Non-material indicators for sustainability assessment: the Brazilian case of Maceió and Alagoas

Many of the development and applications of Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) follow the guidelines of the Bellagio Principles. Sustainability indicators should be rethought and be able to respond to the non-traditional... [ view full abstract ]

Many of the development and applications of Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) follow the guidelines of the Bellagio Principles. Sustainability indicators should be rethought and be able to respond to the non-traditional aspects of sustainability. Some researchers emphasized the importance of the cultural dimension of development, as well as the need of a new ethical posture and values. Sustainability indicators cover the main dimensions and specific thematic subjects. Knowing that changes will happen in a society bearing principles and values supporting sustainability, “non-material” indicators could play a fundamental role. However, there is a lack of research about the contribution of the “non-material” dimension of sustainability in current indicator systems. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework to strengthen and integrate “non-material” indicators for sustainability assessment and reporting regional and local scales. A set of “non-material indicators” will be developed and tested in the state of Alagoas and Maceió municipality - Brazil. This work comprised: an international analysis of “non-material” indicators sets; a participatory process, with stakeholder individual interviews and focus groups; and an expert analysis conducted to reach a set of indicators. A set of 34 interviews led us to conclude that: (1) non-material values are relevant within regional-local sustainability assessment (2) economic dimension overcomes the idea of development; (3) sustainability is perceived as related to the environmental dimension; and (4) the time dimension and intergeneration aspects are usually not considered.