Set Of Sustainability Indicators Research Articles

Measuring sustainable transformation of small and medium‐sized enterprises using management systems standards

AbstractSmall‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) represent a significant number of industries in need of moving towards more sustainable development. A sustainability perspective on business activities is today crucial for SMEs to achieve a new level of competitiveness. Identifying which is a suitable set of sustainability indicators for an individual SME is a big challenge. The availability of so many methods and systems can leave SMEs reluctant to implement them in their small business. Therefore, this research aims to create a sustainability maturity model for SMEs to visualize goals and assess progress on their transformation journey. Progress is assessed by indicators, exemplified by indicators of the Global Reporting Initiative and the maturity is verified as stepwise growth along international management system standards. Using the developed model, it is possible to determine the SMEs' sustainability performance. The research has resulted in a stepwise classification of the organization's maturity is compiled into training and auditing material in different regions and sectors.

Sustainable Development Transformation of the Republic of Armenia: Context and Perception

The article reveals the need for and methodology of the transformation of the sustainable development index. The idea of transforming the index made up of the indicators established by the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda was proposed due to the most acute manifestations of certain regional problems. As for the Republic of Armenia, those issues also include security and overcoming the constitutional deficit in addition to socio-economic and ecological problems. Methodologically, this approach allowed us to elaborate a new set of sustainable development indicators. Due to the introduced set of indicators, the sustainable development index (SDG Index Score -Y) is linked with variables such as the capital and labor - K, L, the ecological component (Ecology - E), the level of constitutionalism (Constitutional Compliance - U), security (Security - S), and time - T. In the proposed concept, the optimal operation of sustainable development (OOSD) derives from the goals and limitations determined by the specifics of development. By virtue of the indicators given above, we will have the sustainable development index modified as follows: Y=(K,L,E,U,S,T). The schematic diagram of the concept includes indicators of sustainable development that relate to the responsible institutions of management, and indicate the respective norm required by the Constitution. The optimal management model is formulated based on the developed conceptual basis, where is required to select such a management that move the object from one state of stability to another, where the objective function takes the optimal value specified for the limitations of sustainable development indicators.

Development of an integrated sustainability indicator for the local people surrounding a reservoir project

Sustainable benefits from water resource development involve many factors that need to be holistically considered for implementing management policies. The study aimed to develop a set of key sustainability indicators following the social context surrounding a reservoir. The results show the quality-of-life is the highest significance, followed by natural resource conservation, risk management, participation, and equality, respectively. The indicator of the highest significance in the quality of life was confidence in livelihoods against flood and drought. The findings can apply to the assessment of sustainable development from reservoir projects and support a broader analysis of key sustainability criteria in various areas.

Identifying the criteria for community-centred Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of estate regeneration schemes

Identifying the overall environmental, and socioeconomic impacts of different estate regeneration scenarios can contribute to the overall sustainability of such schemes. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is an appropriate tool for assessing holistic sustainability. To achieve resilient societies, the interests of communities should be considered in decision making. This paper proposes a method for incorporating community needs in identifying sustainability metrics for the sustainability assessment of estate regeneration schemes. A literature review in the field of sustainability assessment of buildings is conducted followed by a mixed methods empirical research. Collection of data has been through surveys, an interview, and an evaluation questionnaire. Data has been analysed through statistical and thematic analysis and triangulation of the results. The findings have consistently yielded the limitations of the scope of the current sustainability assessment methodologies, especially for lack of attention to societal impacts of regeneration. The results have justified the need for this research to employ participatory approaches for identifying a relevant set of sustainability indicators and criteria for assessing the lifetime impacts of estate regeneration schemes. Issues related to community involvement in decision making, maintenance and management, community facilities, refurbishment, and disruption have been identified as the stakeholders’ top priorities. Mental Health and Socioeconomic Values have been introduced as new criteria. The findings confirm the need for an in-depth approach towards identifying the regeneration priorities of the communities for the scope of LCSA studies. The identified list of criteria can apply to other studies of this context for an equitable approach for selecting the indicators across different criteria and for communicating the LCSA results with different stakeholders.

