a systematic process that ensures all stakeholders, affected disciplines, and sectors have an opportunity to be involved and examines all economic, environmental, and social costs and benefits in order to determine appropriate options, which are then brought together in a plan, or as a framework for making decisions. [fn]Source: (IISD 2005) from IISD website; http://www.iisd.org/sd/glossary.asp (updated: Aug 2005)[/fn]