The jurisdictional framework for municipal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Case studies from Canada,the USA and Germany |
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| Authors: | Benjamin J. Deangelo L. D. Danny Harvey |
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| Affiliation: | 1. US Environmental Protection Agency , Office of Atmospheric Programs (6205J), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC , 20460 , USA Phone: 202–564–9295 Fax: 202–564–9295 E-mail: deangelo.ben@epamail.epa.gov;2. University of Toronto , Department of Geography , 100 St George Street, Toronto , M5S 3G3 , Canada Phone: 416–978–1588 Fax: 416–978–1588 E-mail: harvey@geog.utoronto.ca |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The development of ‘indicators’ and associated techniques for the appraisal of ‘sustainability’ requires efforts to systematically define, quantify and aggregate many disparate dimensions of social, environmental and economic performance. This necessarily raises a number of serious theoretical and methodological difficulties, including those relating to the selection and framing of ‘problems’ and ‘options’, the treatment of deep uncertainties and the ‘impossibility’ of aggregating in analysis the divergent social interests and value judgements which govern the prioritisation of the different dimensions of ‘sustainability’. After exploring the depth and scope of some of these difficulties, this paper argues that they render futile any attempt to develop an ‘analytical fix’ for the problems of appraisal. In this light, systematic public participation is recognised not just as an issue of political efficacy and legitimacy, but also as a fundamental matter of analytical rigour. However, it is also concluded that once aspirations to the ‘analytical fix’ are renounced, there is much that might be contributed by transparent, straightforward quantitative analytical tools and the paper ends with some recommendations and an example in this regard. |
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