SDAG

Is it possible to measure sustainable development?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Gaps, Adoption, Heart, Department, Poverty, World Commission on Protected Areas, Partnership, SDG, Industry, SDAG, United Nations, Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Tourism, Organization, Brundtland Commission, PSPP, Canada Research Chair in International Political Economy, Aluminium, Education 2030 Agenda, Indigenous peoples, Research, International Organization (journal), History, Strategic planning, Forest, Sustainable Development Goals, Forestry, Climate change, SDGT, Time, United, Agenda 21, Brundtland, Ecology, Ecosystem, Environment, UQAC, SSA, Ownership, Conference, SD, Chair, Silviculture, Satellite navigation device, Risk management, Transport, Agenda

Is it possible to measure sustainable development?

Key Points: 
  • Is it possible to measure sustainable development?
  • Can we go beyond just embracing virtuous principles and actually apply the concept in a concrete manner?
  • We will try to shed some light on these issues in our work as researchers in the Chair in eco-advising (Chaire en éco-conseil).

SD: yesterday, today and tomorrow

    • Finding a balance between meeting human needs and respecting the limits of the environment has been a perennial challenge in the history of humanity.
    • Development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
    • This led to the adoption in 2015 of the 2030 Agenda, a global reference framework for SD.
    • It is a universal call to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives of all people everywhere.

Tools for implementing SD

    • Implementing SD cannot be done without applying a systemic approach.
    • The Systemic Sustainability Analysis (SSA) puts into perspective the multiple dimensions of SD, the synergies and antagonisms and the means used to achieve them.
    • The Sustainable Development Analysis Grid (SDAG) and the SDG Target Prioritization Grid (SDGT-PG) are the two main tools of the SSA.
    • Since 2017, SDAG is among the tools available at the United Nations for mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda’s SDGs.
    • It aims to guide SD policies, strategies, programs or projects (PSPPs) in order to improve their gaps and/or characterize their progress.

So…can SD be measured?


    …Yes, it is possible, but in a framework where SD is applied dynamically over time and using a pragmatic and systemic approach with measurable indicators, as do the SDAG and SDGT-PG. Patrick Faubert has received funding from Mitacs, MAPAQ, MFFP, etc.