Environmental Decision-Making Tool: The GET Matrix

	Hari Srinivas
	GDRC Portal Series F-102

Abstract The GET Matrix is a decision-support framework developed by GDRC for analysing complex environmental problems. It structures intervention actions along three dimensions: Governance (rules, institutions, policy frameworks), Education (awareness-raising, capacity-building, learning) and Technology (technical systems, competencies, innovation) and applies them across global, national and local levels. By placing actors and interventions into this matrix, stakeholders can identify gaps, synergies and multi-level pathways for sustainable action.

Keywords GET Matrix, environmental decision-making, governance education technology, multi-level policy framework, stakeholder collaboration, sustainable development, climate change policy, decision-support tool

The GET Matrix: A Framework for Action

The GET Matrix (Governance, Education, and Technology Matrix) is a policy analysis framework designed to address complex problems by categorizing actions across three key themes-governance, education, and technology-while considering the roles of different actors.

The matrix is structured with three columns representing government agencies, business and industry, and civil society (including NGOs and NPOs), and three rows representing global, national, and local levels. Each cell highlights specific actions relevant to the theme, actor, and level, enabling a comprehensive approach to problem-solving.

The GET Matrix (illustrated below) is particularly useful for addressing multifaceted issues like climate change, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and aligning efforts across scales of governance and responsibility.

Figure 1: The GET Matrix

The GET Matrix is a versatile framework for analyzing and addressing global challenges by aligning governance, education, and technology with the roles of key stakeholders across global, national, and local levels. Its structured approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of how different actors-government agencies, businesses, and civil society - can collaborate effectively to implement solutions. By categorizing actions, the matrix highlights synergies and gaps, fostering more strategic policymaking and resource allocation.

Beyond climate change, the GET Matrix is equally applicable to other pressing environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss and desertification. For instance, in biodiversity conservation, the matrix can guide global governance through treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, national education initiatives to raise awareness of species protection, and local technology-driven conservation efforts such as drone monitoring of ecosystems.

Similarly, for desertification, the framework helps coordinate global agreements such as the UN Convention tp COmbact Deesertification (UNCCD), national policies to promote sustainable land management, and local community education programs to combat soil degradation. By emphasizing interconnected actions, the GET Matrix supports holistic solutions to environmental challenges, ensuring progress across scales and sectors.

There are a number of documents across the 15 research programmes of GDRC that have illustrated the use of the GET Matrix for policy analyses and action. A selection of documents are listed below:

GDRC Publications Referencing the GET Matrix

1. Environmental Decision-Making Programme

   • Introduction: Environmental Decision-Making
     https://www.gdrc.org/decision/introduction.html

   • Framework for Climate Action: The GET Matrix for Climate Change Policies
     https://www.gdrc.org/decision/GET-climate.html

   • A Decision Support Tool for Sustainable Building and Construction: The GET Matrix
     https://www.gdrc.org/uem/green-const/get-matrix.html

   • Intrapolation and Extrapolation: The dilemma of Global Policy-Making
     https://www.gdrc.org/decision/intra-extra/index.html

2. Sustainable Development Programme

   • A Quick Introduction to Circular Economies
     https://www.gdrc.org/sustbiz/circular-economy.html

   • Carbon, Carbon, Everywhere: A Lexicon of Carbon Terms
     https://www.gdrc.org/sustdev/carbon/full-carbon.html

3. Urban Environmental Management Programme

   • A Decision Support Tool: The GET Matrix
     https://www.gdrc.org/uem/green-const/get-matrix.html

   • Green Construction Resource Kit
     https://www.gdrc.org/uem/green-const/tab3-action.html

4. Urban Governance Programme

   • Enhancing Urban Governance: Integrating Multi-stakeholder Analysis into the GET Matrix
     https://www.gdrc.org/u-gov/multistakeholder-GET.html

5. Urban Heritage and Conservation Programme

   • Prioritizing Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region: Role of City Governments
     https://www.gdrc.org/heritage/heritage-priority.html

6. NGOs and Civil Society Programme

   • The Post-2015 Development Agendas: A Comprehensive Framework for Global Action
     https://www.gdrc.org/ngo/post-2015/ww-more.html

7. Gender and Development Programme

   • Gender and E-Waste: Policy Considerations for Developing Countries
     https://www.gdrc.org//gender/gender-ewaste/index.html

8. Informal Sector Programme

   • Four Corners of Policies for the Informal Sector: A Framework for Sustainable Development and Integration
     https://www.gdrc.org/informal/four-corners.html

9. Technology Management Programme

   • Technology Ecosystems and the SDGs
     https://www.gdrc.org/techtran/sdg/index.html

   • The Third Leg of Climate Policy and Action: Facilitating an Ecosystem for Climate Technologies
     https://www.gdrc.org/techtran/climate-tech/ecosystems.html

10. Sustainable Business Programme

    • A Quick Introduction to Circular Economies
      https://www.gdrc.org/sustbiz/circular-economy.html

11. Knowledge Management Programme

    • Knowledge Management for Problem Solving: Think Solutions https://www.gdrc.org/kmgmt/think.html

The GDRC Global-Local Hub The hub presents a set of GDRC research initiatives, which explore the inheret interlinkages between global initiatives, and its local implications on lifestyle choices and consumption patterns.	Info Repository on MEAs	Post-2015 Agendas	The GET Policy Matrix
	MEAs and the Urban Arena	The Trialogue: Big Three	Global Goals, Local Action

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