Methods, Tools, Indexes and Frameworks in Sustainability Assessment

Dear Colleagues,

The definition of the term “sustainability” indicates a balance between social, environmental and economic aspects, which contributes to the fact that the concept is based on multidisciplinary foundations. Therefore, it can be evaluated using special methods and tools of assessing sustainable development. This fact is confirmed in the literature on this subject, which identifies a set of different approaches toward achieving and measuring balance.

Many existing global, international, national, regional, and local strategies incorporate this important sustainability aspect in terms of the goals and tasks set out in the strategy. Ensuring the correct identification and development of activities has a major impact on achieving continuous long-term improvement in sustainability. Furthermore, its progress should be constantly monitored to ensure adequate quality levels. Consequently, an assessment using dedicated sustainability measurement approaches is essential. In general, these approaches aim to assess, support, or measure the level of sustainability. The growing importance of sustainability, as well as the public awareness of this fact, have motivated scientists to create comprehensive solutions consolidating indicators, measures, framework, and indicators. The existing number of different approaches and their dedicated nature limit the scope of practical application, which makes the task of assessing sustainability difficult. On the other hand, the constant development of the sustainability domain leads to the necessity of their continuous extension and revision.

A review of the state-of-the-art in the scope of sustainability assessment approaches clearly indicates distinguishable shortcomings of the existing methodical tools and solutions. The large range of practical possibilities of quantitative methods (e.g., taxonomic methods, structural equations, statistical methods, or multicriteria decision analyses methods) creates the potential for both creating new and also advancing existing approaches for sustainable assessment. Therefore, the accuracy of model mapping can be increased, and additional practical and analytic possibilities can be provided. Machine learning in pattern extraction and clustering of the investigated sustainability objects are other potentially promising areas.

All in all, this Special Issue invites contributions on the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods in sustainability assessment problems. Naturally, the subject of assessment covers a wide range of initiatives, such as policies and plans, programs, projects, legal acts, specific practices, as well as emergent areas of sustainability such as digital or financial sustainability. Research focused on assessment theories and practical approaches at various levels of sustainability (global, national, sectoral, regional, enterprise, project, processes, and product) are especially appreciated. 

Prof. Dr. Jaroslaw Watrobski
Guest Editor

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• sustainability assessment
• methods
• tools
• indexes
• frameworks
• quantitative and qualitative methods in sustainability assessment