Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model

Shaho Karami; Mohammad rezvani; Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin; Hatef Marefat

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

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Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model

Shaho Karami, Mohammad rezvani, Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin, Hatef Marefat

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 1, Issue 4)

Received: 1 October 2013 Published: 10 November 2013

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Abstract

During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutrition in developing countries, the growth of terrorism and social abnormalities, emerging diseases, a variety of social disorders, the income gap between rich and poor countries, and finally increasing destruction of environment are problems that affect human society, both developed and developing ones. Sure, continuity of this situation can face international community with a serious crisis which its miss effects will affect both developed and developing countries. Therefore, confronting these challenges require collaboration of all world countries. Thus, U.N. Millennium manifesto, in terms of millennium development goals in 2000, provided by U.N and approved by majority of world countries, Seventh goal of millennium, “Ensure environmental sustainability” was the main cornerstone of millennium development goals and reaching other goals and objectives of millennium development goals needs protecting environment and assuring its sustainability. By approving these goals, designed models and methods for determining actions and activities in terms of quantitative models. In this survey first, eight indicators of seventh MDG goals, some with positive relationship with sustainable development and some with negative relationship were chosen and information related to performances of 6 indices of 65 countries of world in years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 extracted. After extracting indices and processing them, indices were standardized. In the next step and after standardizing, using McGranahan method, correlation matrix of indices was calculated by SPSS software and weight of each index was determined. After this step, weight of each index was multiplied on each standardized index and at the end composite index for each country was calculated for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Then, these composite indexes were sorted by descending. Stability numbers obtained using this method for Iran for these years are 141, 114, 131 and 139 respectively, which was always lower than the average of 65 countries. Iran’s rank was always between 40 and 45 showing undesirable performance which requires suitable actions.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
Page(s)	79-87
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ensure Sustainability of Environment, Composite Indicators, McGranahan Method, SPSS Software, Quantitative Model

References

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[2]	M.S. Common and S. Stagl, Ecological economic: an introduction, Cambridge university press, 2005, p52.
[3]	The Millennium Development Goals Report, United Nations, (2008), available at: http://www. un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/The%20Millennium%20Development%20Goals%20Report%202008.pdf
[4]	kh. Kalantari, Regional Planning and Development, Tehran, khoshbin press, 2002, p73.
[5]	United Nations site for the MDG Indicators: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Default.aspx
[6]	B. Backer, Sustainability Assessment: A Review of Value, Concepts and Methodological, Published by Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, the World Bank, Washington D.C, 1997, pp27.
[7]	D. Meadows, H. Dennis, and L. Meadows, limits to growth, Joren Randers and Willirsity, London, Earth Island, 1972,.
[8]	European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Protection and Security of the Citizen, Composite Indicators – An Information server on composite indicators and Ranking System (Methods , Case studies ,event), 2005.
[9]	Sustaining the environment to fight poverty and achieve MDGs, Environment for the MDGs, United Nations Development Program, 2005.
[10]	United Nations site for the MDG Indicators: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Default.aspx
[11]	D.E. Sahn, D.C. Stifel, Progress toward the Millennium Development Goals in Africa, World Development, 2003, Vol 31, p.p 23–52.
[12]	P.J. Nelson, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Future of Development Cooperation, World Development, 2011, Vol 35, p.p 2041–2055.
[13]	M. Claeson, P. Folger, Health Issues of the UN Millennium Development Goals, International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2008, p.p 197–204.
[14]	L.D. Castelló, D. Gil-Gonzálezc, C. Alvarez-Dardet Diaz, I. Hernández-Aguado, The Environmental Millennium Development Goal: progress and barriers to its achievement, Environmental Science & Policy, 2010, Vol 13, p.p 154–163.
[15]	M. Pedercini, G.O. Barney, Dynamic analysis of interventions designed to achieve millennium development goals (MDG): The case of Ghana, Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 2010, Vol 44, p.p89–99.
[16]	S. Accorsi, N.K. Bilal, P. Faresea, V. Racalbutoc, Countdown to 2015: comparing progress towards the achievement of the health Millennium Development Goals in Ethiopia and other sub-Saharan African countries, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2010, Vol 104, p.p 336–342.
[17]	M. Checkley, W. Checkley, Drinking Water and Sanitation, International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2008, p.p 234–244.

