MCDM methods to address sustainability challenges, such as climate change, resource management, and social justice
Authors: Riandari Fristi , Albert Marc Z. , Rogoff Stanley S. 
Published: May 2023

The novelty of the proposed research lies in its focus on developing and refining MCDM methods to address the complex and multifaceted nature of sustainability challenges, and evaluating the effectiveness and practicality of these methods in real-world decision-making contexts. While previous research has explored the application of MCDM methods to sustainability decision-making, this study aims to advance the field by addressing the following novel aspects: Comprehensive evaluation of MCDM methods: The study aims to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and practicality of various MCDM methods in addressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, resource management, and social justice. This evaluation will consider the strengths and limitations of each method, and identify opportunities for improvement. Incorporation of stakeholder values: The study will incorporate stakeholder values into the decision-making process, ensuring that the resulting decisions reflect the diverse perspectives and priorities of all stakeholders. This approach differs from traditional decision-making methods, which often prioritize the perspectives of a select few. Real-world decision-making contexts: The study will evaluate the effectiveness and practicality of MCDM methods in real-world decision-making contexts, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of these methods. This will help decision-makers to better understand how to apply MCDM methods to real-world sustainability challenges. The proposed research offers a novel and comprehensive approach to addressing sustainability challenges through the development and application of MCDM methods. By evaluating the effectiveness and practicality of these methods in real-world decision-making contexts, this study aims to provide decision-makers with a more comprehensive and informed approach to sustainability decision-making that reflects the diverse perspectives and priorities of all stakeholders. Future research in the area of MCDM methods to address sustainability challenges could focus on several areas, including: Cross-disciplinary collaborations: Given the complex and multifaceted nature of sustainability challenges, there is a need for cross-disciplinary collaborations between decision-makers, scientists, and stakeholders to develop and implement effective sustainability strategies. Future research could explore how MCDM methods can facilitate these collaborations and promote interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge sharing. Evaluation of long-term sustainability outcomes: While MCDM methods can help decision-makers to evaluate alternatives based on multiple criteria and stakeholder values, it may be challenging to evaluate the long-term sustainability outcomes of these decisions. Future research could explore how MCDM methods can be used to evaluate the long-term sustainability outcomes of decisions, and how the effectiveness of these methods can be measured over time. Incorporation of ethical considerations: Sustainability decision-making involves ethical considerations related to distributive justice, procedural justice, and environmental ethics. Future research could explore how MCDM methods can incorporate these ethical considerations into the decision-making process to ensure that sustainability decisions are not only efficient and effective but also ethically justifiable. Evaluation of MCDM methods in different decision-making contexts: MCDM methods may be more suitable for certain decision-making contexts than others. Future research could evaluate the effectiveness and practicality of MCDM methods in different decision-making contexts, such as public sector decision-making, corporate decision-making, or community-based decision-making. Development of user-friendly decision support tools: While MCDM methods can be effective in addressing sustainability challenges, they may be challenging to implement in practice. Future research could focus on the development of user-friendly decision support tools that can help decision-makers to implement MCDM methods more easily and effectively. Overall, future research in the area of MCDM methods to address sustainability challenges should focus on advancing the understanding and application of these methods in real-world decision-making contexts. By addressing the challenges and limitations of these methods and developing new approaches to address emerging sustainability challenges, researchers can help decision-makers to make more informed and sustainable decisions for the benefit of society and the environment.