Sustainability and its measurement

This paper critically reviews the existential need, history, role and status of applying quantitative scientific sustainable development in all human activities of globally-affecting magnitude, such as energy, water and food, and it organically incorporates criteria and effects of the interactions between technology and society. Sustainability metrics and their ongoing development are described, and their combination into a single aggregate indicator for functional use in analysis and optimization is formulated. In contrast with most studies that focus on using the metrics and indicators mainly for monitoring progress to sustainability, this paper emphasizes the importance of integrating them into the planning, design, and development process, for a-priori creation of sustainable development, products, and systems. Some of the main obstacles that scientists and engineers face in this endeavor are defined as (a) the reductionist practice of scientific research tends to focus on the details of a system, while paying little attention to the broader implications of the work, (b) the difficulty in crossing disciplinary boundaries due to lack of consilience (c) the arrogance of specialization, (d) definition of time and space boundaries, and use of the very wide-ranged multiple scales, and (e) some weakness of tools for solving Very Large Complex Systems. While formidable, these obstacles can be overcome, especially through education beginning from the earliest ages. The weaknesses of the political system to implement national and global sustainable development because of the need for long-term multi-generational and international scope, as well as the critical need for an ethical approach, are identified. There is clearly a need for effective multidisciplinary work, creating a common language and mutual respect; the advent of sustainability science. A brief example of the application of sustainability analysis for national planning is included, which is taken from a quantitative examination of sustainable development in 10 developing Southeast European countries, with comparison to