Sustentabilidade da atividade aquícola na região oeste do Paraná, Brasil

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the sustainability of aquaculture production systems in the western region of the state of Paraná through a set of indicators, making it possible to verify whether the activity is being managed within the concept of sustainable development for aquaculture. The study was conducted in the municipalities of Palotina and Maripá, in 50 aquaculture farms. A methodology of a set of sustainability indicators was used through the application of a questionnaire and interviews on the selected farms, which allowed them to be classified according to the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental), as well as to determine which indicators had more influence in each dimension. A group of farms that have an economic advantage over the others was observed; this gives them a relatively lower risk when it comes to the activity. Furthermore, environmental indicators have less influence on the formation of the gradient, indicating that environmental characteristics are similar between farms, regardless of the patterns observed for economic and social aspects.

A methodology based on territorial metabolism analysis to assess the multi-criteria sustainability of African village terroirs with contrasted crop-livestock systems

CONTEXTAgricultural intensification to ensure food security and limit rural exodus is a major issue in sub-Saharan Africa. The potential of livestock farming to improve the sustainability of farming systems has been studied but rarely at the landscape level. However, because the herds move about in the landscape, thereby creating horizontal biomass and nutrient flows between plots and households, the landscape is the only level where all the interactions between the different components of the agro-ecosystem (animals, crops and trees) can be considered. OBJECTIVEOur objective was to develop a methodology that uses territorial metabolism for multicriteria assessment of sustainability to compare contrasted livestock systems. METHODSWe compare two neighboring village terroirs in the former groundnut basin of Senegal. One village (Diohine), has kept a “traditional extensive system” based on fallow, free grazing and night corralling, while the other (Barry) uses a “modern semi-intensive system” based on livestock fattening in which the livestock is stall-fed with feed concentrate and crop residues. During the survey, village households were asked to describe their practices and to quantify biomass and nitrogen (N) flows to enable us to calculate sustainability indicators (productivity, balance, efficiency, dependency, profitability) at plot, household and village terroir levels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSAt village terroir level, introducing livestock fattening increased the livestock stocking rate (0.96 TLU ha-1 in Diohine and 2.31 TLU ha-1 in Barry) and spreading of solid manure on crop fields (respectively 337 and 482 kgDM ha-1). Fattening livestock requires large imports of feed concentrate, 23.67 kgN ha-1 in Barry versus 3.39 kgN ha-1 in Diohine. The improved livestock productivity of fattening (+217 kgLW ha-1) produces higher financial returns (+432€ household-1 year-1) that enable the use of more mineral fertilizers (6.28 kgN ha-1 in Barry versus 1.09 kgN ha-1 in Diohine). The additional N inputs in Barry enable increased yields of the main staple crop (millet) (+101 kgDM ha-1). The population density of Barry village is +78% higher (320 capita km-2 in Barry versus 180 capita km-2 in Diohine). The village nitrogen balance (24.88 kgN ha-1 in Barry versus 8.51 kgN ha-1 in Diohine) and N use efficiencies (respectively 0.64 and 0.15) demonstrate that nutrient cycling and soil fertility management are more sustainable in Barry. SIGNIFICANCEWe propose a methodology to rebuild territorial metabolism from surveys. Territorial metabolism is used to calculate a set of multi-criteria sustainability indicators. This methodology will be particularly useful in sub-Saharan Africa where data on agricultural systems are lacking.

A radical proposal: Evidence-based SDG 4 discussions

The overarching assumption of SDG 4, that progress towards ‘quality education’ will lead to greater sustainability, is not rooted in evidence but instead in ideology. From the outset, a wider set of sustainability indicators (such as ecological footprint) were excluded, and even today, after a decade of work, there exists no indicator to capture ‘sustainability’. Instead SDG 4 discussions remain a mixed bag of routine monitoring of outcomes, advocacy for more funding, and banal policy recommendations. The development ‘specialists’ leading all of this have turned a blind eye to this obvious fact, and shown strikingly little willingness to think differently – a position that is intellectually irresponsible, politically unaccountable, and deeply unethical in the context of an accelerating climate crisis. The next 7 years should be refocused on highlighting alternatives and developing evidence for the post-2030 agenda.

