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Methodological Problems in Evaluating Sustainability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Christopher R. Cocklin
Christopher R. Cocklin
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Extract

To embody the concept of sustainability in environmental management and development planning has latterly become recognized internationally as a priority for the future. Governments in many countries have consequently dedicated substantial funds to the task of defining planning and management strategies that are sustainable. Somewhat surprisingly, however, there has been very little attention given so far to establishing appropriate frameworks within which to evaluate the implications of planning and policy alternatives for sustainability.

One of the most important questions to be addressed in evaluation exercises relates to the conflicts among different systems – economic, social, and biophysical – that may be realized in pursuing development options that may be sustainable. It is also important to establish whether the pursuit of sustainability may compromise the capability to fulfil other important societal goals and objectives. If the potential for these various conflicts can be discerned, then it may also be possible to identify development strategies that minimize conflict, while simultaneously achieving sustainability.

Information

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , Winter 1989 , pp. 343 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1989

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