Measuring sustainability : theory and experience from the Mediterranean

Abstract

The rhetoric of sustainable development has become a prominent feature of political discourses in recent times, both in the Mediterranean Basin and elsewhere. However, there is much skepticism over actual implementation of sustainable development. Several decision-making tools have been developed to provide a yardstick of the practice of sustainable development. Sustainability indicators are increasingly recognized as an important tool in this regard. The use of indicators to measure the environmental, economic and social facets of sustainable development has fostered an intense debate on what actually constitutes sustainability, and concerning the scales of analysis that we should adopt. Moreover, the use of such indicators highlights the methodological difficulties of measuring quality of life. Quantitative approaches have traditionally been valued for their rigor and amenability to statistical analysis, but several aspects of sustainability are not easily rendered in numerical terms, and hence the development of sustainability indicators often brings together a variety of scientific techniques from both the physical and social sciences. This book brings together a collection of essays recounting experiences with sustainability indicators in a variety of conceptual and geographical contexts. Sustainability indicators can be applied in various ways for different themes, and as is evident from the readings in this book, practices vary widely. Whilst the views of the individual authors may not necessarily find agreement with all readers, this collection is intended to foster critical thinking of the ways in which sustainability indicators have been developed and applied. Such an exercise enables a judicious evaluation of the success of strategies and techniques to date, and the formulation of guidance for desired future developments.