Sustainability Indicators: Relevance, Public Policy Support and Challenges

Batalhão, André Cavalcante da Silva; Teixeira, Denílson; Martins, Maria de Fátima; Bellen, Hans Michael van; Caldana, Adriana Cristina Ferreira

doi:10.5539/jms.v9n2p173

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Measuring sustainability topics is both challenging and important for better decision-making concerning policies, programs, projects, and actions related to sustainability (Batalhao et al, 2019). Among other things, it is necessary that the understanding of the sustainability scope one wishes to measure is clear (Cetrulo et al, 2018), especially for estimating future impacts of policies , thereby better addressing managerial choices.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Knowledge Development in Manufacturing Sustainability

Beccarello¹,

Foggia²

2023

JSD

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The propensity of industrial firms to build sustainability strategies based on knowledge development is an incentive for strategies driven by environmental, social, and economic criteria. However, although firms are increasingly committed to sustainability, poor engagement may lead to strategic drifts. Energy efficiency is one of the most important targets in industrial firms for reducing emissions primarily generated directly by the firm—emissions that are created by generating electricity or heat needed by firms. We focus on energy efficiency, which—along with technological advancement—is the most critical factor in industrial decarbonization and is a pathway for improving economic competitiveness and sustainability. Advances in technological innovation and stakeholders’ requirements provide a range of reasons for achieving environmental benefits. In our view, the outcomes of environmental strategies are influenced by the commitment of firms to sustainable business and their propensity for R&D. Our results show that 44.1% of firms claim to have an investment plan for energy efficiency. This percentage rises to 65% for firms investing more than 4% of their turnover in R&D. A similar trend can be noticed for investments in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics, in which 83.3% of the firms claim to have an investment plan of 4% of their turnover. We argue that ESG strategies require competencies and capability building among employees to be successful; otherwise, the risk of strategic drifts increases.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Knowledge Development in Manufacturing Sustainability

Beccarello¹,

Foggia²

2023

JSD

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“…Given the recognized importance of frameworks and conceptualization patterns to understand circularity in an integrated way (Cohen & Muñoz, 2015;Paiho et al, 2020;Papageorgiou et al, 2021), the importance of variables and measures to assess the performance of cities concerning circularity and SDGs has recently gained momentum (Cetrulo et al, 2018;Haitsma Mulier et al, 2022;Kutty et al, 2022). No exception for policy implications (Batalhao et al, 2019;Ghiglione & Larbi, 2015;Sufiyan, 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Circularity Mapping Framework for Urban Policymaking

Beccarello¹,

Foggia²

2022

JPL

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In the context of urban policies, the circular economy can represent a virtuous model of sustainable and efficient management of resources and services for citizens, generating value for the community. Local policymakers play a central role in accelerating the circular economy transition, given that they organize and manage services that can significantly contribute to urban resilience. For policies to be properly designed, tools aimed at supporting territorial planning are needed to direct local policy towards choices that favor the circular economy and the resilience of cities. Among these urban planning tools, it is particularly important to have dashboards of comparative data on the degree of implementation of the circular economy. This paper provides a circularity mapping framework to map the degree of circularity and identify cities' strengths and weaknesses to design policies accordingly using a data-driven approach. Using a circular economy model based on 5 circular economy pillars, we identified 28 variables and assigned them to each of the pillars according to the variable's scope: sustainable inputs, social sharing, Product as a service, environmental policies, and resource efficiency. Both partial scores based on the five circular economy pillars, and a circularity index are provided for benchmarking and positioning analysis. Since urban life's environmental, economic, and social aspects are intertwined, only an integrated strategy can result in successful urban sustainable development. The paper supports policymakers in creating the conditions for efficient production and consumption markets and resource management systems while designing incentives and communications to citizens to support bottom-up initiatives and encourage virtuous behavior.

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“…This study recognizes sustainable neighborhoods as spaces with multiple identities and actor interrelations. They are spaces produced through various overlapping stories (Logan and Molotch, 1987;Massey, 2005;Batalhão et al, 2019). Hence the assessment and indicators used to evaluate these neighborhoods need to be based on the expectations and use values of different actors.…”

Section: Sasbementioning

confidence: 99%

Including local actors' perspective in neighborhood sustainability assessment: evidence from Dubai's sustainable city

Dessouky

Wheeler

Salama

2023

SASBE

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PurposeExisting Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment (NSA) tools such as “Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design - Neighborhood Development” (LEED-ND) and “Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method” (BREEAM Communities) are widely criticized for a lack of transparency in the selection of indicators and an unbalanced focus on specific sustainability dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper asks how the expectations and use values of the professionals and residents involved in developing, designing, managing and living in a sustainable neighborhood can shape sustainability indicators that affect progress towards project goals. Taking as its focus The Sustainable City (TSC), a neighborhood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the paper develops data from in-depth, go-along interviews with 46 different actors.FindingsFindings indicate that when given the opportunity to express their opinion, many actors will prioritize metrics different than the metrics dictated to the by sustainability experts and international rating systems. The findings suggest that NSA tools should place greater emphasis on local factors, public engagement and operational concerns.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a method that any community can replicate to better understand the different use values of local actors and establish its own NSA tool. This can help experts learn how design, management and operational decisions interact to impact different dimensions of performance.Originality/valueThis paper recognizes sustainable neighborhoods as spaces with multiple identities. Hence, the indicators used to evaluate these neighborhoods need to be based on the expectations and use values of different actors. This paper proposes using the priorities of different local actors to reshape how these neighborhoods are assessed.

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Sustainability Indicators: Relevance, Public Policy Support and Challenges

Cited by 7 publications

References 67 publications

The Role of Knowledge Development in Manufacturing Sustainability

The Role of Knowledge Development in Manufacturing Sustainability

A Circularity Mapping Framework for Urban Policymaking

Including local actors' perspective in neighborhood sustainability assessment: evidence from Dubai's sustainable city

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