Authentic Sustainability Assessment [Download]

Over several decades, the effectiveness of sustainability measurement and reporting has improved due to numerous standard-setting initiatives, and revisions of existing tools and models. The question remains, however, whether current measurement and reporting models adequately address a set of 21st century conditions and challenges.

In September 2018, UNRISD in partnership with SK 사회적가치연구원 (CSES), and multistakeholder platform r3.0 commenced a 4-year project to develop methodologies and indicators to meaningfully measure and evaluate the performance of a broad range of economic entities in relation to the vision and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The approach is grounded in a 2-tiered framework with a set of 61 sustainable development performance indicators (SDPIs) that assess sustainability impacts and performance against context-based normative thresholds and transformative change potential—thereby transcending the limitations of existing indicators and frameworks. The Sustainable Development Performance Indicators help close the ‘Sustainability Context Gap’ — in which less than 1% of sustainability reports produced from 2000-2013 measured corporate performance in the context of ecological sustainability thresholds.

Each SDPI includes a definition, trend analysis dimension, relevance to the SDGs and, where relevant, a sustainability threshold or norm.

The organizers say the ability to more accurately contextualize data from sustainability efforts also makes the SDPI indicators a more robust approach than joining the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which has become an industry go-to for companies aiming to set credible climate goals.

Download the SDPI Manual from the UNRISD website.