Hayden, A., Wilson, J., 2017. “‘Beyond GDP’ Indicators: Changing the Economic Narrative for a Post-Consumer Society?.” In Cohen, M., Brown, H., Vergragt, P. (Eds), Social Change and the Coming of the Post-Consumer Society, Routledge, New York.
Challenging the Dominant Economic Narrative Through Alternative Wellbeing Indicators: The Canadian Experience.
Hayden, A., Wilson, J., 2017. “Challenging the Dominant Economic Narrative Through Alternative Wellbeing Indicators: The Canadian Experience.” In Bache, I., Scott, K. (Eds). Wellbeing in Politics and Policy, Palgrave MacMillan, London.
Is It What You Measure That Really Matters? The Struggle to Move beyond GDP in Canada
Anders Hayden, Jeffrey Wilson., 2016, Sustainability 2016, 8, 623
Abstract:
In light of Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP) well-known limitations as a wellbeing indicator,many alternative measures have been developed around the world. Some advocates of “beyond GDP measures argue that they are key to shifting societal priorities away from economic growth toward sustainability, equity, and well-being. Is there any evidence to date that alternative indicators have lived up to their supporters’ expectations, whether the hope is for a radical transformation of social priorities away from GDP growth or a reformist vision of better policymaking without challenging the growth paradigm? What are the obstacles to fulfilling those expectations? This article examines the Canadian experience, drawing on interviews with researchers, non-governmental organization (NGO) leaders, public-sector officials, and politicians, along with analysis of relevant documents. The hopes of Canadian proponents of new wellbeing measures have been largely disappointed to date, as no impact on federal or provincial policy is evident. Obstacles facing both a transformative and more limited reformist vision are examined. The Canadian case also suggests that use of new socio-economic indicators is best seen as one product of political efforts to bring ecological and social values into decision-making, rather than as the transformative force that will cause a change insocietal priorities.
Experiential learning for sustainability leadership in higher education
Savage, Emma & Tapics, Tara & Evarts, John & Wilson, Jeffrey & Tirone, Susan. (2015). Experiential learning for sustainability leadership in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 16. 692-705.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the program design of a sustainability leadership certificate to participants’ perceptions of their in-program learnings and competencies development. The authors present the results from the analysis of one program evaluation component, a survey, which was delivered before the program start and at the program end.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors describe key design elements of a sustainability leadership certificate, which was framed around five key sustainability competencies. Using a pre/post self-assessment, participants (n. 32) selected their level of confidence and competence in each of the key sustainability competencies and completed open-ended questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using a Mann–Whitney U test, and qualitative data were transcribed and coded using a grounded theory approach in NVivo 10.
Findings – Based on the survey feedback, the program participants were generally excited by the program’s experiential format and supportive community. They felt that they had improved their confidence and competence in the key sustainability competencies. Three themed clusters, community, future and personal development, emerged from the participants’ open-ended responses. This supports the program design and can inform further program development.
Practical implications – The third theme, personal development, is notable, as it is not a typical focus of sustainability in higher education, but held high importance to participants. This strong resonance with participants suggests that sustainability programs should consider the role of the self to foster the development of key sustainability competencies. Originality/value – The program’s focus on “personal” was intentional in the program design. Based on participants’ feedback, the inclusion of personal development exercises was a critical element for successful sustainability leadership development.
Blame the Exurbs, not the Suburbs: Exploring the distribution of greenhouse gas emissions within a city region
Rethinking what counts. A review of wellbeing and genuine progress indicator metrics from a Canadian Viewpoint.
Measuring environmental impact at the neighbourhood level
Jeffrey Wilson , Peter Tyedmers & Jill Grant (2013): Measuring environmental impact at the neighbourhood level, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 56:1,42-60
Abstract:
We propose that community assessments of environmental impact are increasingly more relevant to planners and policy makers when reported at finer scales of analysis. Using the Town of Oakville, Ontario, as an example, we calculate neighbourhood level ecological footprint values for 241 neighbourhoods. Ecological footprint results range from 5.4 global hectares per capita to 15.2 global hectares per capita, with an average ecological footprint for Oakville of 9.0 global hectares per capita. Our results highlight variability in energy and material flows within a community, providing planners and policy makers detailed information to prioritise programme delivery, allocate limited resources, and support policy development. The lower range of neighbourhood ecological footprint values suggests a potential footprint floor for Oakville of around 5 hectares per capita. The notion of a footprint floor has implications for setting community footprint targets and understanding the magnitude of change neededfor significant ecological footprint reductions.
An exploration of the relationship between socio-economic and well-being variables and household greenhouse gas emissions
Province of Ontario: ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AND BIOCAPACITY ANALYSIS
Stechbart., M, Wilson., J, Anielski Management., 2010 Global Footprint Network, Oakland, California, United States of America.
