Key Message
IISD contributes to the sustainability transition by helping societies define, chart, assess and ultimately navigate the way forward.
Team
 | · Henry David Venema Director - Natural and Social Capital | |
 | · Darren A. Swanson Deputy Director - Natural and Social Capital | |
 | · Dimple Roy Manager, Natural and Social Capital | |
 | · Mark Anielski Associate | |
 | · Stephan Barg Associate | |
 | · Jane Barr Associate | |
 | · Livia Bizikova Project Manager | |
 | · David B. Brooks Associate | |
| · Rosemary Dohan Research Assistant | |
 | · Richard Grosshans Associate | |
 | · Peter Hardi Associate | |
| · Richard Lawford Associate | |
 | · Matthew McCandless Project Manager | |
 | · Robert McLeman Associate | |
 | · Bryan Oborne Associate | |
 | · Jim Perry Associate | |
 | · László Pintér Senior Fellow and Associate | |
 | · Dale S. Rothman Associate | |
 | · Dan Rubenstein Associate | |
| · Aimee Russillo Associate | |
 | · Christa Rust Project Manager | |
| · Cory Searcy Associate | |
 | · Charles Thrift Project Manager | |
 | · Stephen Tyler Associate | |
 | · Vivek Voora Project Manager | |
 | · Karla Zubrycki Project Officer | |
| · Kyle Swystun Project Officer | |
| · Bishunarine Tulsie Associate | |
| · Xi Chen Research Assistant | |
Archives
Measurement and Assessment
Navigating the sustainability transition
What's New in Measurement and Assessment?
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Evaluation of Integrated Management Initiatives
This paper summarizes key definitions of the integrated place-based approaches applied in Canada and internationally, followed by an overview of key goals and targets of completed integrated place-based management (IPM) initiatives in order to better understand what constitutes success. We include an overview of currently applied monitoring approaches and indicators in the context of IPM initiatives. The paper concludes with suggestions for the potential future applications of monitoring frameworks and approaches, especially with regard to their ability to assist in the quality of the environment and their ability to measure long-term impacts of IPM projects. -
Scenario-Based Planning for a Changing Climate in the Bras d'Or Ecosystem (PDF - 1.2 MB)
Responding to climate change is becoming a necessity and communities can no longer afford to rely on policies that are based solely on past and current needs to protect them from the impacts of changing climate. On the other hand, developing policies that take into account the potential impacts of future climate without considering local needs, plans and long-term visions could challenge the implementation and effectiveness of such policies. Therefore, to be effective in adapting to climate change, we should try to look at impacts of climate change and needed responses in the context of other challenges and opportunities that regions are facing, and in this way account for synergies and trade-offs between climate change responses and other policies and measures.
This report presents outcomes of a January 2010 workshop in Sydney, NS, that investigated linkages between climate change and development priorities by using participatory scenario development approaches. The report also presents lessons learned about effective integration of climate model outcomes with stakeholder-driven process with a focus on policy development.
Navigating the sustainability transition requires good instruments that orient us and tell us where we are, where we may be headed and what our options are. There are instruments that can help set goals and targets, others can be used to monitor and report on progress, while some are useful in exploring alternative futures. All of them are essential for effective sustainable development strategies and adaptive management, and inform political discourse about economic, social and environmental goals.
IISD has been working to develop, enhance and apply measurement and assessment tools and processes for navigating the path to sustainable development since 1995. Our aim is to make significant local, national and international contributions, and to build the institute into a world centre of expertise in this field.
Contents
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Governance and Accountability
Our work is grounded in the understanding that tackling the core challenges associated with sustainable development will require the transformation of the structures, processes and accountability mechanisms associated with governance. Through our work on sustainable development strategies and strategic initiatives, we explore the factors that determine whether strategies help reach positive outcomes. -
Connecting Practitioners
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) supports the networking efforts of the practitioner community by making information available about who is doing what in the indicator field, hosting a discussion forum for leading indicator experts and helping grow relevant professional organizations. -
Tools for Evidence-based Decision-making
IISD's capacity-development work in the Measurement and Assessment program is focused on conceptual and methodological guidance, providing tools and a learning-by-doing style of assistance in developing strategies as well as assessment and reporting products. Our emphasis is on moving toward more policy-relevant sustainable development assessment, reporting and planning.
Key Publication
Sustainable Development Indicators: Proposals for the Way Forward
» László Pintér, Peter Hardi, Peter Bartelmus, IISD, 2005.Commissioned by the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development, IISD conducted a review of current trends in the development and use of SD indicators. "Sustainable Development Indicators: Proposals for the Way Forward" also offers strategic options for future indicator development. Among others, it recommends advancing a capital based approach to indicators and coordination of indicator efforts with underlying statistical systems, particularly the integrated System of Environmental and Economic Accounts (SEEA). More...
Our Knowledge
» Themes
- Adaptation and Risk Reduction
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Education, Learning and Leadership
- Environment, Conflict and Peacebuilding
- Gender Equity
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Internet and Technology
- International Trade
- Investment and Sustainable Development
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Sustainable Markets
» Initiatives
- Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
- The Sustainable Commodity Initiative (SCI)
- Sustainability Leadership Innovation Centre (SLIC)
- Water Innovation Centre (WIC)
