Thompson Rivers University

Professor Dewan proposes a working definition of sustainability related to high-priority policy issues

September 27, 2013

Since the publication of the Brundtland Commission Report numerous definitions of sustainability and many different sets of sustainability indicators have been proposed by researcher and various stakeholders. However, the quest for a useful composite index and a set of sustainability indicators related to high-priority policy issues still continues. Professor Dewan proposes a working definition of sustainability and a framework for integrating the large number of sustainability indicators into a smaller set of indicators. He defines sustainability in terms of human development, equity, damages to natural and social conditions, and future development potential. The set of indicators include economic, environmental, social, and cultural variables. Economic growth, environmental conditions, public debt, and productivity growth are some of the key indicators in the proposed set of sustainability indicators making it a set of high-priority policy issues. Dewan states that sustainability indicators should be “Like the stock market indices and the weather forecasts, which are reported daily in the news, the levels and changes of these sustainability indicators can be reported at regular intervals as part of local and national sustainability report cards. Professor Dewan published his research entitled “A set of sustainability indicators related to high-priority policy issues,” The International Journal of Sustainability Policy & Practice, 8 (1): 145-156.

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