Application of multiple criteria decision aiding in environmental policy-making processes

Abstract

Environmental issues have gained global prominence, prompting extensive global efforts toward sustainability. Within this landscape, multiple criteria decision aiding (MCDA) emerges as a pivotal tool, intricately intertwined with policy and decision-making processes to navigate uncertainties. This paper rigorously investigates application of MCDA in environmental decision-making processes and policy-making, shedding light on challenges and limitations in its practical implementation. While acknowledging MCDA's potential to address complex issues, the study critically examines its real-world utility in environmental policy-making. Drawing insights from 80 review papers and 9 related papers, the research underscores MCDA's evolving adaptability in managing diverse objectives and assessment criteria. It emphasises MCDA's value for policy makers by facilitating the implementation of effective policies, offering clarity for future policy directions, and assessing trade-offs among multiple goals. Despite these merits, the study identifies key challenges, including method selection influenced by expertise. Inherent uncertainties, varying stakeholder participation levels, and the delicate balance between expert-driven and collaborative approaches also present significant hurdles. Addressing subjectivity in evaluations, providing clear options in complex scenarios, and applying MCDA to dynamic problems are also identified as challenges. Additional obstacles include formulating criteria, integrating uncertainty, managing long-term perspectives, and ensuring practical and enduring benefits in policy decision-making. The paper highlights the lack of methodological guidance for the application of MCDA in environmental policy-making, emphasises the shortcomings of stakeholder engagement, and acknowledges data limitations as additional barriers. Consequently, given the uncertainties surrounding environmental issues, the study underscores the need for adjustments to effectively employ MCDA in such complex situations.