Sustainability assessment : a review of values, concepts, and methodological approaches
Becker, Barbara
Since "sustainable development" became the catchword in international discussions, several approaches to sustainability assessment have been developed. This paper helps clarify the conceptual background and the implications for the prevalent sustainability paradigm. The terminology is analyzed to reveal underlying normative philosophical and political perceptions and intentions. To present the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability assessment, a conceptual framework is proposed that is covered by the disciplines of ecology, economics, and social sciences. All these disciplines are embedded in the policy environment of a society and reflect its underlying ethical and cultural values. Relating the different approaches to sustainability assessment across disciplines and against the background of the conceptual framework allows us to appraise their relative potentials and limitations. A space and time matrix presents the scale and scope of the different methodologies used for sustainability assessment. The constraints to scientific operationalization of sustainability and to its translation into policy measures, which are revealed by this reference system, highlight the necessity for continued integrated systems research.
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