Sustainability impact assessment tools for land use policy advice: A comparative analysis of five research approaches. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sieber, Stefan; Amjath-Babu, T.S.; Reidsma, Pytrik; Koenig, Hannes; Piorr, Annette; Bezlepkina, Irina; Mueller, Klaus
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 71(2017)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Sustainable impact assessment -- End user participation -- Model development -- Sustainability -- Land use policy application; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.11.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: Disconnect between SIA tools and policy applications is analyzed. A phase specific decision tree for ensuring end use of SIA tools constructed. Role of end user participation is highlighted. Cross learning from participatory and model based tools is provided. Key features of SIA that maximizes the likelihood of policy applications are identified. Abstract: Since 2007, a range of new modeling approaches and tools have been developed for sustainability impact assessment (SIA), but a lack of universal acceptance of SIA tools in applied policy making is observed. The current article gives an overview of experiences from several European and international projects, critically reviews the selected SIA tools and then discusses a number of reasons for the observed disconnect of the tools with the potential users. Largely based on the experiences of the presented SIA tools focusing land use policy advice, a decision tree is designed, which may facilitate an adequate, region and developmental phase specific selection of tool-box components for the development of SIA tools in future. Elements to ensure end-user participation are also integrated in the decision tree in order to increase the likelihood of the tool in applied land use policy advice. In addition, the Challenges in SIA tool development and use are further discussed.