Sustainability: Concepts, Definitions, and Applications

Abstract

People and societies face important sustainability challenges, which are expected to become more significant in the future. Making societies and their development more sustainable requires consideration of economic, social, and environmental factors among others. Assessment tools are needed to evaluate sustainability and how it is affected by modifications. To account for all relevant factors, a comprehensive set of indicators is required, including practical quantitative indicators and qualitative indicators where necessary. In this chapter, sustainability definitions are reviewed and the historical context for sustainability is briefly described. Then sustainability is discussed, focusing on its economic, environmental, and social dimensions, and the related concept of sustainable development is examined. Finally, assessment measures for sustainability are examined, and several applications are presented.