Sustainability Assessment Approaches

2012 ◽  
pp. 172-187
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Fernández Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Sustainability Concept ◽  
The Government ◽  
Engineering Projects

The beginnings and progress in implementing sustainable development in different areas with large impacts on the environment, society, and economy in the last decade is summarized. Thus, the different existing approaches and possible future developments for applying the sustainability concept are analyzed, starting with municipalities and urban planning but also including the applications to engineering projects and companies in the recent search for global sustainable development. An analysis is developed of the weaknesses and strengths in existing proposals for assessing sustainability and the consideration of the basis for sustainable development in all sustainability assessment applications is proposed. Through this approach, from the lessons learned in previous experiences, a framework to manage and to create sustainability assessment models is proposed, including standard procedures, allowing trend settings to designers, the government, developers, and decision-making centers. Key performance indicators are being widely used in such applications, becoming the sustainability assessment tool of any project or activity. The ultimate aim of this chapter is to enhance the awareness of all stakeholders in the need for a more sustainable global development, considering actions not only in the immediate environment but also in indirect environments in space and time.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment and Agricultural Supply Chains Evidence-Based Multidimensional Analyses as Tools for Strategic Decision-Making—The Case of the Pineapple Supply Chain in Benin

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2060
Author(s):  
Doriane Desclee ◽  
David Sohinto ◽  
Freddy Padonou
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Agricultural Supply

Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 is a shared objective of all institutions and people. The challenges differ according to the characteristics of every context. In developing countries, strongly dependent on the agricultural sector, agricultural supply chains are recognized as crucial for economic growth and enablers for livelihood improvement. Moreover, sustainable development issues are correlated and can meet in agricultural supply chains. For several decades, parallel to decision-makers, the research community has elaborated sustainability assessment tools. Such tools evolved to fit with actuality, but it is challenging to find decision-making support tools for sustainable development adequate in agricultural supply chains and developing countries contexts. There is a necessity to define evidence-based tools and exhaustive analytical frameworks according to sustainability multidimensionality and strategical tradeoffs necessity. The VCA4D method aims to go beyond the limits of previous methods. It proposes a combination of multidisciplinary analytical tools applied empirically to analyze agricultural supply chains in their context. It provides evidence-based analytical results allowing to identify enablers for strategic sustainable and inclusive interventions. However, to even better meet contextual exhaustiveness’s expectations and indicators’ robustness to lead to relevant interventions, we should insist on a stricter framing of contextual data collection processes.

scholarly journals The Role of Public Participation in Governance towards Achieving Sustainable Development. Part 1

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-404
Author(s):  
Maurice S. Nyarangaa ◽  
Chen Hao ◽  
Duncan O. Hongo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Political Class ◽  
The Public ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Government

Public participation aimed at improving the effectiveness of governance by involving citizens in governance policy formulation and decision-making processes. It was designed to promote transparency, accountability and effectiveness of any modern government. Although Kenya has legally adopted public participation in day-to-day government activities, challenges still cripple its effectiveness as documented by several scholars. Instead of reducing conflicts between the government and the public, it has heightened witnessing so many petitions of government missing on priorities in terms of development and government policies. Results show that participation weakly relates with governance hence frictions sustainable development. Theoretically, public participation influences governance efficiency and development, directly and indirectly, thus sustainable development policy and implementation depends on Public participation and good governance. However, an effective public participation in governance is has been fractioned by the government. Instead of being a promoter/sponsor of public participation, the government of Kenya has failed to put structures that would spur participation of citizens in policy making and other days to activities. This has brought about wrong priority setting and misappropriation of public resources; The government officials and political class interference ultimately limit public opinion and input effects on decision-making and policy formulation, which might be an inner factor determining the failure of public participation in Kenya. The study suggests the need for strengthening public participation by establishing an independent institution to preside over public participation processes.

scholarly journals A Study on the Sustainable Development for Senior Learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zne-Jung Lee ◽  
Hsiang Huang ◽  
Chou-Yuan Lee ◽  
Yi-Huo Jiang ◽  
Chun-Yen Chang
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Random Forest ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Random Forest Model ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Forest Model ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
The Government

In an aging population with a changing demographic structure, the government aims to ensure that elderly people receive care. In the concept of lifelong learning, education opportunities are available to senior learners, not just children and young people. The sustainable development for senior learners becomes a very important issue because it promotes a variety of learning activities for senior learners. Many universities have started to offer education for senior learners in Taiwan. Positive experiences for senior learners in senior universities can be fostered by ensuring the sustainable development of senior education. In this paper, a study on sustainable development for senior learners is proposed. This study aims to explore potential tools or approaches in evaluating the sustainable development for senior learners for decision making. In this study, two approaches are applied to analyze the sustainable development for senior learners. The first is a statistical analysis, and the second is the random forest model. The methodology of statistical analysis focuses on three aspects such as social assistance, inspiration, and the learning fulfillment for senior learners in senior universities. The random forest model is used to generate decision rules to support decision making. The random forest in this study obtained 22 decision rules. The results suggest that the items in the questionnaire and the decision rules from random forest could provide useful information that allows decision-makers to analyze the sustainable development of senior learners.

