect of the social, economic, environmental, technological or governance elements of the energy system;
• measure something of obvious value to analysts and decision-makers; and,
• have robustness and long-term relevance.

Sustainable Energy Watch (SEW): measuring the contribution of energy policies to ecodevelopment

Rationale:

Most countries have developed formal energy policies.  These can vary from a simple statement of objectives and priorities to a detailed action plan.  Some countries actually state that their energies policies as "sustainable energy strategies".  Some of the strategies deal only with energy supply issues while others are integrated with energy demand and industrial development concerns. Regardless of a country's energy resource base, in order to contribute to ecodevelopment, energy systems should be consistent with environmental, economic, social and technological sustainability.

Vulnerability - Adaptation - Energy System Resilience (VAR):  measuring the ability of energy systems to withstand impacts from anticipated climate change

Rationale:

Based on anticipated climate change impacts on energy systems, this indicator set will help policy makers determine:

• the level of vulnerability of a particular energy system;
• the capacity to implement energy adaptation projects; and,
• how successful proposed implementation measures will be in increasing energy system resilience. 

Wind, solar, hydro, biomass, nuclear and fossil fuel energy systems are addressed.

Sustainable Development: ensuring that CDM projects meet sustainability goals

Rationale:

In order to support the goals ecodevelopment within a particular country, activities developed under the Clean Development Mechanism should ensure:

• economic and social benefits: without causing negative environmental impacts
• environmental integrity: effective emission reduction and prevention of any "leakage"
• economic efficiency: minimisation of total transaction, and related costs for project participants and institutions