A new paradigm of development
Seeking to be more sustainable can be a real challenge to our For-profit world and mind. An example of that is the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), which was mainy designed to rank sustainability-driven companies by their fiscally sustainable growth. While doing the assessment, the company does not know the value of the questions in it. This allows for honestly answered questions, but also a lack of transparency. Improving energy efficiency is mitigating climate change, but the extend to what efficiency of buildings play a role in DJSI ranking is not clearly defined.
Poor business practices such as tax fraud, money laundering and human rights abuses such as discrimination and child labour are on the other hand seen as index’s priorities because companies can be removed from the list because of these reasons. This is why some critics say the definition of sustainability is relative when these priorities are exercised. It comes down to a financial investment tool that gives more importance to economics rather than environmental and social impacts because the priorities still lie within the view of long-term economic growth and expansion.
Still the invention of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is well-intentioned. However, there is a need to define sustainability clearer and all-encompassing. As we ned to do with our own lives since we have only one planet. Thinking about ways to enhance sustainability and thus develop measures and regulations therefore will clearly benefit the planet and again us as humans too (http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/the-effectiveness-of-sustainability-metrics-is-dependent-on-the-definition-used-for-sustainable/).
Figure explaining DJSJ assessment
(Source: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/the-effectiveness-of-sustainability-metrics-is-dependent-on-the-definition-used-for-sustainable/)
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