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Sustainable
Societies: |
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What is a meaningful definition of social sustainability? How can it be measured? Which economic and environmental policies can be considered socially sustainable? Social sustainability has two main components: on the one hand, people have objective material and immaterial needs, on the other they have a subjective judgement about their situation. Both elements are essential for a sustainable society, but while the latter one can only be determined ex post, the former one is open to ex ante assessment an planning. As SERI works on policy proposals and strategies, our work focusses on the objective situation, as this is open to political influence. However, this is not to deny the relevance of subjective factors. Indeed they are taken into account as far as possible by the participartory approach chosen and by including regular feedback loops into most implementation plans. Regarding the objective component, we have defined it as the possibility to live a dignified life in the respective society. This includes the access to sufficient material, social, economic and cultural resources (work, income, housing, education, health) as well as the opportunity to participate actively in societal activities. While all these demands are breflected in the scenarios developed a more detailed analysis has been conducted on specific subitems such as work or consumption. Publications Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Ed. (2001). Pathways towards a sustainable future. Düsseldorf, Hans Böckler Stiftung. Spangenberg, J.H., Ed. (1995). Towards
Sustainable Europe. A Study from the Wuppertal Institute for Friends of
the Earth Europe. Luton/Brussels, FoE Publications Ltd. |
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Have a nice day - Your SERI-Team. |
last update 06-Jan-2002 |