Key Message
IISD contributes to the sustainability transition by helping societies define, chart, assess and ultimately navigate the way forward.
Team
 | · László Pintér Director - Measurement and Assessment | |
 | · Charles Thrift Research Assistant | |
 | · Christa Rust Project Manager | |
| · Cory Searcy Associate | |
 | · Dale S. Rothman Associate | |
 | · Darren A. Swanson Senior Project Manager | |
 | · Graham Ashford Associate | |
 | · Jane Barr Associate | |
| · Jim Perry Associate | |
 | · Livia Bizikova Project Officer | |
 | · Mark Anielski Associate | |
 | · Peter Hardi Associate | |
 | · Richard Grosshans Project Officer | |
| · Sheldon McLeod Associate | |
| · Dan Rubenstein Associate | |
Measurement and Assessment
Navigating the sustainability transition
What's New in Measurement and Assessment?
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Challenges and Lessons Learned from Integrated Landscape Management Projects (PDF - 769 kb)
There are growing concerns about local and regional ecosystems and their vulnerability in relation to human activities. This case study evaluates 10 Integrated Land Management (ILM) projects from Canada, the U.S. and Europe to provide information that will help promote better awareness of potential environmental and cumulative impacts due to development priorities and choices. ILM builds on a spectrum of approaches including integrated resource management, integrated watershed management, comprehensive regional land use planning and ecosystem-based management. The study found that ILM approaches could provide significant benefits for local and regional decision-makers by helping them understand the linkages between environment and humans, and by providing opportunities to explore potential future development pathways and policies. -
Conference paper written for the Aboriginal Policy Research Conference Ottawa (March 2009) Measuring Progress, Strengthening Governance and Promoting Positive Change: Developing sustainability indicators with Winnipeg’s urban First Nations community
(PDF - 373 kb)
Developing sustainability indicators with Winnipeg's urban First Nations community -
Environmental Assessment and Saskatchewan's First Nations: A Resource Handbook
(PDF - 1.5 mb)
The resource handbook is the first output of this project and is intended to provide an overview on environmental assessment and be a helpful resource for communities. The document was developed based on needs identified by community leaders and resource personnel. The goal of the resource handbook is to improve basic understandings of environmental assessment, identify how communities can be involved and where resources can be accessed. Published in July 2008. -
Developing a Sustainability Indicators System to Measure the Well-being of Winnipeg's First Nations Community: Framework Development and the Community Engagement Process (Preliminary Report) (PDF - 980 kb) is the second output of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs/IISD joint project to develop a sustainability indicators system for Winnipeg's First Nations community. The document describes indicator framework selection, project methodology and the information collected throughout the community engagement process. Published in July 2008.
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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Concepts and Principles
IISD contributes to international discourse on sustainability measurement; integrated assessment for sustainable development; and sustainable development strategies. Through theoretical and applied research, we identify and clarify critical dimensions of the sustainability transition. -
Applying our Knowledge
Our research emphasizes the importance of linking measurement and assessment work to decision-making and policy-making. We apply our knowledge by partnering with organizations operating in multiple scales and sectors to develop, test and communicate the assessments, their methods and processes in real-life settings. -
Learning Tools
IISD helps to build capacity among practitioners for more effective and widespread use of high-quality tools and processes for navigating the path to sustainability. We build capacity in the areas of indicator system development; integrated assessment and reporting; and sustainable development strategies and integrated planning. -
Connecting with Practitioners
IISD also works to strengthen the indicator practitioner community and facilitate institutional opportunities for learning and collaboration in the field at all levels. We make information available on who is doing what in the indicator field, host a discussion forum for leading Canadian indicator experts and support the growth of relevant professional organizations.
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
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Foreign Investment for SD
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Information Society
- International Trade
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Security
- Sustainable Markets
- Tomorrow's SD Leaders
» Initiatives
