Includes bibliographical references and index.

pt. 1. Introduction. Why sustainability assessment? -- The changing theory of impact assessment -- pt. 2. Sustainability assessment : pluralism. Challenges in determining the effectiveness of sustainabiliy assessment -- Contested time horizons -- Contested spatiality : geographical scale in sustainability assessment -- Legal pluralism : notions of standing and legal process constraining assessment -- Pluralism in practice -- pt. 3. Sustainability assessment : practice. Framework for comparing and evaluating sustainability assessment practice -- Sutainability assessment in England -- Learning by doing : sustainability assessment in Western Australia -- Sustainability assessment in Canada -- Sustainability assessment in South Africa -- pt. 4. Solutions? Better engagement -- Better learning -- Designing an effective sustainability assessment process -- Integrating sustainability assessment into planning : benefits and challenges -- Conclusions.

Sustainability assessment is an increasingly important tool for informing planning and development decisions across the globe. This book provides the knowledge, inspiration and range of assessment tools in decision-making that students require to tackle sustainability assessment challenges.