PFISD Who are we

Welcome to the web site of the Belgian
Platform Indicators for Sustainable Development (PFISD)

«Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs» (Brundtland Commission, 1987). This new pattern of development contains a demand of equity in the satisfaction of future and present generations needs. It aims to conciliate and to integrate economic, social and environmental policies.

The implementation of this sustainable development concept not only implies to reconsider numerous political decisions, but also to redefine the classical mechanisms of decision manking processes and to draw on specific decision making aid tools.

Tools and processes have been developed to address the challenge of simplifying information in order to make complex phenomena perceptible to policy-makers while enhancing and enabling communication and collaboration between different stakeholders. Among these, indicators for sustainable development (ISD) are among the most prominent tools to inform decision-making and evaluate SD-policies as well as their outcomes. The hybrid character of ISD is further enhanced by the fact that ISD are meant to act as powerful instruments to communicate with and to the broader public.

An interface between the users and developers of indicators on sustainable development is needed, to increase the participation of different actors in the development of ISD, to improve the collaborations between users and developers and to raise the awareness for ISD in sustainable development strategies and policies.

The aims of this Platform were broadly defined around the organisation and improvement of different types of information exchanges. More specifically the objectives of the PFISD are to : perform the follow-up and analysis of scientific, political and administrative activities with regard to indicators facilitate the accessibility and comprehension of these activities for the different types of actors stimulate information- and experience-exchange between actors identify strengths and weaknesses of research activities with regard to the demand communicate information on ISD from the international level (especially European) to the Belgian and regional levels promote Belgian expertise at the international level.

Four institutions are involved in the management of the platform : two university research centres and two institutional study units, all together representing the three regions as well as the federal level.

Institut Bruxellois pour la Gestion de l'Environnement / Brussels Instituut voor Milieubeheer – IBGE/BIM
Contact :
Chantal Vanoeteren
Gulledelle 100
1200 Bruxelles
phone : +32 2 775 78 36

Katolieke Universiteit Leuven / Université Catholique de Leuven
Hoger Instituut voor de Arbeid - HIVA Sector Duurzame Ontwikkeling
Contact :
Tom De Bruyn
Parkstraat 47
3000 Leuven
phone : +32 16 32 30 93

Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB
Institut de Gestion d’Environnement et d’Aménagement du Territoire – IGEAT
Centre d’Etudes du Développement Durable – CEDD
Contact :
Tom Bauler & Lise Frendo
50, av. F.D. Roosevelt CP 130/02
1050 Bruxelles
phone : +32 2 650 43 01 / 49 24

8, Rue de la Science
1000 Brussels
Phone : +32 2 238 35 55
Fax : +32 2 230 59 12
Email : platformisd@belspo.be