Analyzing sustainable development strategies through multi-method integration in the Green Economy Model

Abstract

Given the increasing interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental systems, it is increasingly evident there is a need for a new generation of decision support systems to assess the sustainability of development strategies. While existing tools are valuable for conducting detailed assessments within specific sectors, their limitations in establishing cross-sectoral connections and feedback loops often lead to incomplete insights and potential oversight of adverse impacts in other sectors. To address this limitation, we describe an integrated assessment framework that we have successfully applied in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and governments across more than 40 countries. The framework aims to provide a customized analytical approach tailored to specific policy challenges. While System Dynamics serves as the core methodology, the framework promotes the integration of additional methodologies and sectoral modeling results as needed. Four case studies are presented to illustrate the framework's impacts on policy and project outcomes.