trends and future of sustainable development - TransEco

Social sustainabilitySocial sustainability is an integral part of sustainable development. According to Kautto and Metso(Kautto and Metso, 2008) sustainability considers over generational effects and coherence of politics.There is no universal definition of social sustainability. Several definitions of social sustainability includejustice and equality, possibility to affect one’s life, and strengthening communal identity.The national sustainability strategy of Finland determines social sustainability goals (Ministry of theEnvironment, 2009). These include 1) cohesion between different generations, 2) functionally diverseand structurally sound communities, 3) a good living environment promoting healthy lifestyles,functional capacity, and preventing health threats, 4) preventing social exclusion and poverty, 5) qualityof working life, 6) ensuring the availability of services, 7) citizen’s satisfaction of service quality, and 8)promoting civil activity.Finland’s National Land Use Guidelines also require the safeguarding of peoples’ well-being and thepromotion of social justice (Ministry of the Environment, 2002). Often, the social sustainability in urbanplanning is taken into account by providing participation in planning. This does not, however,systematically take into account all required social sustainability that can be done with social criteria andindicators (Juslén, 1995 cited in STAKES, 2006). There is a need to recognize the effects oftransportation and land-use plans on different groups on a regional and local scale.The Seutukeke social criteria and indicators have been drafted by taking into account the top-downapproach of the EU and national context of social sustainability as well as bottom-up approach ofindividual needs. An important factor has been to consider the basic needs of individuals as defined byMaslow (Maslow, 1973) and Allardt (Allardt, 1973). The provision of basic needs better necessitates thefulfilment of higher level needs. Culture, which is often seen as the fourth element of sustainability, istaken into account in the Seutukeke definition of social sustainability. The spatial scope of criteriachosen is based on the everyday actions of individuals within the region. Land-use and transport affectthe everyday life and possibilities of individuals, which in turn affect how individuals can fulfil theirneeds.The emphasis of social equality and justice sets some guidelines on forming the criteria. Firstly, itrequires considering average indicators that measure the general well-being of the public as well as thedifferences between different genders, generations, residences, or socioeconomic groups. Secondly, thegoals of social sustainability have to be constantly reconfigured. Indicators do not have a certain fixedthreshold and must be adjusted to local conditions and aims. Indicators vary subjectively through timebetween individuals and different demographic and sociocultural groups. Thirdly, social indicators varyspatially significantly. I.e. the same level of services cannot be guaranteed equally throughout the regionto all individuals. Services conglomerate naturally which leads to emphasising the accessibility ofservices to different groups.It is challenging to determine social indicators at a regional scale. Most social sustainabilitymeasures are drafted at a national scale through strategies and policies. Local planning (includingmaster plans and local plans) has a greater effect on social sustainability than regional plans. Land usepolicy has mostly indirect effect on social sustainability through the changes in land-use. A significantpart of social sustainability, along with land-use planning, is affected through the policies of othermunicipal institutions, such as health services.36