Metrics for sustainability

Day 1: Stimulating Radical Ideas
Session 3:45pm: Metrics for Sustainability
Moderator: Mr Kieran Mohammed
Speakers: Ms Alison K. DeGraff and Dr Shariann Henry
Organized by: UNDP
Rapporteur: Divani Bhimull (UWI)
1. Background/Context
Sustainable management requires credible, quantifiable metrics. The effort to develop an
effective system of sustainability metrics is still in its infancy. Academics, business leaders
and government officials must work together to develop and refine acceptable indicators. A
standardized system of data collection, verification and audit needs to be put into place. In
addition to organizational level indicators, critical thinking is needed about developing and
implementing multiple indicator scales that might chart local, state and national progress
toward a sustainable economy. 2. Summary of Presentations by the panelists
Participatory Mapping: Caribbean Small Island Developing States presented by Ms Alison
K. DeGraff
Participatory mapping serves as a tool to provide a visual representation of information in a
particular geographical context. It allows indigenous and marginalized people to harness the
power of cartography to better represent their spatial material conceptions. Furthermore, it
involves community based workshops where indigenous community representatives describe,
document and represent community histories, resources, territorial boundaries and other sociospatial features while working alongside cartographers. It is based on the premise that local
inhabitants possess expert knowledge of their local environments which can be expressed in a
geographical framework which is easily understandable and universally recognized. Participatory
maps often represent a socially or culturally distinct understanding of landscape and include
information that is excluded from mainstream or official maps. In this light, stakeholders can
give full importance to this local knowledge which is valuable for sustainable development and
growth. It strengthens public awareness and participation by involving the community as it
transfers local knowledge into scientific knowledge. In order to fully engage in Participatory
mapping for sustainable development, there are numerous limitations that must be addressed
such as access to geo-spatial data which is limited and outdated, low literacy levels, reliable
internet access, essential map skills and the cost of training. It is therefore necessary that
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innovative tools are constructed to counter these challenges. Alison DeGraff has developed a
participatory mapping project in the Caribbean nations of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and
Grenada to explore the cultural and ecological heritage of the Grenadine islands.
New Pathways to Sustainable Development in the Caribbean presented by Dr Shariann
Henry
Sustainable development is based on the premise that social, economic and environmental
systems are kept in harmony however, there are numerous challenges which hinders the
developmental processes such as having no long term government strategies, the challenges
posed by globalization, unequitable distribution of resources, gender inequality and poverty. Dr.
Henry advocated that sustainable development can be facilitated by having a migration fund to
channel foreign revenue earnings, an agricultural revolution, more long term rather than short
term policies, social equity, strategic economic policies, enhanced transparency, more social
responsibility especially concerning the impoverished, food security, strategic planning,
stakeholder involvement, proper monitoring of policy, more investment in human resource
especially in the field of education, a robust approach to gender inequality and a redistribution of
wealth.
3. Comments by discussants
• New and radical ideas should be applied without depending on foreign models
• Heterogeneous Caribbean culture can be used as a catalyst to attract stakeholders and aid
in growth and development e.g. Participatory mapping
• Must follow long term agendas rather than a short term ‘quick fix’ which does not
stimulate growth and development in the future.
4. Questions and Answers
Audience Member A
Question: What is the concept of sustainability?
Answer: One that provides economic security for our future without harming our natural
resources.
Audience Member B
Question: Can we have decision making within the context of uncertainty?
Answer: There is a need to have accurate data and so proper data collection mechanisms must be
enforced.
Audience Member C
Question: Building resilience and sustainability for who?
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Answer: To ensure that the Caribbean population can overcome challenges such as poverty and
natural disasters.
Audience Member D
Question: There is a disconnect with new technology into the mainstream and so local people are
not able to access this, why?
Answer: Participatory Mapping is a bottom-up activity that starts within the community and so it
is a process of using local knowledge and transforming it into a scientific knowledge.
Inclusionary efforts are being made.
5. Action Points
o Redirect and create a new research agenda involving civil society (local
communities and private sector) in policy making coupled with research and
design strategies to improve ICTs thereby improving communication, production
and innovation.
o Influence policy making so that a data collection framework can be established
ensuring legitimacy, accountability and credibility
o Advocacy for the Caribbean region to strengthen cooperation and regional
integration in order to provide economic security against external shocks, to have
representation and a unified voice in the international forums, to have competitive
advantage in the international market and to boost trade and capital flows.
6. Personal views and opinions
Conceptual and contextual definitions were not clearly defined thus presentations represented a
wide range of ambiguous possibilities. In addition, many ideas were put forward without a
stipulated time frame for implementation nor without measurable indicators that allowed for
predictability and was not targeted towards the specific case of the Caribbean region but
represented the general developing economies. Furthermore, presentations took on an implicit
neo-Marxist perspective as they suggested the unequal distribution of resources due to wealth
being monopolized in the hands of a few and further placed the Caribbean within a familiar
historical context of dependency e.g. Colonialism and preferential treatment provisions. In order
for radical ideas to come to fruition within the arena of sustainable development there must be a
change of cultural attitudes from both policy makers and civil society where global economic,
social and political structures do not determine the agentic nature of the Caribbean to have
autonomy over themselves within a spirit of autarky. Focussing on the implementation of
realistic and measurable indicators will facilitate comparative and competitive advantage and
further aid in sustainable development.
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