Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
stakeholders will require some form of quantification of impacts to support a reme-
diation choice that they do not agree with on the basis of qualitative sustainability
appraisal. The development of site-specific metrics can be undertaken through a
stakeholder process such as the Sustainability Assessment Tool (SAT) proposed by
RESCUE. 9 Site-specific indicators or metrics will change from site to site as will
the relative weighing factors for individual metrics.
Reliance solely on quantitative methods may be flawed for a number of reasons.
All practical applications of quantitative methods are limited in scope (e.g.
Table 20.1 ) and are not holistic sustainability appraisals. Proponents of cost ben-
efit analysis would suggest that it has a theoretical potential to be wide ranging,
however it is not clear if the valuations used will withstand scrutiny by all stake-
holders (see below). Wide ranging sustainability appraisals may use techniques
such as decision tables and multi-criteria analysis, but these are not strictly
quantitative, but relay on scoring, ranking and weighting (see Section 20.3.4 ).
There is no real means of confirming if the right metrics are being used for a
particular set of circumstances beyond the rationale for a “standard” method, so
the quantification may give a false impression of sustainability overall.
There can be problems in the valuations used in quantitative techniques, such as
cost benefit analysis and life cycle assessment, which are subject to uncertainties,
assumptions and subjective choices which may not be transparent to all users.
Valuations of human life in cost benefit appraisals can be particularly contentious.
Some stakeholders may feel excluded by the use of quantitative techniques, for
example because they do not support the valuation approach, because the metrics
used do not match their views of key issues, or simply because it is seen as too
“technical”.
A tiered approach allows the quantitative evaluations made to be benchmarked
by wider and more inclusive sustainability appraisal approaches.
20.2.5 International Initiatives in Sustainable Remediation
One of the first international initiatives to explicitly consider sustainability in
remediation was the European project CLARINET: the Contaminated Land
Rehabilitation Network for Environmental Technologies in Europe. CLARINET
was a “Concerted Action” of the European Commission's Environment and Climate
Research and Development Programme (1998-2001). CLARINET concluded that
using risk based decision making in contaminated land management was entirely in
line with sustainable development, and also recommended that where possible the
“natural capacities” of soil and water should be used to effect Risk Management.
Risk Management provides a scientific rationale for the costs of remediation that
9 www.rescue-europe.com
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