Measuring sustainable development: Review of current practice

Abstract

This publication is one of a series of studies commissioned by Industry Canada to develop a sustainable development strategy for Industry Canada and to measure progress in achieving the strategy objectives. The primary goal is to review leading approaches to measuring sustainable development using measurement methods from projects currently underway and to highlight aspects of particular interest to those designing measurement systems. The standard concepts of sustainable development and measurement, including indicators as measurement tools are extensively reviewed. Practical examples of ongoing measurement work, including a worldwide survey of measurement projects and applied indicator sets that represent major trends of contemporary indicator work, are described and critiqued. The examples cited range from international cases through national and sub-national projects to projects by local authorities and corporate entities. Methodological problems encountered in these various projects are highlighted, and achievements and existing limitations of measurement programs are summarized. The relationship between measurement and the decision-making process is explored, and procedural guidance is given for selecting indicators and evaluation methods. 68 refs., 3 appendices.