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Delphi Round 2 Responses (Direction) Sustainable Minerals Roundtable Where do we go from here?
Response 1 I think this Delphi process is very valuable where we can all learn about sustainability, and the wide range of possible definitions, so I think we should not cut this short. But, I think we must also clearly define what our ultimate goals are for this process so we can begin to focus our thoughts to narrow our working definition of sustainability. I recommend that we begin to focus our work within the boundaries of what our jobs (or the functions of our agencies or organizations ) are with the ultimate goal of developing a definition of sustainability that is workable across our various organizations. This could be very valuable as a means of establishing a common definition of sustainability that will help different organizations communicate on issues of mutual interest. For example, a common definition of sustainability that would apply to energy resources would help the Department of Energy (my agency) in working with the Department of the Interior and EPA in developing mutually acceptable guidelines on multiple land use planning for federal lands. Response 2 I think we need to come to a consensus on the answer to the first Delphi question and then proceed to try to answer the questions posed below. I am sure there are other questions to be addressed also. * How do we quantify the themes contained in the definition of sustainability we are building? Do they need to be quantified? * What measures can we use to describe the ideas we are generating here, and what data are available? * Who is our intended audience? * What national, and global, goals are we trying to achieve? * What story are we trying to tell? Response 3 What tasks to address next: Two items: 1) Develop a consensus vision and perhaps general goals followed by the development of specific recommendations (like the PCSD process) and 2) develop a recommended framework for indicators (with consideration of the interagency SDI framework), followed by development of specific indicators. Response 4 The Roundtable should continue to champion the progression of the non-renewable mineral resource industry towards sustainability. An important task to accomplish would be achieving a consensus on a set of sustainability indicators by which the progress of the industry can be measured. Task Force members should share information on potential sustainability indicators they have or are aware of. |