Local Sustainability Indicators Research Articles

Sustainability assessment in the authorisation process of urban transformation: the meta-design of a GeoBIM platform

The assessment criteria and indicators used in the authorisation processes of building or urban projects can play a key role in achieving the goals introduced by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yet, on the one hand, the evaluation of project proposals and the granting of building permits still rely to a large extent on the subjective judgement of public technicians, severely limiting the incentive for the development of virtuous practices and innovative procedures; on the other hand, the measurement of the SDGs on a local basis presents strong operational gaps and criticalities, struggling to clearly orientate urban transformation processes. In the paper, these problematic issues represent the starting point to discuss the possibilities that the development of a GeoBIM platform could open to spatialise, measure and automate authorisation processes by integrating local regulations and sustainability indicators of global significance. The methodological and technical implications of the proposal are explored both through a reconstruction of the disciplinary literature on the subject and through the detailed description of some recent experimental tools. In particular, by questioning how to operationalize the integration of local assessment methods and global indicators through a GeoBIM platform, the paper raises broader questions on the relationship between measurement, policies and planning practices. In particular, the revision of priority criteria according to the 2030 Agenda goals is read in the text as a useful opportunity to rethink a number of administrative tools and practices. Indeed, the development of a GeoBIM platform to support building permit applications could not only make the assessment of compliance with local regulations more efficient and automated but also allow for the measurement of project impacts against indicators aimed at the local declination of the sustainability goals defined by the 2030 Agenda.

Adaptive re-use of industrial heritage and its role in achieving local sustainability

PurposeThe current study evaluates the success of this project at the local scale by examining the degree of compliance with local sustainability indicators after the revival of the Zanjan Match Factory. Hence, the purpose of this article is to evaluate the prosperity of the Zanjan match factory monument restoration project in achieving local sustainability. The study intention of prosperity implies any action, achievement or positive outcome that contributes to informed decision-making and leads to sustainable neighborhood development.Design/methodology/approachThe current research is applied research in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical, and survey-field in terms of method. The criteria evaluated in this research include criteria as follows: (1) evaluation of protection and preservation of the building, (2) success of the new function and (3) sustainable local development, which are defined items for each criterion. The questions of the questionnaire are prepared according to the Likert 5 points spectrum, the value of which is answered between 1 and 5 and the hierarchy goes from “very good” to “very poor”. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient obtained for the validity of the questionnaire questions is 0.85, which indicates the appropriate validity of the questionnaire questions.FindingsThe study findings indicate that the applied criteria are at an acceptable level since the criterion of sustainable local development and architecture have obtained the scores of 4 and the new function criterion scores of 3. Field surveys and observations of changes made in the neighborhood including the construction of a thoroughfare, commercial complex, service complex and local parks verify the validity of the findings. The results of the proposed study indicate that adaptive reuse projects should not be taken into account as individual projects since an individual building can be a catalyst for the restoration of other buildings and contribute to the transformation of the whole area by affecting the surrounding environment.Originality/valueAdaptive reuse of building assets is an important approach to sustainability that can be utilized in conserving and preserving industrial heritage buildings was described in this paper. An adaptive reuse project follows three aims of cultural and historical heritage conservation, the success of the new performance and the development of local communities and a successful project appropriately balances these three goals.

Assessment of Power System Sustainability and Compromises between the Development Goals

Ensuring the sustainability of the European power system is one of the key priorities in the implementation of the EU’s ambitious plans to become climate-neutral by 2050. The uniqueness of the power systems of the EU member states necessitates their assessment and comparison. The article offers a composite indicator, namely, the power system sustainability index (PSS index), to assess the current level of the development of the power systems via three dimensions (social, economic, and environmental) and eight local indicators: the household electricity consumption per capita; the commercial electricity consumption per GDP; the external dependency of the power system; the energy efficiency of the generation; the capacity utilization factor; the share of organic fossil fuels; the share of renewable energy resources; and the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of primary energy source. The “energy mix” is defined as the key impact factor, which has a contradictory effect on the local power system sustainability (LPSS) indicators, which can be represented as a set of regression models. The data of the regression analysis can be used for performing a multiobjective optimization by the local indicators, and they can determine the vectors of change required to ensure the sustainability of the power system. The research results prove that it is possible to minimize the GHG emissions per unit of primary energy source and maximize the energy efficiency of generation, while reducing the capacity utilization and increasing the external dependency of the power system.

Key Indicators and Social Acceptance for Bioenergy Production Potential as Part of the Green Economy Transition Process in Local Areas of Lapland.