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APA Style

Shaho Karami, Mohammad rezvani, Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin, Hatef Marefat. (2013). Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 1(4), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

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ACS Style

Shaho Karami; Mohammad rezvani; Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin; Hatef Marefat. Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2013, 1(4), 79-87. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

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AMA Style

Shaho Karami, Mohammad rezvani, Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin, Hatef Marefat. Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2013;1(4):79-87. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16,
  author = {Shaho Karami and Mohammad rezvani and Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin and Hatef Marefat},
  title = {Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {79-87},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20130104.16},
  abstract = {During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutrition in developing countries, the growth of terrorism and social abnormalities, emerging diseases, a variety of social disorders, the income gap between rich and poor countries, and finally increasing destruction of environment are problems that affect human society, both developed and developing ones. Sure, continuity of this situation can face international community with a serious crisis which its miss effects will affect both developed and developing countries. Therefore, confronting these challenges require collaboration of all world countries. Thus, U.N. Millennium manifesto, in terms of millennium development goals in 2000, provided by U.N and approved by majority of world countries, Seventh goal of millennium, “Ensure environmental sustainability” was the main cornerstone of millennium development goals and reaching other goals and objectives of millennium development goals needs protecting environment and assuring its sustainability. By approving these goals, designed models and methods for determining actions and activities in terms of quantitative models. In this survey first, eight indicators of seventh MDG goals, some with positive relationship with sustainable development and some with negative relationship were chosen and information related to performances of 6 indices of 65 countries of world in years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 extracted. After extracting indices and processing them, indices were standardized. In the next step and after standardizing, using McGranahan method, correlation matrix of indices was calculated by SPSS software and weight of each index was determined. After this step, weight of each index was multiplied on each standardized index and at the end composite index for each country was calculated for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Then, these composite indexes were sorted by descending. Stability numbers obtained using this method for Iran for these years are 141, 114, 131 and 139 respectively, which was always lower than the average of 65 countries. Iran’s rank was always between 40 and 45 showing undesirable performance which requires suitable actions.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model
AU  - Shaho Karami
AU  - Mohammad rezvani
AU  - Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin
AU  - Hatef Marefat
Y1  - 2013/11/10
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 79
EP  - 87
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
AB  - During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutrition in developing countries, the growth of terrorism and social abnormalities, emerging diseases, a variety of social disorders, the income gap between rich and poor countries, and finally increasing destruction of environment are problems that affect human society, both developed and developing ones. Sure, continuity of this situation can face international community with a serious crisis which its miss effects will affect both developed and developing countries. Therefore, confronting these challenges require collaboration of all world countries. Thus, U.N. Millennium manifesto, in terms of millennium development goals in 2000, provided by U.N and approved by majority of world countries, Seventh goal of millennium, “Ensure environmental sustainability” was the main cornerstone of millennium development goals and reaching other goals and objectives of millennium development goals needs protecting environment and assuring its sustainability. By approving these goals, designed models and methods for determining actions and activities in terms of quantitative models. In this survey first, eight indicators of seventh MDG goals, some with positive relationship with sustainable development and some with negative relationship were chosen and information related to performances of 6 indices of 65 countries of world in years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 extracted. After extracting indices and processing them, indices were standardized. In the next step and after standardizing, using McGranahan method, correlation matrix of indices was calculated by SPSS software and weight of each index was determined. After this step, weight of each index was multiplied on each standardized index and at the end composite index for each country was calculated for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Then, these composite indexes were sorted by descending. Stability numbers obtained using this method for Iran for these years are 141, 114, 131 and 139 respectively, which was always lower than the average of 65 countries. Iran’s rank was always between 40 and 45 showing undesirable performance which requires suitable actions.
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Shaho Karami

Phd Student in Environmental Education, Payame Noor University, Tehran, IRAN
Mohammad rezvani

Department of Environment and Natural resources, Payame Noor University, Tehran, IRAN
Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin

PhD in Environmental Planning, Faculty of Environment, University Of Tehran, Tehran, IRAN
Hatef Marefat

