Transcript Using Values and Policy to Prioritize Indicators of Sustainability

USING VALUES AND POLICY
TO PRIORITIZE INDICATORS
OF SUSTAINABILITY
Deborah J. Shields
USDA Forest Service - Research
Many of the social, economic and
environmental problems we face
today have the following attributes:
interconnectedness, complexity,
urgency, and a high degree of
uncertainty.
The Sustainable Development
paradigm is a useful approach for
addressing such problems because it
views systems as open, dynamic and
integrated.
The goals of SD, economic
prosperity, environmental health, and
social equity are general enough to
allow for multiple interpretations
and perspectives.
Sustainability is not science; it is an
ethical precept or moral position.
And morals combined with
preferences and ideas lead to values.
Sustainability is also a policy
concept in and of itself, and
decisions in support of SD should be
based on good information.
But given finite resources, we
cannot measure, monitor and report
on everything.
An initial core set of indicators can
be identified through the use of
values, objectives, and public policy
goal as filters.
VALUES HIERARCHY
Abstract Values
Held Values
Terminal Held Values
Instrumental Held Values
Assigned Value
OBJECTIVES HIERARCHIES
Strategic Objectives
End State Fundamental Objectives
Means Fundamental Objectives
Attributes
Measures
Values should guide public policies
and actions.
Identification of
objectives and
interests
Review and adaptation
Definition of policy
Monitoring
Codification of policy
in laws and acts
Establishment of a
regulatory framework
Sustainability can be thought of in
terms of goals, principles, criteria and
indicators.
The overarching, strategic Goal is sustainability.
A Principle is a fundamental truth, law or ideal that
can be used as the basis of reasoning or action.
Criteria describe what it means to be sustainable.
They represent aspects of a system.
An Indicator is a qualitative or quantitative
parameter of a system that can be assessed in
relation to the criteria.
Indices
Indicators
Analyzed Data
Primary Data
Indicators for
the Public
Increasing
Condensation
of Data
Indicators for
Policy Makers
Indicators for
Scientists
Total Quantity of Information
Values
Abstract V.
VOB
Policy
SD
Assumed
Assumed
Assumed
Contextual THV
Assumed
Assumed
Contextual IHV
Assumed
Assumed
Strategic Obj.
Policy
SD Goals
End State Obj.
Laws
Principles
Means Obj.
Laws
Attributes
Regulations
Criteria
Measures
Monitoring
Indicators
THV
IHV
Assigned V.