Abstract:
The Ecological Footprint is a tool that assesses humanity’s demand for natural resources and informs us whether our collective consumption levels are approaching or exceeding the Earth’s ecological limits. The Footprint can be directly compared to biocapacity, a metric that accounts for available resource supply using an anthropocentric lens, considering specific products provided by ecosystems for human use (food, fibre, timber and carbon storage). These two measures, taken together, provide a partial ecological balance sheet for the world.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy and Plans in Canada: An Analytical Review
Kutcher S, Hampton MJ, Wilson J. Child and adolescent mental health policy and plans in Canada: an analytical review. Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(2):100‐107.
Objective: Child and adolescent mental disorders are common, with a substantial disease burden, yet services for young people are nationally inadequate. As services should be based on policies and (or) plans, we analyzed the availability and content of child and adolescent mental health policies and plans in all provinces and territories.
Method: The World Health Organization (WHO) framework for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policy and Plans was applied.
Results: Four provinces in Canada have a child and adolescent mental health policy and (or) plan. The other provinces do not have a policy or plan in place, or else try to integrate these components into existing mental health strategies. Among the policies and plans that exist, there is substantial variability regarding content as well as degree of adherence to the WHO template. Five essential content areas: legislation and human rights, information systems, quality improvement, improving access to and use of psychotropics, and human resource development and training are poorly or very poorly addressed in existing policies and (or) plans.
Conclusion: This lack of specific policy and (or) plans for child and adolescent mental health care and the variability of content in plans that exist may help explain why child and adolescent mental health services are poorly developed across Canada. We suggest that a national child and adolescent mental health policy framework be developed for Canada so that the provinces and territories may be encouraged to create or amend their current child and adolescent mental health frameworks in a manner that may enhance national cohesion and commonly addresses service needs in this population.
Calculating ecological footprints at the municipal level: what is a reasonable approach for Canada?
Wilson, J. and Grant, J. L.(2009) 'Calculating ecological footprints at the municipal level: what is a reasonable approach for Canada?', Local Environment, 14: 10, 963 — 979
Abstract:
No clear ecological footprint calculation strategy is available for small- and mid-sized communities within Canada. By adjusting provincial or national footprint findings using data sets available in the public domain, we develop and test a calculation strategy to estimate municipal ecological footprints. Because the calculation approach is consistent with the Global Footprint Network standardised methodology, it permits meaningful comparisons between communities and with global and national footprint estimates. It offers planners, policy-makers, and community leaders an accessible, straight forward, and cost effective strategy for estimating the ecological footprint at the community and municipal level. The suggested approach is best suited for using the ecological footprint as an awareness and education tool. The large number of limitations associated with calculating the municipal approach and limitations associated with calculating ecological footprints in general at the local level make it an unsuitable tool to inform community planning and policy development.
ENSURING THAT DEVELOPMENT METRICS CONSIDER ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - A PROPOSAL TO COMBINE DEVELOPMENT METRICS WITH AN ECOLOGICAL THRESHOLD VARIABLE
Wilson, Pelot., Tyedmers 2008. Ensuring that Development Metrics Consider Environmantal Sustainabilitys - A Proposal to o Combine Development Metrics with na Ecological Threshold Variable. International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research Vol. 3, No. 1, 44-68.
Abstract:
Fifteen years after the global adoption of Sustainable Development as the crux of the development agenda, a very narrow range of metrics with little direct relation to sustainable development continues to dominate development policy at the international level. A concern is that these measures of development promote a vision of development that neglects environmental sustainability or worse invokes a vision of development that is unsustainable. This paper explores how combining development metrics with an ecological threshold variable provides a means to ensure that the pursuit of development objectives do not adversely impact environmental sustainability.
Contrasting and comparing sustainable development indicator metrics
Wilson., Tyedmers., Pelot. 2007. Contrasting and comparing sustainable development indicator metrics., Ecological Indicators 7 (2007) 299–314.
Abstract:
Despite the fact that it has been well over a decade since Agenda 21 first called for sustainable development indicators, there is no consensus regarding the best approach to the design and use of SDI models. It is important, therefore, to question the effectiveness of SDIs in an effort to continue advancing sustainability. This paper addresses one aspect of this question by exploring whether our global SDI metrics are sending a clear message to guide us towards sustainable development. Six global SDI metrics are compared by relative ranking in colour coded tabular format and spatially in map format. The combined presentation of results clearly illustrates that the different metrics arrive at varying interpretations about the sustainability of nations. The degree of variability between the metrics is analyzed using correlation analysis. The variability in findings draws attention to the lack of a clear direction at the global level in how best to approach sustainable development. Canada is presented as a case study to highlight and explain the discrepancies between SDI measures.