A conceptual, theoretical and methodological framework for ISA – WP 1
Overview
The overall objective of WP 1 is to define the overarching conceptual, theoretical, and analytical paradigm to be used in MATISSE for the development of ISA and thereby provide focus and secure consistency within the consortium and contribute to guiding the science and practice of ISA development more generally. The framework will be used by all the MATISSE case studies and in the development of improved and new ISA tools for policy assessment and transition management.
It will explore what is implied by the term 'integrated assessment' vis-à-vis assessing the multiple dimensions of sustainability in an integrated fashion, assessing individual policies and policy combinations for their compatibility with sustainability goals and with each other and assisting in the design of integrated sustainability policies.
Activities
MATISSE starts from a set of concepts, working definitions, assumptions and hypotheses, which are being refined and revised during the first phase of the project. An adaptive management approach based upon establishing a continuing consortium-wide dialogue is being used. Methods used to inform the dialogue include: reviews of the relevant literatures; discussions within the communities of ISA developers, commissioners and users; state-of-the-art reviews of available theories, concepts, tools and methods that could contribute to ISA; role/need/gap analyses; conceptual modelling of important causal relationships and impact pathways that must be reflected in the architecture of an ISA; liasing with other Framework 6 projects; and, the development of reference principles and criteria for ISA development, implementation and evaluation.
Discourse and systemic synthesis on sustainability and its assessment
The approach involves an operational and theoretical discourse and systemic synthesis on sustainability, and its critical subsystems, components and interrelationships in relation to sustainability assessment of policies, programmes and other drivers of (un)sustainable developments.
Definition of integrated sustainability assessment
The work involves a theoretically-based analysis of sustainability assessment concepts covering domains of application, functions/roles, scope, tools/methods and processes, etc.
Establish a vision for ISA and related development requirements
The work is focussed on the role of ISA in exploring solutions to persistent problems of unsustainable development. It explores what might theoretically constitute ISA in Europe, including the potential relation to the sustainability strategy of the EU.
Products
- An operational vision of sustainability in relation to integrated assessment
of policy and non-policy drivers and developments in systems of interest.
- Theoretically-founded definitions and typologies of sustainability assessment.
Benchmarks and evaluation concepts for these based on uses, applications,
and “fitness for purpose” criteria.
- A normative vision of the potential of ISA in relation to sustainability
assessment in Europe; principles, requirements and criteria for ISA development
in order to fulfil this potential
This work package liaises with related Framework 6 projects on sustainability indicators/thresholds, the internalisation of externalised costs and risk handling so that insights from these projects are integrated smoothly and consistently in MATISSE.
Research team for WP 1
WolfsonResearch Institute, University of Durham
Inst. ofEnvironmental Science and Technology, A. University of Barcelona
TyndallCentre & CSERGE, University of East Anglia, Norwich
StockholmEnvironment Institute (SEI), Stockholm
Contact: Paul Weaver, University of Durham pweaver@noos.fr