engleski

Overview of the Sustainability Assessment Methodologies for Water Resources Systems

Since the introduction of the term “sustainable development” in 1987 as one of the conclusions of a report called Our Common Future, sustainable development has been extensively challenged in terms of quantifying its meaning. Despite significant efforts by numerous researchers, institutions and organizations at local, national or international level, a strong degree of consensus upon definition of sustainability and sustainable development does not exist. However, it is generally considered that sustainability evaluation or assessment must take into account the social, economic and environmental objectives. Various authors have proposed many different methodologies for quantifying a degree of sustainability so that it can be compared to another system or process or used in a decision making process. This paper deals with the concept of sustainability in relation to water resources systems. Issues of water management sustainability as well as the most commonly used definitions and sustainability assessment approaches are presented. Herewith the most emphasized methodologies are related to probability assessment and the development of the sustainability index through performance indicators. Basic chronological development and the latest achievements are presented.

Sustainability assessment; sustainable development; criteria; sustainability index

nije evidentirano