An interdisciplinary debate on project perspectives
Table 2 Identified barriers and their categorisation
From: Barriers to social sustainability in urbanisation: a comparative multi-stakeholder perspective
Category | Meaning | Barrier |
|---|---|---|
Awareness | The level of knowledge and awareness created among the key stakeholders, which would hinder the effective adoption of social sustainability | Misunderstanding or different understandings of social sustainability |
Lack of previous research on the concept | ||
Lack of public general awareness of the concept | ||
Over-emphasis on environmental (other) aspects | ||
No understanding of the benefits of social sustainability | ||
Lack of training and education | ||
Indirect influence over other sustainability aspects | ||
Convenience | Barriers that negatively impact the wellbeing of the key stakeholders | Housing quality |
Unemployment | ||
Uncontrollable conditions (such as climate) | ||
Safety and security/terrorism | ||
Pollution | ||
Lack of healthcare | ||
Equity | Barriers related to the just and equitable implementation of social sustainability measures across different communities, reducing the level of its adoption in the process | Heterogeneity and exclusion of users |
Different community interests | ||
Inequity in sustainability implementation (putting one community before another, resulting in lower adoption levels) | ||
Increased racial disparity | ||
Unfair and undemocratic system | ||
Involvement | The level of stakeholder engagement in the promotion and support plans that target the further adoption of social sustainability, including the plans and initiatives driven by the government, NGOs, and other entities | Lack of public participation |
Different users’ priorities, needs, and requirements | ||
Technological influence (internet, entertainment, …) | ||
Impact of different backgrounds, education levels, and beliefs | ||
Cultural change resistance | ||
Lack of interest in green initiatives | ||
Associated cost | ||
Lack of societal cohesion | ||
Measurement | A key supporting factor for proper implementation in a manner that guarantees the detection of positive results. This addresses the barriers posed by the lower measurability of social sustainability | Lack of sustainability measurement tools |
Intangibility of social sustainability | ||
High context sensitivity | ||
Lack of a universally accepted definition | ||
Lack of other demonstration projects and successful models | ||
Availability of data to support a long-lasting measurement system | ||
Unpredictable resident behaviour | ||
Unpredictability of human response and change over time | ||
Policy | Resulting from ongoing regulations and guidelines issued that enable the institution of social sustainability practices, where the lack, or inadequacy, of such efforts, constitutes a barrier to the required levels of belief and conviction of the stakeholders | Limited sustainability guidelines |
Lack of government support | ||
Lack of government promotion and incentives | ||
Conflict between public policies and regulations | ||
Change of government authorities and shifting directions | ||
Pandemics and natural forces | ||
Urbanisation | Focuses on the barriers related to urban sprawl and the detrimental changes associated with it | Residents’ instability/displacement |
Housing deficiency | ||
Uncontrolled surroundings | ||
Population growth and spread | ||
Lack of preservation of historic and cultural sites |