Addressing the higher education for sustainable development agenda at the College of Open and Distance Learning, St. Mary’s University, Ethiopia: opportunities and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wondwosen Tamrat
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

Purpose This study aims to assess the extent to which sustainable development practices are prevalent at the College of Open and Distance Learning (CODL), St. Mary’s University, Ethiopia. The assessment focused on identifying the college’s inclusion of the sustainable development agenda in its policy statements, various functions and practices. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed-method approach and used a case study in its design. Data were generated from a standard survey questionnaire, adopted from the unit-based sustainability assessment tool (Togo and Lotz-Sisitka, 2009), a semi-structured interview and documentary evidence. Findings The findings revealed that CODL has limited involvement in sustainability issues despite relevant policy directions set at national and institutional levels. Current engagement patterns are limited to teaching, course provision and a few areas of operations and management while a serious gap has been noted as regard the two core functional areas of research and community service which happen to be neglected. Research limitations/implications This study was based on a single CODL, albeit an institution with a long history of offering distance education in Ethiopia. Despite its contribution to an understanding of how sustainability issues are addressed in the context of Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular, the generalizability of the findings to other similar institutions is limited. Originality/value There is very little research in Africa as regard the involvement of higher education institutions in promoting the issues of sustainability in general and distance education providers in particular. In addition to addressing this gap, the study suggests the need for distance education institutions to improve their mapping strategies and respond to the greater concerns of sustainable development.

Green Public Procurement Implementation Framework

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar Shakya
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Public ◽  
Green Public Procurement ◽  
The Government

Government expenditure on public procurement accounts for a sizeable part of economic activity and demand. The annual public-sector procurement budget accounts about 20% to 30% of GDP in the developing countries, which provides the countries public sector with considerable leverage to stimulate the public-sector consumptions favoring goods, works, and services using fewer resources, and less harmful to the environment. The public sector should be more responsible for supporting environmental and broader sustainable development objectives. Green public procurement (GPP) is slowly getting recognized internationally as an effective means for public administrations to manage the balance between cost-effectiveness and sustainable development. The public fund should be used responsibly to uplift the health, environment, and social life. At the same time, the goods, services, and works procured by the government must achieve value for money. This chapter focuses on the importance of green public procurement strategies that could guide the countries to successfully plan, procure, and implement green public procurement (GPP) by outlining policies, strategies, and actions to boost green public procurement. The recommended strategies are based on the international best practices and the lessons learned from the experience by different government around the world. These strategies could be updated and customized based on the specific country context and their readiness.

Transferring The Mauri Model Of Decision Making Framework From New Zealand To Merauke Regency In Southern Papua

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Veronika Wambrauw
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Decision Making Framework

Today sustainable development is a concern around the globe. Sustainable development should include improving well-being, equitable distribution, and the integration of ecological concepts which pass from generation to generation and across time. Sustainable ways of life have actually been practised by indigenous peoples inter-generationally.  The Indigenous Peoples have similarities around the world in that they are inseparable from nature, and use their knowledge to maintain their ecosystems of origin.  This attribute reflects the potential for traditional ecological knowledge to sustain the environment and help people survive. This increases the motivation for considering including traditional ecological knowledge when making decisions and assessing the environment and development, including development in the agricultural sectors.  One of the environmental assessments which integrates traditional values is the Mauri Model Decision Making Framework (MMDMF) which was developed in and for Aotearoa New Zealand. This assessment approach uses the concept of ‘mauri’. Mauri is an important element in Māori culture. It is the essence or life force, the spark of life  and  a central concept that informs sustainability. The framework measures four dimensions of wellbeing as the basis of the sustainability assessment: the mauri of community (social), the mauri of the family unit (economic), the mauri of the ecosystem (environment), and the mauri of the tribe (culture). Merauke regency is the location of a new agricultural development scheme, called the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE). MIFEE is a national programme to develop the regency as a national and local granary. The purposes of this paper are  to examine the feasibility to transfer this assessment in the context of Merauke and to assess the sustainability of 1.2 Million Ha Merauke Integrated Food and energy Estate .  The results show that the MMDMF  is transferable and that although the assessment shows the project benefits the economic and social dimensions, the cultural and environmental dimensions are diminished.

scholarly journals Neighborhood sustainability in urban renewal: An assessment framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 903-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen W Zheng ◽  
Geoffrey QP Shen ◽  
Yan Song ◽  
Bingxia Sun ◽  
Jingke Hong
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Renewal ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
High Density ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Neighborhood Scale ◽  
Building Condition

Urban renewal provides valuable opportunities for sustainable development. Sustainability assessment is considered a useful tool in ensuring sustainable development in practice. Although a number of studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential of urban renewal, studies on sustainability assessment in urban renewal at a neighborhood scale are often ignored. However, urban renewal is normally accompanied by many social, economic, and environmental conflicts among various stakeholders. The present paper proposes a framework for assessing neighborhood sustainability to support urban renewal decision making in high-density cities such as Hong Kong. This framework includes two components: (1) sustainability and building condition and (2) a decision-making matrix for urban renewal strategies. A case study was conducted to illustrate how this framework can be applied in the decision-making process of urban renewal projects. The results are expected to provide references for urban renewal decision making in high-density cities.

scholarly journals Development of a Composite Measure of Regional Sustainable Development in Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hania Rahma ◽  
Akhmad Fauzi ◽  
Bambang Juanda ◽  
Bambang Widjojanto
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
National Development ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Implementation Stages ◽  
Regional Sustainable Development ◽  
The Government

Sustainable development has been the main agenda for Indonesia’s development at both the national and regional levels. Along with laws concerning the national development plan and regional development that mandate a sustainable development framework, the government has issued President Regulation No. 59/2017 on the implementation of sustainable development goals. The issuance of these recent regulatory frameworks indicates that sustainable development should be taken seriously in development processes. Nevertheless, several factors affect the achievement of sustainable development. This paper investigates how economic, social, and environmental factors could be integrated into regional sustainable development indicators using a new composite index. The index is calculated based on a simple formula that could be useful for practical implementation at the policy level. Three measures of indices are developed: arithmetic, geometric, and entropy-based. The indices are aggregated to be used for comparison purposes among regions in terms of their sustainability performance. Lessons learned are then drawn for policy analysis and several recommendations are provided to address challenges in the implementation stages.

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