This paper describes the elaboration of an observation system based on a participative multicriteria valuation method in order to take into account the sustainability problem related to the Thau lagoon in the Mediterranean area of France. These methodologies enable the elaboration, selection and...

The concept of sustainable development has become an essential reference, which concerns all public policies and which is becoming increasingly assimilated by actors and firms with respect to their behaviour. At the same time, a profusion of institutional initiatives were implemented by...

Implementing decentralisation of public policies requires adequate governance devices, but local actors also need new competencies to get involved in the new devices. What are the competencies required, and how can they be built? This paper analyses a Farmer University in Brazil to see how the...

Governance is defined as a process allowing actors to contextualise the regulatory system and, as a result, to transform sustainable development (SD) into an instrument of action. It will be all the easier for actors to familiarise themselves with SD and its implementation measures if these...

Mineral extraction is related to complex sustainable-development issues that are subject to international and local controversies. Debates and decisions need to be based on objective and comparative elements. Defining strong indicators for assessing impacts and performances of mining sites thus...

Citizen participation has become a commonly used term in political speeches in the last two decades, especially in relation to sustainable development and the environment. Indeed, several documents related to environmental management propose that the best alternative is through all citizens'...

This paper summarises some of the challenges to science that are posed by the search for sustainability. These challenges are not only technical ones, such as more affordable or reliable equipment for health care, water quality control and refrigeration. There are also fundamental empirical and...

The harnessing of science and technology as forces for sustainable development depends on processes that will ensure the involvement of all appropriate scientific input and expertise in problem identification and response. Scientific excellence and integrity need to be combined with a close...