Title: A multicriteria participation-based methodology for selecting sustainable development indicators: an incentive tool for concerted decision making beyond the diagnosis framework

Authors: Helene Rey-Valette, Sebastien Damart, Sebastien Roussel

Addresses: LASER-CEP, Universite de Montpellier 1, Faculte des Sciences Economiques, Avenue de la Mer – Site de Richter, CS 79606, 34960 Montpellier Cedex 2, France. ' M-Lab, Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan, 61 av du President Wilson, 94230 Cachan, France. ' LAMETA, Universite de Montpellier 1, Faculte des Sciences Economiques, Avenue de la Mer – Site de Richter, CS 79606, 34960 Montpellier Cedex 2, France

Abstract: 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 prioritisation of sustainable development indicators according to expectations and uses to be complied with. It is a question of associating the indicator |supply| based on research works with the |demand| issued by managers. Using this approach enables the two to be combined following indicator elaboration logics: a normative approach allowing a list of reference indicators to be defined by researchers; a participative approach in association with territory managers for selecting an indicator panel in this list. In this paper, the emphasis is put on the methodological aspects and the significance of this approach with respect to participation-based methods.

Keywords: public policy assessment; ICZM; integrated coastal zone management; multicriteria analysis; actors participation; sustainable development; sustainability indicators; France.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2007.014418

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.10 No.1/2, pp.122 - 138

Published online: 05 Jul 2007 *

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