Smart cities: practices and indicators adopted in Brazil

Rapid urban growth, with an increasing number of people moving to urban areas, demands effective strategies to address the resulting challenges, including issues related to transportation, housing, infrastructure, and quality of life. Evaluating the performance of these cities is crucial to understand how the measures they implement directly impact the well-being of their residents. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to examine specific practices related to performance and sustainability indicators used in smart cities in different regions of Brazil. To do so, the methodology involved the selection of a diverse group of cities from various regions of Brazil, the definition of a set of performance and sustainability indicators, and the collection of relevant data and information related to these indicators. Through this analysis, it was possible to identify best practices employed by cities that excelled in terms of performance and sustainability indicators. Lastly, areas in need of improvement were identified, and recommendations were formulated based on these findings.

From Single- to Multi-Family Public Housing: Analyzing Social Sustainability Aspects of Recent Designs in the UAE

The UAE’s federal and local governments initiated their public housing programs for Emirati citizens on low incomes to provide them with adequate basic services and to improve their living conditions. Until 2005, most of the public housing units were developed as single-family dwellings on ample plots, but, afterwards, the areas of the housing plots significantly decreased due to the growing demand for public housing associated with the increasing population and limited land availability. Recently, it has become increasingly difficult to provide single-family housing for all Emirati citizens who need public dwellings. To address this problem, the UAE has shifted towards the provision of multi-family housing. To this end, two pioneering vertical public housing projects have been developed: Diba Al Hosn in Sharjah and Al Ghurfa in Al Fujairah. While the designs of the two projects attempted to consider the requirements of the lifestyle of Emirati families, the degree of attaining the wider social sustainability considerations in the design of these projects has not been explored yet. To bridge this gap, this research first examined the essential social sustainability aspects that should be taken into consideration when designing multi-family housing in general. Then, the research compared the two multi-family local designs with some global case studies regarding the degree of achieving social sustainability aspects. The research ended with revealing the social sustainability-related shortcomings of the designs of recent multi-family public housing in the UAE and, hence, suggested an integrated set of social sustainability principles and indicators that, if appropriately applied, could help appropriately attain social sustainability aspects for Emirati’s vertical public housing.

Suitable municipalities for biomass energy use in Colombia based on a multicriteria analysis from a sustainable development perspective

Using renewable energies is a global strategy to mitigate the acceleration of global warming generated by industrial processes and is a sustainable way to diversify the energy matrix in all countries. Biomass is a renewable energy source that produces biofuels and generates electricity and heat. The primary purpose of this work is to identify the municipalities in Colombia where agricultural, livestock, and urban residual biomass could be suitable for energy generation in a sustainable and renewable way. To that end, we carried out a Geostatistical Multi-Criteria Decision Methodology using Analytical Hierarchy Processes such as Rank-Sum and Weighted Linear Combination, as well as considering a set of sustainable development indicators applied to official Colombian data. Two scenarios are considered for comparison purposes. The first one is according to expert criteria, and the second one considers The Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. Under both proposed scenarios, 127 municipalities were found to be suitable for agricultural-urban residual biomass and 162 for livestock-urban residual biomass for energy generation. One of the main limitations for the use of urban biomass is that municipalities need to have sufficient production potential to fulfill their own energy needs. An additional comparison with previous works to evaluate the performance of the Multi-Criteria Decision Methodologies MCDM is also proposed.

Methodology for the Formation of a Balanced Set of Sustainable Indicators for Assessing Regional Vocational Education

To assess the state of the regional vocational education system, the authors developed an open five-level assessment model, on the basis of which a set of studies was performed, including cluster and factor analysis. Based on the use of the main components method, a methodology for reducing the dimension of an array of indicators for subsequent clustering of regions is proposed.For the first time, the joint use of regression analysis and the method of main components for obtaining a stable set of indicators for assessing the regional vocational education system was proposed and tested.A relationship was found between the stability of the assessment model of the vocational education system and the directions of action of indicators, both within one indicator group and in different indicator groups.

