Sustainability is a topic that has gained importance in several fields of knowledge, including the public, private and society spheres, based on the discussions that involve the definition of several public policies. Sustainability Indicators (SI) are metrics that seek to measure the level of sustainability and compile information for better decision-making concerning policies, programs, projects and actions related to sustainability. Demonstrated their relevance to public policies the SI appears as an essential tool for evaluating development goals as a sustainable proposal. In this way, this research aimed to discuss the main challenges and methodological limitations found in the use of SI, emphasizing the main fragilities identified in the literature. In methodological terms, the research has exploratory characteristics, supported by the mixed methods approach using a theoretical-empirical analysis, from the available literature on the subject and the methodologies used and the experience of researchers about the topic addressed. The main results demonstrated that Sustainability Indicators are tools that should be used to define, implement, evaluate and monitor public policies at all levels, considering the potentialities/weaknesses and priorities of each context.

No Brasil, a concepção das bases teórico-metodológicas para implementação prática da educação ambiental na gestão de recursos hídricos encontra-se em estágio inicial. No entanto, no licenciamento ambiental, essas bases apresentam amadurecimento e possibilidade de contribuírem para a democratização da sociedade e superação das injustiças ambientais. O objetivo deste estudo, nesse sentido, consiste em discutir a educação ambiental no licenciamento e na gestão dos recursos hídricos, na perspectiva crítico-comparativa, com o propósito de subsidiar o avanço dessas práticas educativas. À semelhança do que ocorre no licenciamento, os impactos gerados pelo usuário de recursos hídricos podem ser mitigados ou compensados por meio de condicionantes de outorga, como programas de educação ambiental. Esta proposta preenche lacuna, no sentido de que usuários que não tiveram exigências no processo de licenciamento, ou não necessitaram de licença ambiental, ainda assim contribuiriam para a sustentabilidade dos recursos hídricos, capacitando a sociedade civil organizada para a gestão participativa das águas, por meio do desenvolvimento de Programas de Educação Ambiental.

One of the main command and control mechanisms for the environment is the environmental licensing process. However, the isolated adoption of this mechanism has not satisfactorily ensured the environmental quality of natural resources. On the other hand, an increasing number of organizations are voluntarily adhering to good environmental practices. As a result, approximating the relationship between command and control instruments (state regulation) and good practices becomes increasingly important for improving the environmental performance of organizations. Within this context, the present work proposes to evaluate how good environmental practices can strengthen and advance current environmental licensing models adopted in South America. This research consists of an exploratory case study, conducted with a qualitative approach. Several countries in South America were evaluated because of the great natural resources that the region has, as well as the European Economic Community, due to their adoption of the so-called “best available techniques” of environmental management since 1996. The results of the study indicated that voluntary adherence to international environmental management standards has evolved in the analyzed countries and that environmental agencies in South American countries could establish legal bases to consolidate the inclusion of good environmental practices in environmental licensing processes. It was also observed that some benefits could be given to organizations that implement good environmental practices, such as granting of licenses with extended terms; debureaucratization (with time gain) of administrative procedures; exemption or reduction of fees; and facilitation of financing. This study could thus support debates for the effective advancement of the current environmental licensing model. However, this hypothesis must be evaluated and consolidated through further research, carried out individually for each country analyzed.

Resumo As grandes corporações causam os danos mais significativos, mas podem contribuir para alcançar os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) e suas prioridades globais. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi mapear os potenciais impactos relacionados aos ODS, analisando o setor empresarial da construção civil brasileiro, incluindo algumas das principais empresas brasileiras dos seguintes segmentos: construtoras, fábricas e cimenteiras, analisando seus relatórios de sustentabilidade de acordo com o modelo da Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Foi identificado que apenas quatro entre os dezessete ODS não são diretamente afetados pelos aspectos materiais do setor de construção brasileiro. Por isso, foram feitas sugestões para a mitigação dos impactos causados, incluindo principalmente medidas governamentais de regulação e fiscalização, bem como medidas empresariais relativas ao modelo de gestão. Com base na teoria da Visão Baseada na Atenção, foram sugeridas contribuições aplicáveis ao modelo de gestão das empresas visando o alcance dos ODS.

Many maritime disasters lead to oil pollution, which undermines ecosystem balance, human health, the prosperity of countries and coastal areas across borders, and people's livelihoods. This is a problem that affects the whole world. Governments must strive to ensure that operations in the marine environment are safe and avoid oil pollution by adopting methods that anticipate future scenarios to mitigate the effects of this pollution when it occurs. This study investigates a method of managing contaminated coastal areas, aiming to contribute to the management of the environmental crisis caused by disasters through the use of online collaborative mapping by volunteer collaborators. Volunteer collaborators have been sending georeferenced data and photographs of locations affected by pollution. This information is processed and printed on a cartographic basis created by the web-mapping platform, Google MyMaps©. Photos of 90 locations were plotted on the map, and the pictures demonstrate that the oil slicks that reached the Brazilian coast had very different shapes and consistency. This research can contribute as a participatory monitoring tool during and after oil spills, promoting the oriented preservation of marine ecosystems through citizen science.

The large corporations cause the most significant damages, but they can contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and its global priorities. The purpose of this research was the map the main impacts related to SDG, analysing the business sector of Brazilian civil construction, including some of the main Brazilian companies of the following segments: construction companies, factories and cement plants, analysing their sustainability reports according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) model. Only four out of the seventeen SDG were found not to be directly affected by the material aspects of the Brazilian construction industry. Therefore, suggestions were made for the mitigation of the impacts caused, including mostly governmental actions for regulation and enforcement, as well as entrepreneurial action concerning the management model. Based on the Attention-Based View theory, contributions have been suggested applicable to the companies’ management model seeking to achieve the SDG.