How to understand and measure environmental sustainability: Indicators and targets

Moldan, Bedřich; Janoušková, Svatava; Hák, Tomáš

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.04.033

Cited by 814 publications

(586 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…As emphasized by several authors (Burford et al 2013;Moldan et al 2012;Singh et al 2012), the choice of evaluation criteria and how to structure them into a hierarchical tree gradually led designers to define their own visions of sustainable development and its contextualization. Therefore, results cannot be normalized, which implies representing both stakeholder preferences and the diversity of concerns associated with the production system targeted.…”

Section: Selection and Hierarchy Of Sustainability Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Craheix¹,

Bergez²,

Angevin³

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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New agricultural systems are required to satisfy societal expectations such as higher quantity and quality of agricultural products, reducing environmental impacts, and more jobs. However, identifying and implementing more suitable agricultural systems is difficult due to conflicting objectives and to the wide diversity of scientific disciplines required to solve agricultural issues. Therefore, designing models to assess the sustainability of agricultural systems requires multicriteria decision aid methods. The French agronomist community has recently developed 11 hierarchical and qualitative models to assess sustainability using the DEXi decision aid software. Here, we give guidelines to help designers to build their own specific models. First, we present the principles and applications of the DEXi software. Then, we provide guidance on the following steps of model designing: (1) initial analysis and planning of the design process, (2) selection and hierarchy of sustainability criteria, (3) indicator selection and building, (4) parameterization, (5) evaluation, and (6) model dissemination and uses. We then discuss advantages and drawbacks of this kind of modeling formalism, the role of a participatory approach, and the main properties to consider during the design process.

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Section: Selection and Hierarchy Of Sustainability Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Craheix¹,

Bergez²,

Angevin³

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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“…These complex and multidimensional relations bring several negative critiques to the term: a) vagueness (MEBRATU, 1998;FABER, JORNA and VAN ENGELEN, 2005;PAEHLKE, 2005;NEWTON and FREYFOGLE, 2005;MOLDAN et al, 2012;MORRIS, 2012;MORI and CHRISTODOULOU, 2012;SLIMANE, 2012); b) polysemy (GATTO, 1995;MEBRATU, 1998;PAEHLKE, 2005;MORI and CHRISTODOULOU, 2012;SLIMANE, 2012); c) little explained (SARTORI et al, 2014); d) confusing and controversial (YOLLES and FINK, 2014); e) useless (CIEGIS et al, 2009;MORRIS, 2012); f) polemic and confusing as to the means and ends (NEWTON and FREYFOGLE, 2005); g) misunderstood (EKINS et al, 2003); h) popular slogan (SLIMANE, 2012); among others. However, Bañon Gomis et al (2011) highlight that sustainable is not only a "fashion or tendency" valued by circumstantial conditions, but its importance is linked to the ethics that guide human conduct, in that sense, it reflects the values of courage, prudence and hope.…”

Section: Doubts and Misunderstandings Generated By The Term Sustainablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In short, Chart 2 presents the main attributes of the term sustainable. The understanding of sustainability, according to Bell and Morse (2008), Moldan et al (2012), Sartori et al (2014), consists in the capacity of the global system, containing the integration of human environment with an indissoluble system, to maintain its quality and/or property in a level close, equal or superior to the historic average, considering the dynamic alterations provoked by variables throughout time. Horbach (2005) and Dempsey et al (2011) highlight that sustainability is the union of three types of interests simultaneously and in balance, including environmental, economic and social aspects.…”

Section: Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento sustentável: desvendando as sobreposições e alcances de seus significados

2017

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The sustainable, sustainability and sustainable development are remarkable and timely terms at the global level. However as they lack an axiomatic concept, they lead to criticism and doubts in their theoretical application and praxis. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the attributes of sustainable, sustainability and sustainable development to contribute to its concept. This work is typified as a qualitative, bibliographical, and interpretive one, in which the databases of consulted journals are related to Science Direct, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. The main results show that the sustainable is responsible for solutions to the deterioration of the humanenvironment system with the help of sustainability and sustainable development. Sustainability measures the level of quality of this system in order to evaluate its distance from the sustainable. Sustainable development works with strategies to bring the level of sustainability closer to the sustainable human-environment system. The attributes of these terms have distinct meanings and relate to specific praxis, but they converge to a single goal. Thus, an axiomatic concept of these terms assists in praxis to hold areas with distinct functions accountable, but with a single final attempt to achieve the idea of a sustainable human-environment system. We hope this work may prompt further study on these terms and help in understanding their praxis and theoretical application.Keywords: Sustainable. Nature capital. Environmental/human system. Sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento sustentável: desvendando as sobreposições e alcances de seus significados ResumoSustentável, sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento sustentável são termos notáveis e oportunos em nível global. Entretanto pelo fato de serem desprovidos de conceitos axiomáticos geram críticas e dúvidas na práxis. Este estudo objetiva analisar os atributos de sustentável, sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento sustentável visando contribuir para o axioma de seus conceitos. Esta pesquisa tipifica-se em qualitativa, bibliográfica e interpretativa. As bases de periódicos consultados relacionam-se a Science Direct, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library e Google Scholar. Os principais resultados revelam que "sustentável" tem a incumbência pelas soluções à deterioração do sistema ambiental humano com auxílio da sustentabilidade e do desenvolvimento sustentável. A sustentabilidade mensura o nível da qualidade deste sistema com intuito de avaliar o seu grau de distância em relação ao sustentável. O desenvolvimento sustentável atua com estratégias para aproximar o nível de sustentabilidade ao sistema ambiental humano sustentável. Os atributos destes termos possuem significados distintos e relacionam-se a uma práxis específica, entretanto, convergem a um único objetivo. Sendo assim, um conceito axiomático destes termos auxilia na práxis para responsabilizar as áreas com funções distintas, mas com um único intento final, o de alcançar a ideia de sistema ambiental humano sustentável. Salienta-s...

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“…According to [12], environmental sustainability was originally referred to as -environmentally responsible development‖ [13], then -environmentally sustainable development‖ [14], until most recently the environmental sustainability concept was developed [15], [16].…”

Section: A Environmental Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Environmental Improvements on the Financial Performance of Leading Companies Listed in Bursa Malaysia

Ong¹,

Teh²,

Ang³

2014

IJTEF

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Abstract-This paper analyses the relationship between environmental improvement and the financial performance of firms on a sample of 78 leading companies listed in Bursa Malaysia. This study uses content analysis to verify the extent of information disclosed and reported by companies. The results indicate that efforts to embrace environmental improvement and activities may help firms gain financially.Index Terms-Environmental improvements, financial performance, Malaysia.

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How to understand and measure environmental sustainability: Indicators and targets

Cited by 814 publications

References 12 publications

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento sustentável: desvendando as sobreposições e alcances de seus significados

The Impact of Environmental Improvements on the Financial Performance of Leading Companies Listed in Bursa Malaysia

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