Designing diversified crop rotations to advance sustainability: A method and an application

Diversified crop rotations are considered key to solving sustainability issues with modern farming but trade-offs often occur among different sustainability objectives. It remains a challenge to design rotations that reach compromises across multiple sustainability domains. Here we propose a methodological framework for systematic design of compromise rotations in terms of a set of sustainability indicators, which for the first time combines a rotation generator model (ROTAT), Pareto-based decision-aid tools, and a multi-criteria characterization process. We exemplify this framework by exploring promising diversified rotations in terms of 11 sustainability indicators for Quzhou, a typical cereal-growing county in the North China Plain. ROTAT generated 3011 agronomically feasible rotations but none of them outperformed the currently dominant wheat-maize system in all indicators. Then 125 rotations (4 %) were selected as compromise rotations using the Pareto-based decision-aid methods. Finally, these compromise rotations were divided into eight clusters representing contrasting sustainability patterns, including two profitability-oriented, two nutrition-oriented, and two environment-oriented clusters, as well as two clusters that achieved balance across sustainability domains. We conclude that no single alternative rotation can solve all conflicting sustainability issues, but compromise alternatives could serve diverse stakeholder demands and provide well-planned options for future agricultural landscapes. The crop rotation design method showcased here could also be used in other specialized agricultural regions to inform stakeholders and policy-makers about possibilities and trade-offs when improving sustainability of crop production.

Estimating agricultural water productivity using remote sensing derived data

AbstractThe 2030 Agenda aims at ending extreme poverty, inequality, injustice and climate change. Progress is evaluated through a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets and indicators. However, there are various challenges affecting regular and timely reporting. Remote sensing (RS) derived data has been shown to provide a valuable complementary data source in reporting SDGs. This study focuses on how RS derived data could support SDG 6 related to water, and in particular SDG indicator 6.4.1 - change in Water Use Efficiency (WUE) over time presented in USD per m3 of water withdrawn. Although water withdrawals cannot be monitored through RS, water use in agriculture, globally withdrawing the largest amount of water, can be monitored through RS based evapotranspiration.Two approaches were modelled to compute the progress of SDG 6.4.1 in the agricultural sector. The first approach uses the standard equation of SDG 6.4.1, replacing water withdrawal with blue evapotranspiration in the irrigation sector. The second approach distributes the gross value added to the gross domestic product by irrigated agriculture according to the land productivity in irrigated agriculture as observed by RS. The results of these two approaches were compared to the standard way SDG 6.4.1 is calculated. The analyses were carried out for Lebanon, which faces critical water challenges while experiencing a difficult economic and political situation.The results for Lebanon show that the different approaches to estimate Awp show similar trends as Awe, initially showing an increasing trend followed by a sharp decline in 2019 due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country. However, the absolute values differ substantially, largely due to discrepancies between the estimated irrigated area from RS data and the static data reported in AQUASTAT. The results illustrate the spatial variability of Awp in Lebanon, with the area that contributes significantly to the agricultural production nationally (Bekaa and Baalbek) shows lower land and water productivity compared to irrigated areas in other governorates. The contribution of agriculture to the overall SDG 6.4.1 indicator was relatively small, although agriculture is a major consumer of water.

The contribution of green public food procurement to sustainability: evidence from two case studies in Spain

ABSTRACT Green Public Food Procurement (GPFP) has revealed itself to be an ally for achieving ecological transition objectives, however there is little work attempting to assess its contribution. This work proposes a set of sustainability and health indicators that comprise a tool able to evaluate the performance of GPFP. A Delphi analysis and a participatory process is used to determine Key Performance Indicators that have been tested through two case studies in Spain. The results obtained show that the presence of short marketing circuits and food sovereignty and institutions rooted in the territory contribute to improved economic sustainability and good performance in terms of health. However, for environmental issues the performance is somewhat lacking, as instruments such as renewable energies and the circular economy are not implemented on a local scale. Elements linked to territorial cohesion and social capital are key for the principles of social and labor justice, as well as governance, to prevail. The Mediterranean diet integral to the case studies presented results in adequate health indicators. These types of indicators would be a useful tool for introducing sustainable food certification as a driving force for changing the food model.

