Public Sector Social-environmental Diagnosis Model: application in a federal autarky, Rio de Janeiro

Abstract: The Brazilian public administration system has thousands of organizations and departments at federal, state, and municipal levels, distributed throughout the national territory. These conduct activities that can have significant social and environmental impacts. The present research aims to propose a sustainability index through the Public Sector Social-environmental Diagnosis Model (DISASP). This model is based on the Environmental Management Accounting System developed by researchers from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. The proposed model complements this system by including the guidelines of the Environmental Public Administration Agenda, a Ministry of the Environment program that encourages socio-environmental management practices in the government sector. The DISASP method was tested in a federal autarky in the city of Rio de Janeiro. For institutional diagnosis, seven managers were sent a questionnaire containing 124 questions with eight thematic axes: Rational Use of Natural Resources and Public Goods; Adequate Waste Management; Quality of Life in the Work Environment; Awareness and Training; Sustainable Public Procurement; Sustainable Construction; Social and Environmental Responsibility; and Institutional Management. A “weak” sustainability index was obtained, indicating the need for this sector to improve its socio-environmental performance. The study indicated that DISASP adequately fulfilled its role as an instrument for assessing socio-environmental practices in the public sector. Future studies should extend application of the DISASP method to the autarky under study at various points in time, as well as apply it to other public agencies.

摘要：巴西公共行政体系在联邦、州及市级层面拥有数千个组织与部门，遍布全国各区域。这些机构开展的各类活动可能对社会与环境造成显著影响。本研究旨在依托公共部门社会环境诊断模型（Public Sector Social-environmental Diagnosis Model，缩写DISASP）构建一套可持续发展指标体系。该模型基于圣卡塔琳娜联邦大学研究者开发的环境管理会计系统，通过纳入环境公共行政议程（Environmental Public Administration Agenda）的指导框架对原有系统进行了补充——该议程是巴西环境部推出的一项旨在推动政府部门开展社会环境管理实践的项目。研究团队在里约热内卢市的一家联邦自治机构中对DISASP方法进行了测试。针对机构诊断环节，研究团队向7名管理人员发放了一份包含124个问题的调查问卷，该问卷涵盖八大主题维度：自然资源与公共产品合理利用、废弃物妥善管理、工作环境生活质量、认知与培训、可持续公共采购、可持续建设、社会与环境责任以及机构管理。最终得到的可持续发展指数评级为“薄弱”，表明该部门亟需提升其社会环境管理绩效。研究结果表明，DISASP作为评估公共部门社会环境管理实践的工具，充分发挥了其应有的作用。未来研究可将DISASP方法在本次研究的自治机构中开展多时点应用，并将其推广至其他公共机构。