Implementation of the Sustainability Compass: A Bottom-Up Social Learning Approach in Initial Pilot Studies

Abstract

This paper presents the Sustainability Compass as an emerging innovative bottom-up framework that promotes social learning about overall sustainability—i.e., human wellbeing and prosperity within environmental boundaries—by mean of its practical implementation in the PlanWise4Blue geoportal. The Sustainability Compass aims to put the theoretical idea of sustainability into practice by a systemic approach that continuously generates, refines and updates appropriate themes and metrics, through bottom-up enlarged participatory learning involving all researchers, entrepreneurs, environmental managers, and anyone else with an interest. Such inclusiveness promotes a common understanding of sustainability, cultivates a collective vision and facilitates the assessment of sustainability levels in different contexts, including national and regional planning efforts. The Sustainability Compass operationalises the generic, top-down and differently interpretable UN SDGs into more practical and bottom-up practice. This article outlines the finalised structure of the Sustainability Compass and presents its first application through case studies of cross-border aquaculture in Finland and Estonia, and a collaborative initiative in Finnish wind energy. Through detailed analysis of interviews and workshops, the article explains the empirical findings and offers a comprehensive guide to the use of the Sustainability Compass. This is exemplified by its integration with the PlanWise4Blue geoportal, demonstrating its practicality and effectiveness in real-world applications.