A framework to identify and prioritise the key sustainability indicators: Assessment of heating systems in the built environment

Sustainability indicators (SIs) are important instruments to quantify, analyse, and communicate complex sustainability information, with a history of application in energy research. It is critical to identify an effective set of indicators which can holistically evaluate the energy systems encompassing the three facets of sustainability: environment, economy, and society. However, the literature has been lacking in either proportionally representing the sustainability dimensions or reflecting the stakeholders’ preferences. This paper develops a framework to identify and prioritise a set of SIs, critically reviewed to ensure reflection of a wide array of factors and conceptions of what sustainability entails. The developed framework utilises a series of methods within three phases: identification, refinement, and prioritisation. Applying the proposed framework to building heating technologies, a set of 22 SIs consisting of 4 economic, 8 environmental, and 10 social indicators were identified. According to the results, the economic indicators of Operation & Maintenance Cost and Net Present Value were found to be the most impactful factors, while environmental SIs contribute the most to the overall sustainability weight. The identified indicators apply to the assessment of heating systems and policies, and the proposed framework could more broadly support analysis of key sustainability criteria in various fields.

Smallholder oil palm plantation sustainability assessment using multi-criteria analysis and unmanned aerial vehicles

Oil palm agriculture has caused extensive land cover and land use changes that have adversely affected tropical landscapes and ecosystems. However, monitoring and assessment of oil palm plantation areas to support sustainable management is costly and labour-intensive. This study used an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to map smallholder farms and applied multi-criteria analysis to data generated from orthomosaics, to provide a set of sustainability indicators for the farms. Images were acquired from a UAV, with structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry then used to produce orthomosaics and digital elevation models of the farm areas. Some of the inherent problems using high spatial resolution imagery for land cover classification were overcome by using texture analysis and geographic object-based image analysis (OBIA). Six spatially explicit environmental metrics were developed using multi-criteria analysis and used to generate sustainability indicator layers from the UAV data. The SfM and OBIA approach provided an accurate, high-resolution (~5 cm) image-based reconstruction of smallholder farm landscapes, with an overall classification accuracy of 89%. The multi-criteria analysis highlighted areas with lower sustainability values, which should be considered targets for adoption of sustainable management practices. The results of this work suggest that UAVs are a cost-effective tool for sustainability assessments of oil palm plantations, but there remains the need to plan surveys and image processing workflows carefully. Future work can build on our proposed approach, including the use of additional and/or alternative indicators developed through consultation with the oil palm industry stakeholders, to support certification schemes such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

The Development of a Life-Cycle-Based Sustainability Index That Incorporates Patient-Centredness for Assessing and Reporting the Sustainability of Healthcare Buildings in Saudi Arabia

This study aims to develop and test a life-cycle-based sustainability index that incorporates patient-centredness for assessing and reporting the sustainability of healthcare buildings in Saudi Arabia. The research strategy follows a triangulation method approach to meet the objective of this research. Semi-structured interviews were initially employed in developing sustainable healthcare building indicators based on a previously conducted literature review that explored sustainable building in Saudi Arabia. Then, a scoping review protocol including the Delphi technique was used to develop patient-centredness care, PCC, indicators. Questionnaire surveys were also employed in data collection for industry investigation and patient involvement. Lastly, case study practice tests were conducted involving a specialised hospital and a pre-occupant hospital for indicator verification. A set of sustainability indicators were developed to assess and report the sustainability performance of healthcare buildings. Patient-centredness indicators were also developed and incorporated into the resulting index. A case study practice test was conducted to confirm the feasibility of all final resulting indicators. The research study contributes towards a holistic approach to assess and report sustainability in healthcare buildings incorporating patient-centredness. The objectives of the research include (1) the development of sustainable healthcare indicators (primary indicators); (2) the development of patient-centredness indicators (secondary indicators); and (3) indicator practice tests for validation. The resulting index could be implemented to assess and report sustainability in healthcare buildings, and it could be a pivotal step to shift to sustainable patient-centred healthcare buildings in Saudi Arabia.

Set of sustainability indicators for the dairy industry.

