This paper aims to build the sustainability assessment basic model of environmental policies from the viewpoint of ecological modernization theory. For this purpose it is consisting of three steps to review theories and to find assessment's components...
This paper aims to build the sustainability assessment basic model of environmental policies from the viewpoint of ecological modernization theory. For this purpose it is consisting of three steps to review theories and to find assessment's components. First Our Common Future, which is broadly known as the Brundtland Reports, is analysed to induce 'assessment principles' of sustainability such as futurity, fairness and ecology. Each principles has 'assessment scope' between weak and strong sustainability. Secondly through critical reviewing the previous trials of environment and policy assessments, we confirm the desirable 'assessment level and time'. For the preventive effects of sustainabilily assessment, it is more significant to move analysing focal point from project to policy level and analysing time from policy outcomes to agenda setting and decision making. Thirdly we review the theories of ecological modernization, which have been providing the theoretical foundation for preventive and integrative environmental policles after the middle of 1980's. Thereafter 'technology and economics', 'politics and administration', and' society and culture' are selected as the areas of policy analysis and assessment. Lastly we figure out the basic model of environmental policy assessment based on the principles, scope and areas of sustainability