Social Sustainability Criteria Research Articles

Análise de sustentabilidade sócio-ambiental da CEASA/SC

The socio-environmental management is becoming increasingly necessary these days, since the satisfaction of human needs generates negative impact on the environment. That's why actions to prioritize sustainable development must be taken. This research aimed to verify the social and environmental sustainability, with the help of the State of Santa Catarina Supply Center (CEASA) accounting. This institution is located in San José, a city in the metropolitan Florianópolis, and supplies the region's market with fresh produce. The methodology used was descriptive and exploratory and it was especially based on bibliographical researches and on the 2009 interview with the institution's director. The methodological path was divided into three phases, the first "Theoretical Review", the second the "Case Study" based on the analysis by criteria of CEASA's social and environmental sustainability, with the help of SICOGEA, through which was applied a verification list. The third and last is the "Analysis of results", which found 74.28% as the result of the institution's Global Socio-Environmental Sustainability, considered adequate. A summarized plan of the environmental management - 5W2H (GAIA) was also proposed as an aid to the manager, with emphasis on the Environmental Accounting and Auditing Criteria, considered at a loss and of highest priority.

The problematic social dimension of sustainable development: the case of the Forest Stewardship Council

There is broad support worldwide for the concept of sustainable development and the integration of its three pillars: economic development, environmental protection and social development. Nevertheless, previous research shows substantial difficulties associated with fully incorporating and operationalising social sustainability features in various sectors. The present article aims to explore further the reasons why incorporation of social sustainability aspects appears to pose a challenge. The article has a twofold explorative aim. First, the aim is to identify opportunities/benefits or difficulties/detriments that emerge when actors try to incorporate social aspects into sustainability projects. Second, the article probes for explanations for the observed challenges. This is done by referring to a case study examining how the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has attempted to incorporate social sustainability goals, principles and criteria. Using qualitative interviews, FSC-related documents, participant observation, as well as previous research, the article examines the successes and challenges associated with including social sustainability features in the standards and certification process. Observed achievements and difficulties are highlighted in relation to four general aspects: (1) improvement of substantive social sustainability goals; (2) local organisation, empowerment and employment; (3) communication; and (4) small-scale and community-based forestry. The article suggests and analyses eight reasons for these challenges, which relate to discursive, structural or organisational aspects. The findings presented here may also be useful in attempts to understand other similar integrative transnational and/or local sustainability projects.

An Exploratory Study: Justice Tourism in Controversial Areas. The Case of Palestine

Justice tourism is emerging as a social phenomenon worthy of further critical examination and conceptualisation. Justice tourism can be described as a form of purposeful travel directly aiming to meet criteria of social, political and environmental sustainability. Although, many of the concepts falling under justice tourism have been around since the emergence of alternative tourism, it has only recently been accepted as a form in its own right and given a name. This research note explores what a justice tourist is, and addresses the question of whether justice tourism is an identifiable form of tourism activity in Palestine.

VALUE STABILITY IN LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKETS

Whenever real estate investments are considered in a more sustainable development framework, the issue is about finding the appropriate criteria of physical, social and economic sustainability. While this topic has business and social policy relevance, academic work on defining the relevant indicators is yet speculative, due to a shortage of standard definitions and relevant data. The general concept of economic sustainability of the property market comprises a variety of more particular measures. In order to design a valid methodology for assessment purposes, in this study a property value stability trend is determined for specific residential areas. This indicator is composed of property sales prices and the quality level of the existing stock in a given area. The findings from a selected demonstration of the development of price‐to‐quality ratios in an urban context have implications for further research as well as for practice. Santruka Intensyvejant pasaulines klimato kaitos darbotvarkei, investicijos i nekilnojamaji turta daugelyje miesto teritoriju jau traktuojamos atsižvelgiant i darnesne pletros sistema. Keliamas klausimas del fizines, socialines ir ekonomines investiciju darnos. Galimybe statyti naujus pastatus arba atnaujinti senus, šios veiklos igyvendinimo galimybes ir būtinybe priklauso nuo miesto rajono ir nuo paties miesto pobūdžio, nuo institucines sarangos ten, kur investuojama. Be to, svarbi būstuose gyvenančiu žmoniu gyvenimo kokybe ir ju kasdiene gyvenamoji aplinka. Nors ši tema aktuali verslui ir socialinei politikai, mokslinis darbas nustatant aktualius ekonominius, fizinius ir socialinius vertinimo kriterijus tebera spekuliatyvus, kai trūksta standartiniu apibrežimu ir reikiamu duomenu. Šiame straipsnyje aptariami keli būdingi klausimai ir siūlomos kelios perspektyvios veiklos kryptys su netiesioginiais siūlymais kurti tyrimu metodika, taip pat praktines kryptys.

