On Prerequisites for the Application of Sustainable Development Indicators in Urban Water Management

Ulrika Palme
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Ulrika Palme: Department of Energy and Environment: Environmental Systems Analysis, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden

Sustainability, 2010, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-25

Abstract: Semi-structured interviews with 47 key actors were conducted in Swedish water utilities on why Sustainable Development Indicators (SDIs) are or are not used. Important influencing aspects identified included organizational inertia, social capital, the national water sector and authorities. Divergent views of SD and indicators appear to hinder SDI initiatives. Possible explanations are that: (a) not all actors look at decision-making as the kind of rational process the focus on indicators implies, and (b), Swedish urban water systems are widely regarded as sustainable. The water sector itself and regulation are identified as the strongest potential drivers for increased use of SDIs.

Keywords: sustainable development indicators; urban water systems; decision-making; field studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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