“We often gain awareness through a baseline comparison between now and next.”
Sustainability Baseline Assessments
Establishing comprehensive baseline data is a necessary element that provides a point from which to inventory what you have before you set out to improve it, and from there, aid in identifying and establishing strategies, and measuring the progress of them. Establishing a sustainability baseline is a critical first step in sustainability planning for organizations and communities. A sustainability baseline assessment is the most effective and efficient way to establish a meaningful foundation for your planning effort - whether an initial Sustainability Plan, or supporting a Sustainability Plan Update.
The broader the baseline data available, the more effective sustainability goalsetting and action planning can be. As such, the paleBLUEdot sustainability baseline approach includes a robust baseline assessment of sustainability indicators. The intent of this effort is to provide a comprehensive inventory detailing the utilization/characteristics related to the organization or community’s natural resources and impacts.
Ideally, a sustainability baseline assessment draws on readily available data and sources. A successful sustainability baseline assessment will be easily repeatable in the future. A focus on this approach will provide not only a cost effective sustainability assessment, but also empower your organization or community to conduct assessment updates regularly as tool to monitor sustainability plan implementation effectiveness.