The main objective of this paper is to discuss different approaches, identify challenges, and to select a framework for delivering effective sustainability assessments. Sustainable development is an idealistic concept and its assessment has always been a challenge. Several approaches, methodologies and conceptual frameworks have been developed in various disciplines, ranging from engineering to business and to policy making. The paper focuses mainly on various linkage-based frameworks and demonstrates that the driving force-state-exposure-effect-action (DPSEEA) framework can be used to achieve sustained health benefits and environmental protection in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, especially because of its resemblance to the environmental risk assessment and management paradigms. The comparison of linkagebased frameworks is demonstrated through an example of sustainability in a higher educational institution. © 2009 by the authors.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	DPSEEA; Indices; Life-cycle analysis; Linkage-based framework; Multi-criteria decision-making; Sustainability
Research Division:	Engineering
Research Group:	Maritime engineering
Research Field:	Ocean engineering
Objective Division:	Mineral Resources (Excl. Energy Resources)
Objective Group:	Environmentally sustainable mineral resource activities
Objective Field:	Environmentally sustainable mineral resource activities not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Khan, F (Professor Faisal Khan)
ID Code:	94436
Year Published:	2009
Deposited By:	NC Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics
Deposited On:	2014-09-09
Last Modified:	2014-09-09
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