The aim of this article was to create key indicators for measuring the implementation potential of the green economy transition at a local level in a northernmost, natural biomass-rich environment. The case area to test the set of indicators was the village of Saija in Lapland. The work presented in this article is based on a communicative cooperative research and development project. The selection process for the appropriate indicators is based on a conceptual framework for developing local sustainability indicators and the thematic framework follows the key dimensions of the green economy (ecosystem resilience, resource efficiency and social equity). When selecting the local-level indicators, a strong emphasis was placed on the special characteristics of the local area and the availability and validity of the data. Layman villagers and data policy relevance (in this case green economy) were also taken into consideration. The key indicators developed as a result included: the increment of growing forest stock in relation to the drain on growing forest stock, the village population, the bioenergy consumption share, the utilization share of side streams, the bioenergy production potential, capital outflow, demographic dependency ratio, the ratio between employed and working age residents and the number of forest owners in relation to area households. The key indicators are targeted for use in supporting local decision-making and monitoring and assessing development activities and their effectiveness in the process of the green economy transition. The indicators measure the most critical factors for green economy transition in a local area and identify the most optimal development opportunities when moving towards green growth. In the measurement of the transition potential of the green economy, it was found that the case area’s imported fossil energy consumption could be substituted with self-sufficient bioenergy production utilizing the area’s own raw materials. There is extensive potential for the utilization of manure (an agricultural side stream) and forest resources (forestry side streams) at the local level, especially since forests account for 98% of Lapland’s land area. In support of the change from fossil-based energy consumption towards bioenergy production, plans for a biogas plant were examined for self-sufficient bioenergy production and this appeared to be the initial key process in the path of the green economy transformation in the case village of Saija.

Creating local sustainability indicators towards evidence-based policymaking for tourism in developing economies: Evidence from the Philippines

ABSTRACT Sustainable development of tourism destinations is deemed a critical component of the global development agenda. Among developing economies whose tourism industries have remained a significant pillar of their economic growth, translating sustainability concepts and principles into policy remains a challenge. The incorporation of sustainability in public policies requires tourism development to generate positive impacts on the environment, economy, and society through the active involvement of stakeholders. At the core of this approach is the identification and use of indicators to evaluate the sustainability of destinations. This study primarily addresses concerns on the compatibility of existing indicators with local objectives and perceptions, with an aim of identifying local indicators that evaluate the sustainability of destinations in the Philippines. This study contributes to the existing development research through the identification of local sustainability indicators that are hinged on local understanding and perceptions of sustainability. A qualitative approach was employed to capture a holistic understanding of the multiple perspectives of stakeholders regarding sustainable tourism development. Results were determined through a focus group discussion with tourists and key informant interviews involving government authorities, tourism businesses, tourism industry practitioners, and academe.

Local sustainability indicators in Portugal: assessing implementation and use in governance contexts

This paper assesses the implementation and use of sustainability indicators (SI) in local governance contexts in Portugal. The need to analyse the development of local SI is considered critical, given the lack of research on the understanding of how, when and by whom SI are implemented and used, particularly in the Portuguese local governance context. The first aim of this article is to map experiences of SI in Portugal by assessing how many local councils developed indicator systems and when, and the major driving-forces and general features of those systems. The second aim is to analyse and compare 7 case studies, in further detail, to explore the governance factors that influence indicator success and how indicators are used within local contexts. Two particular conceptual frameworks were applied to structure research and analysis. Based on a national survey and case study methodology, findings reveal that local SI in Portugal are still in early stages of development. Where SI have been designed earlier, there has been a lack of political commitment and vision, and a need to overcome local government malfunctioning more than the complex obstacles of sustainable development governance. Applying both conceptual frameworks enabled to present critical lessons on the relationship among governance factors and types of uses when implementing SI in Portugal and to suggest the value of this integrated analysis for other governance contexts.

Analysis of the ties of the region and beyond for establish local sustainability indicators

Analysis of the ties of the region and beyond for establish local sustainability indicators

The role of common local indicators in regional sustainability assessment

Abstract Sustainable development indicators (SDIs) are one of the most frequently used tools to assess sustainable development from an international to a local scale, supporting evaluation and reporting purposes. Indicators can also be particularly useful in addressing the growing need for interaction at regional and local scale in sustainability initiatives and assuring that regional assessments reflect community values, concerns and hopes. The main goal of this research is to develop a conceptual framework for common local sustainability indicators within a regional context, one that is supported by a participative approach and allows interaction between local and regional scales. Other major goals were to design the regional profile on local SDI initiatives and develop a set of common local indicators for the Algarve region – the most southerly region of Portugal. The framework is mainly supported on common strategic goals, objectives, targets, features and resources and on the existing regional and local SDI sets. A regional survey involving all municipalities was conducted to obtain data on local SDI initiatives and the regional profile was defined. By testing the framework in the Algarve, a proposed set of common local indicators was developed and presented in the survey for local authority evaluation. The main findings reveal that, despite the fact that there are still few local SDI initiatives in the Algarve region, the majority of municipalities surveyed fully agree on the importance of developing a minimum common local indicator set for the region. The role and usefulness of the proposed framework were demonstrated in the selection of 20 common local indicators for local–regional scale interaction in the Algarve. Establishing a set of common indicators on a local spatial scale can contribute to providing a coherent assessment framework, by preventing the duplication of effort, allowing local sustainability benchmarking and enhancing the analyses of asymmetries within a region.

