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.

Id en tifica tio n o fo b jec tiv es an d

in te re s ts

E s tab lish m en t o f areg u la to ry fram ew o rk

D efin itio n o f p o licyR ev iew an d ad ap ta tio n

C o d ifica tio n o f p o licyin law s an d ac ts

M o n ito rin g

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.

 

Indicators

Analyzed Data

Primary Data

Indices 

  Indicators forthe Public

Indicators forPolicy Makers

Indicators forScientists

Total Quantity of Information

Increasing Condensationof Data

 

Values VOB Policy SD  Abstract V. Assumed Assumed Assumed

THV Contextual THV Assumed Assumed

IHV Contextual IHV Assumed Assumed

  Strategic Obj. Policy SD Goals 

End State Obj. Laws Principles 

Means Obj. Laws 

Attributes Regulations Criteria

Measures Monitoring Indicators Assigned V.