To provide tabular data to researchers without GIS capabilities who need data on population and land area by country across a range of physical characteristics. These include measures such as the number of persons living within coastal zones, the percent of a region within specific elevation strata, or the number of persons living within different climate zones.

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

To provide annual estimates of anthropogenic global and regional Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions in support of climate, atmospheric or other related research.

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

To provide an assessment of potential climate change impacts on world crop production.

To provide a database with observed responses to climate change for multidisciplinary studies.

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

To provide estimates of urban and rural populations and land areas in the low elevation coastal zone.

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 provide tabular data on environmental conditions (elevations, climate, coastal) in which people reside.

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

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 insights into the processes that can negatively influence the sustainable development of countries, with particular reference to vulnerability to natural hazards.

To provide data on country-level population and downscaled projections based on the SRES B2 marker scenario.

To provide data on country-level population and downscaled projections based on the SRES A1, B1, and A2 marker scenarios.

To provide data on country-level GDP per capita and downscaled projections based on the SRES A1, A2, B1, B2 marker scenarios.

To provide tabular data on environmental conditions (elevations, climate, coastal) in which people reside.

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

To provide information on the status of country participation in international environmental agreements.

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