Biofuels and sustainability

Interest in liquid biofuels production and use has increased worldwide as part of government policies to address the growing scarcity and riskiness of petroleum use, and, at least in theory, to help mitigate adverse global climate change. The existing biofuels markets are dominated by U.S. ethanol production based on cornstarch, Brazilian ethanol production based on sugarcane, and European biodiesel production based on rapeseed oil. Other promising efforts have included programs to shift toward the production and use of biofuels based on residues and waste materials from the agricultural and forestry sectors, and perennial grasses, such as switchgrass and miscanthus--so-called cellulosic ethanol. This article reviews these efforts and the recent literature in the context of ecological economics and sustainability science. Several common dimensions for sustainable biofuels are discussed: scale (resource assessment, land availability, and land use practices); efficiency (economic and energy); equity (geographic distribution of resources and the "food versus fuel" debate); socio-economic issues; and environmental effects and emissions. Recent proposals have been made for the development of sustainable biofuels criteria, culminating in standards released in Sweden in 2008 and a draft report from the international Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels. These criteria hold promise for accelerating a shift away from unsustainable biofuels based on grain, such as corn, and toward possible sustainable feedstock and production practices that may be able to meet a variety of social, economic, and environmental sustainability criteria.

Decentralized Micro-hydro Energy Systems in Nepal: En Route to Sustainable Energy Development

At present, 85 percent of Nepalese people live in remote areas with limited access to energy except fuel wood and other biomass for their energy source. This article examines the sustainable energy projects, considering socioeconomic conditions of the country. In this study, it is revealed that micro-hydro operations in remote/isolated areas are considered to be one of the most feasible options for energy development. It is demonstrated that micro-hydropower can bring energy services to the rural areas of the country as well as social changes through decentralization and community participation. This research also analyzed the sustainability of the micro-hydro project. It is found that the micro-hydro projects fulfil the technological, environmental, economic, and social sustainability criteria.

An appraisal of social aspects in project and technology life cycle management in the process industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce methods that have been developed to consider social sustainability aspects in the initial phases of projects in industry, i.e. in the design stage of technological systems, whereby a proactive approach in industry can be ensured. The inclusion of social aspects in both the sustainability debate and practice has been marginal compared with the focus on the other two dimensions of sustainable development, i.e. economic and environmental performances, especially from a business perspective. The tools that have focused on social business sustainability aspects have mainly addressed business sustainable development reporting, operational conditions, and product social life cycle assessments.Design/methodology/approachThe first method builds on a framework of social sustainability criteria that has been introduced for the South African process industry. A Social Impact Indicator (SII) calculation procedure has been developed based on a previously introduced Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) calculation procedure for environmental Resource Impact Indicators (RIIs). The second method applies questionnaires and checklists following more traditional risk approaches.FindingsInformation availability and standardisation of social criteria are problematic for quantitative approaches at present. It is therefore proposed that social sustainability should be incorporated into project and technology management methodologies in phases, commencing with the questionnaires and checklists. In future, the proposed indicator method can be implemented when information is more readily available.Originality/valueThe questionnaires and checklists provide practical means for project and technology developers to assess and communicate potential social risk associated with technological systems to decision‐makers.

Assessing social sustainability: social sustainability and its multicriteria assessment in a sustainability scenario for Germany

Social sustainability is a qualitative criterion, which has to be applied to different domains, i.e., the economy, society and the population. It is challenged by current political and economic developments. Based on a German study comprising discourse-derived narratives and extensive modelling, this paper demonstrates how the social sustainability of strategies for sustainable development can be evaluated. For this objective, a simplified form of 'horizontal', i.e., non-hierarchical, explorative Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) is applied. First, the social quality criteria developed by the project are used for the assessment, and secondly, criteria from the literature are applied to the same scenario. The MCA demonstrates that strategies exist, which combine economic and environmental success with social sustainability. The paper illustrates how policy impact can be assessed ex ante and subsequently be monitored. It furthermore demonstrates that - despite their rather divergent phrasing - the existing social sustainability criteria have enough in common to allow for a robust assessment.

Environmental and social impact considerations for sustainable project life cycle management in the process industry

Project management, as a recognized core business competency, must incorporate planning, execution and implementation procedures within a broader sustainability framework, i.e. internalizing the externalities of a project. Current project life cycle management (LCM) methodologies do not efficiently address the objectives of sustainable development, especially in developing countries such as South Africa. Social aspects are rarely considered, while environmental factors are typically only addressed by means of environmental impact assessments (EIAs). A procedure to improve the consideration of environmental aspects in project LCM is subsequently introduced for South Africa. The procedure is demonstrated by means of a case study in the process industry. A framework is further proposed of social sustainability criteria that are relevant to projects within the process industry. The acceptability of the framework to decision-makers in petrochemical companies is discussed. Case studies are further suggested to evaluate the practicability of measurable social impact indicators for project LCM. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.