The Brazilian dairy industry is socially and economically relevant but requires care regarding the prevention of the environmental impact, and a set of indicators to evaluate the level of sustainability of such industries has not yet been yet defined and consolidated both in practice and in the literature. In this context, this study aims to select a set of sustainability indicators for small and medium-sized Brazilian dairy industries. The selection of the set of sustainability indicators was conducted using a top-down approach (based on the Global Reporting Initiative document) and a bottom-up approach (participatory process by questionnaire in the dairy industry). The questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale of a general set of indicators, resulting from the top-down approach, was answered by 238 respondents linked to the dairy industry in Brazil to determine the importance of each indicator in this type of industry. The main results reveal that a set of 28 sustainability indicators (environmental = 13, social = 9, and economic = 6) was selected for use in small and medium-sized Brazilian dairy industries. This set of indicators fills the existing gaps in the literature about being specific for the small and medium-sized dairy industries in Brazil, mutually covers the dimensions of the triple bottom-line, applicable in multiple departments of the dairy industry, and the selection took place through a participatory process of professionals linked to the dairy industry.

Sustainability Assessment in Social Housing Environments: An Inclusive Indicators Selection in Colombian Post-Pandemic Cities

The use of indicators for sustainability assessment in the urban planning process is a widely used approach. With the definition of the Agenda 2030 and the role of cities in achieving sustainable development goals, much work has been devoted to the definition of evaluation frameworks and indicators to assess policies and plans and support decision-making in the transition to sustainable urban environments. Therefore, there is currently a wide range of indicator frameworks for the sustainability assessment of human settlements. However, considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban sustainability paradigm, the need to reassess the relevance of existing assessment frameworks in the post-pandemic context has been highlighted. Thus, this article aims to illustrate a selection of indicators to evaluate urban sustainability in developing countries’ post-pandemic contexts, using Colombia as a case study. This work comprises the characterization of the post-pandemic relevance of a set of sustainability indicators through the participation of stakeholders associated with the development process of social housing in urban environments in Colombia. Within a Delphi process, the initial indicators were taken from local and international sustainability frameworks validated before the pandemic. Further, a final selection was made through the evaluation of a survey from a sample of 45 stakeholders, and different participatory mechanisms with experts. These results acknowledged the relevance of factors, such as atmospheric conditions, risk management, the performance of public transport systems, and the availability and accessibility to key services, in the achievement of urban sustainability. These results will support the sustainability assessment of the development of post-pandemic recovery policies in Colombia and serve as a reference for other contexts in developing countries.

Новый подход к исследованию влияния компаний на региональное устойчивое развитие: кейс Якутии

This paper is based on the proposed hypothesis: the activities of a company (especially a large, backbone company) in the social, environmental and economic spheres have a corresponding impact on certain aspects of the sustainable development of the region. The goal of the study is to prove this relationship at a conceptual level using indicators of sustainable development applied at different levels of socio-economic systems. The paper addresses a relevant gap in the literature: the absence of frameworks allowing the assessment of the interactions and intendancies between levels. To do this, the literature on this issue was studied and it was proved that there were no studies with a similar framework. The study draws on the systems of sustainable development indicators, suggested in literature and used for the assessment of sustainable development at the regional and company’s level and proposes a framework to integrate them. For that it uses the classical balance scorecard (BSC) tools — the strategic maps both for a region and a company. The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in Russian Federation and public joint stock company “ALROSA” were chosen as the basic object of research at the regional and corporate level, respectively. The built strategic maps reflect the decomposition of the main strategic goal and contain an interdependent set of sustainable development indicators for each level, which can be used to assess and monitor the results of the relevant strategies. Then, a new conceptual framework reflecting the impact of the l company’s activities on the sustainable development of the region is proposed. The framework includes the performance indicators of the company and the region by three dimensions of sustainable development — environmental, social, and economic. On the basis of the conceptual scheme of the relationship, it is possible in the future to build econometric models based on the proposed indicators. The identified quantitative assessments in this case will make it possible to make strategic management decisions that will maximize the positive effect of the implementation of the sustainable development strategy in the region using the potential of companies.