Sustainability measurement

Sustainability measurement is a set of frameworks or indicators used to measure how sustainable something is. This includes processes, products, services and businesses. Sustainability is difficult to quantify.^[1] It may even be impossible to measure as there is no fixed definition.^[2] To measure sustainability, frameworks and indicators consider environmental, social and economic domains. The metrics vary by use case and are still evolving. They include indicators, benchmarks and audits. They include sustainability standards and certification systems like Fairtrade and Organic. They also involve indices and accounting. They can include assessment, appraisal^[3] and other reporting systems. The metrics are used over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.^[4]^[2] For organizations, sustainability measures include corporate sustainability reporting and Triple Bottom Line accounting.^[1] For countries, they include estimates of the quality of sustainability governance or quality of life measures, or environmental assessments like the Environmental Sustainability Index and Environmental Performance Index. Some methods let us track sustainable development.^[5]^[6] These include the UN Human Development Index and ecological footprints.

Two related concepts for sustainability measurement are planetary boundaries^[7] and ecological footprint.^[8] If the boundaries are not crossed and the ecological footprint does not exceed the carrying capacity of the biosphere, the mode of life can be regarded as sustainable.

A set of well defined and harmonized indicators can help to make sustainability tangible. Those indicators are expected to be identified and adjusted through empirical observations (trial and error).^[9] The most common critiques are related to issues like data quality, comparability, objective function and the necessary resources.^[10] However a more general criticism is coming from the project management community: "How can a sustainable development be achieved at global level if we cannot monitor it in any single project?".^[11]

^ ^a ^b Hardyment, Richard (2024-02-02). Measuring Good Business. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-003-45773-2.
^ ^a ^b Bell, Simon and Morse, Stephen 2008. Sustainability Indicators. Measuring the Immeasurable? 2nd edn. London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-299-6.
^ Dalal-Clayton, Barry and Sadler, Barry 2009. Sustainability Appraisal: A Sourcebook and Reference Guide to International Experience. London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-357-3.^{[page needed]}
^ Hak, T. et al. 2007. Sustainability Indicators, SCOPE 67. Island Press, London. [1] Archived 2011-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
^ Wackernagel, Mathis; Lin, David; Evans, Mikel; Hanscom, Laurel; Raven, Peter (2019). "Defying the Footprint Oracle: Implications of Country Resource Trends". Sustainability. 11 (7): 2164. doi:10.3390/su11072164.
^ "Sustainable Development visualized". Sustainability concepts. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
^ Steffen, Will (13 Feb 2015). "Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet". Science. 347 (6223): 1259855. doi:10.1126/science.1259855. hdl:1885/13126. PMID 25592418. S2CID 206561765.
^ "Ecological Footprints". Sustainability concepts. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
^ Reed, Mark S. (2006). "An adaptive learning process for developing and applying sustainability indicators with local communities" (PDF). Ecological Economics. 59 (4): 406–418. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.11.008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
^ "Annette Lang, Ist Nachhaltigkeit messbar?, Uni Hannover, 2003" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
^ "Do global targets matter?, The Environment Times, Poverty Times #4, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, 2010". Grida.no. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.

[:7-1] Hardyment, Richard (2024-02-02). Measuring Good Business. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-003-45773-2.

[:5-2] Bell, Simon and Morse, Stephen 2008. Sustainability Indicators. Measuring the Immeasurable? 2nd edn. London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-299-6.

[3] Dalal-Clayton, Barry and Sadler, Barry 2009. Sustainability Appraisal: A Sourcebook and Reference Guide to International Experience. London: Earthscan. ISBN 978-1-84407-357-3.^{[page needed]}

[4] Hak, T. et al. 2007. Sustainability Indicators, SCOPE 67. Island Press, London. [1] Archived 2011-12-18 at the Wayback Machine

[5] Wackernagel, Mathis; Lin, David; Evans, Mikel; Hanscom, Laurel; Raven, Peter (2019). "Defying the Footprint Oracle: Implications of Country Resource Trends". Sustainability. 11 (7): 2164. doi:10.3390/su11072164.

[6] "Sustainable Development visualized". Sustainability concepts. Retrieved 24 March 2022.

[7] Steffen, Will (13 Feb 2015). "Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet". Science. 347 (6223): 1259855. doi:10.1126/science.1259855. hdl:1885/13126. PMID 25592418. S2CID 206561765.

[8] "Ecological Footprints". Sustainability concepts. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.

[9] Reed, Mark S. (2006). "An adaptive learning process for developing and applying sustainability indicators with local communities" (PDF). Ecological Economics. 59 (4): 406–418. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.11.008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.

[10] "Annette Lang, Ist Nachhaltigkeit messbar?, Uni Hannover, 2003" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.

[11] "Do global targets matter?, The Environment Times, Poverty Times #4, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, 2010". Grida.no. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.

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