Incorporating local sustainability indicators into structures of local governance: a review of the literature

Too often studies about sustainability indicators focus either on the science that goes into indicator development seeking to make them rational and relevant or on the soft impacts such as social capital, community empowerment or capacity building that are outcomes of their use. When attention is turned to what effect they have on policy, it is often difficult to discern any link between their use and policy change. This paper seeks to address this problem by consolidating current thinking on indicators and asking the question: How far have notions of governance been incorporated into current research into indicators? The answer to this question has implications for the continuing utility of indicators as policy tools, not only in so far as they are able to aid the evaluation of policy, but also, and arguably more importantly, in how they are able to facilitate relationships between actors and act a catalyst around which various contested meanings of sustainability can be evaluated.

Indicators as a Governmental Technology? The Lessons of Community-Based Sustainability Indicator Projects

There has been much interest in the neo-Foucauldian framework of governmentality as a way of understanding contemporary policy processes. In this paper I examine evidence from a case study of local sustainability indicators in the light of this framework. The role of indicators as a potential governmental technology is addressed, covering issues of their ability to objectify sustainability the scope for altered subjectivities, their positioning within central–local government relations, and the construction and responsibilisation of communities, particularly in urban regeneration contexts. I conclude that the use of indicators at the community level may tell us more about central–local relations within contemporary governance than about the construction of subjects and objects to enable governance with regard to sustainable development.

Local Sustainability Indicators

Local Sustainability Indicators

Local Sustainability Indicators

Local Environment has established a bit of a niche in local sustainability indicator studies. In 1997 it published the important debate between Jeb Brugman and Graham Pinfield, which highlighted that sustainability indicators and their role are contested issues (Vol. 2, Nos 1-3). In 1999 it produce a first special issue on the topic (Vol. 4, No. 2). As the editors identified, this special issue probed ‘deeper into aspects of indicator selection, methodology, theory and practice’. The papers presented there began to discuss a theme that is developed further in this special issue, that of the relationship between the objective and the subjective in indicator development and use. Our special issue brings together three full papers and a commentary presenting research and information from the USA, Sweden, France and Austria. In this editorial we are going to review the growth of interest in sustainability indicators and the changing way in which they are viewed and briefly comment on some recent indicator projects that we have been involved in.

The Use of Local Sustainability Indicators: case studies in two Swedish municipalities1

The Use of Local Sustainability Indicators: case studies in two Swedish municipalities1

The Use of Local Sustainability Indicators: case studies in two Swedish municipalities1

This article contributes to the debate on the role of local sustainability indicators in ongoing democratisation efforts. We examine the extent to which five different systems of local sustainability indicators within two Swedish municipalities—Stockholm and Sundsvall—are either expert or citizen oriented, and relate these findings to the indicator systems' profile, function and political/ administrative context. Even though three of the indicator systems can be classified as citizen oriented, there are few signs of true engagement and dialogue with the citizens over a longer period of time. The remaining two indicator systems are expert oriented with an environmental focus. Hence, we conclude that the systems in use are largely symbolic responses to the demands for democracy within the agenda for sustainable development albeit attempts to include environmental, economic, social and democratic perspectives of sustainability. Despite the fact that Stockholm and Sundsvall show differences in governing styles in their approaches to sustainability indicators it seems difficult for both municipalities to put sustainable development into practice in terms of citizen participation.

Measuring Progress Towards Sustainable Development in Venice: A Comparative Assessment of Methods and Approaches

Sustainable development is a relatively well-known concept. Although there are many definitions, the underlying concepts and aims are generally agreed upon. Many local communities have established a vision of sustainability in terms of policies, goals, actions, etc in order to translate sustainability into their own context. Since sustainable development is an ambitious and long-term goal, it is clear that it is important to be able to assess the degree of progress towards it. This is a particularly challenging task for the city of Venice due to its unique environmental, social and economic characteristics. This overview is intended to discuss and compare the main approaches to measuring progress in order to propose a methodology for Venice. Five methods which represent the spectrum of approaches are analysed. Finally, the potential applicability of these to Venice are considered in light of the specific conditions of the city, and a set of local sustainability indicators is proposed.

A guide to community sustainability indicators

Sustainability as defined by the Brundtland Commission, is a composite and thus ambitious policy target. It comprises environmental, economic, social, and institutional criteria with equal importance. Because of this complexity the first step of a (Local) Agenda 21 process should be to develop a vision of a sustainable society—a “leitbild”—useful as a compass, not a road map (or, even worse, a blueprint), attached by indicators that help to measure progress, distance to target, and failures of plans or their implementations. In the following article a model is proposed how local sustainability indicators can be developed and how they can help to reduce the complexity of sustainability and to concretize a program for the Local Agenda 21. To get a practical impression of the theoretical presentation an example is given in the last part of the article. It shows the experiences made while developing sustainability indicators in the City of Iserlohn.