Msc Student in Environmental Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, IRAN

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Shaho Karami, Mohammad rezvani, Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin, Hatef Marefat. (2013). Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 1(4), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

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ACS Style

Shaho Karami; Mohammad rezvani; Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin; Hatef Marefat. Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2013, 1(4), 79-87. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

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AMA Style

Shaho Karami, Mohammad rezvani, Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin, Hatef Marefat. Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2013;1(4):79-87. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16,
  author = {Shaho Karami and Mohammad rezvani and Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin and Hatef Marefat},
  title = {Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {79-87},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20130104.16},
  abstract = {During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutrition in developing countries, the growth of terrorism and social abnormalities, emerging diseases, a variety of social disorders, the income gap between rich and poor countries, and finally increasing destruction of environment are problems that affect human society, both developed and developing ones. Sure, continuity of this situation can face international community with a serious crisis which its miss effects will affect both developed and developing countries. Therefore, confronting these challenges require collaboration of all world countries. Thus, U.N. Millennium manifesto, in terms of millennium development goals in 2000, provided by U.N and approved by majority of world countries, Seventh goal of millennium, “Ensure environmental sustainability” was the main cornerstone of millennium development goals and reaching other goals and objectives of millennium development goals needs protecting environment and assuring its sustainability. By approving these goals, designed models and methods for determining actions and activities in terms of quantitative models. In this survey first, eight indicators of seventh MDG goals, some with positive relationship with sustainable development and some with negative relationship were chosen and information related to performances of 6 indices of 65 countries of world in years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 extracted. After extracting indices and processing them, indices were standardized. In the next step and after standardizing, using McGranahan method, correlation matrix of indices was calculated by SPSS software and weight of each index was determined. After this step, weight of each index was multiplied on each standardized index and at the end composite index for each country was calculated for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Then, these composite indexes were sorted by descending. Stability numbers obtained using this method for Iran for these years are 141, 114, 131 and 139 respectively, which was always lower than the average of 65 countries. Iran’s rank was always between 40 and 45 showing undesirable performance which requires suitable actions.},
 year = {2013}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Measuring Progress toward Environmental Sustainability Using a Quantitative Model
AU  - Shaho Karami
AU  - Mohammad rezvani
AU  - Farzam Pourasghar Sanghachin
AU  - Hatef Marefat
Y1  - 2013/11/10
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
SP  - 79
EP  - 87
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7536
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20130104.16
AB  - During last tow century and after industrial revolution, especially in last fifty years, the world underwent considerable changes in its economical, social, technological and environmental areas. Crisis of underdevelopment, increasing effect of population on environment, uncontrolled exploitation and destruction of environment, poverty, malnutrition in developing countries, the growth of terrorism and social abnormalities, emerging diseases, a variety of social disorders, the income gap between rich and poor countries, and finally increasing destruction of environment are problems that affect human society, both developed and developing ones. Sure, continuity of this situation can face international community with a serious crisis which its miss effects will affect both developed and developing countries. Therefore, confronting these challenges require collaboration of all world countries. Thus, U.N. Millennium manifesto, in terms of millennium development goals in 2000, provided by U.N and approved by majority of world countries, Seventh goal of millennium, “Ensure environmental sustainability” was the main cornerstone of millennium development goals and reaching other goals and objectives of millennium development goals needs protecting environment and assuring its sustainability. By approving these goals, designed models and methods for determining actions and activities in terms of quantitative models. In this survey first, eight indicators of seventh MDG goals, some with positive relationship with sustainable development and some with negative relationship were chosen and information related to performances of 6 indices of 65 countries of world in years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 extracted. After extracting indices and processing them, indices were standardized. In the next step and after standardizing, using McGranahan method, correlation matrix of indices was calculated by SPSS software and weight of each index was determined. After this step, weight of each index was multiplied on each standardized index and at the end composite index for each country was calculated for 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Then, these composite indexes were sorted by descending. Stability numbers obtained using this method for Iran for these years are 141, 114, 131 and 139 respectively, which was always lower than the average of 65 countries. Iran’s rank was always between 40 and 45 showing undesirable performance which requires suitable actions.
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
ER  -

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