Support for Sustainable Development Policy Decisions A Case Study from Highway Maintenance |
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Authors: | Sarah Cowell Katherine Begg Roland Clift |
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Institution: | 1.Dr. Sarah Cowell, Lecturer,
Centre for Environmental Strategy,
University of Surrey,
Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK,?,;2.Katherine G. Begg
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development
De Montfort University
Queen′s Building, The Gateway
Leicester, LE1 9BH
UNITED KINGDOM,?,;3.Roland Clift, OBE FEng FIChemE FRSA
Prof. of Environmental Technology
Director of the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, Guildford Surrey GU2 5XH, United Kingdom
Phone: + 44 - 14 83 - 259 - 271 / Fax: + 259 - 394,?, |
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Abstract: | -http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.04.009 Goal, Scope and Methodlogy. This paper describes a case study carried out as part of a wider programme to provide support for environmental decision-making in the highway maintenance programme of a local government body: Surrey County Council (SCC). UK local authorities are required to demonstrate that sustainable development principles are addressed in service provision, by improving environmental, economic or social wellbeing and improving public consultation. A methodological approach was developed to meet these requirements by using life cycle assessment (LCA) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) through the process of decision conferencing. Results In projects requiring strategic decisions, difficulties arise in identifying relevant sustainable development criteria and in evaluating maintenance options against these criteria where the context for decision-making is complex and characterised by uncertainty, where multiple public policy objectives compete and a number of decision-makers and key players are affected by the outcome. Clearly, a structured process is needed to engage such stakeholders in the decision process, utilising quantitative and qualitative information. The approach described proved to be capable of fulfilling these requirements. Conclusionsand Recommendations. The approach of combining LCA with MCDA through decision conferencing is capable of further development to support other strategic decision-making activities. However, this illustrative case study has revealed a need for methodological developments in LCA for local, project-level decisions. |
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