To provide quantitative metrics for evaluating a country's environmental performance in different policy categories relative to clearly defined targets.

To provide a gridded version of existing SeaWiFS data in GIS-compatible formats in order to determine concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the coastal water column and to facilitate the integration with other data.

To provide tabular data on the trends of chlorophyll-a concentration on a pixel by pixel basis for identifying areas with improving, declining, and stable coastal water quality that can provide guidance for decision making in the context of coastal management.

To provide data that can assist in the extraction and analysis of chlorophyll-a concentration and trends from global grids.

To provide quantitative metrics for evaluating a country's environmental performance in different policy categories relative to clearly defined targets.

To provide quantitative metrics for evaluating a country's environmental performance in different policy categories relative to clearly defined targets.

To make the acquisition, comparison and analysis of sustainability indicators easier by compiling them in a single database, incorporating multiple country codes, and condensing the indicator descriptions into short methodological summaries in an accompanying data dictionary.

To create a comparative index of national-level environmental sustainability and to provide a mechanism for making environmental management more quantitative, empirically grounded and systematic.

To provide a comparative index of national-level environmental sustainability covering a number of sustainability dimensions.

To provide a comparative index of national-level environmental sustainability based on lessons learned from the year 2000 pilot effort.