Mind the sustainability gap

Joern Fischer; Adrian D. Manning; Will Steffen; Deborah B. Rose; Katherine Daniell; Adam Felton; Stephen Garnett; Ben Gilna; Rob Heinsohn; David B. Lindenmayer; Ben MacDonald; Frank Mills; Barry Newell; Julian Reid; Libby Robin; Kate Sherren; Alan Wade

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2007.08.016

Mind the sustainability gap

Joern Fischer^*, Adrian D. Manning, Will Steffen, Deborah B. Rose, Katherine Daniell, Adam Felton, Stephen Garnett, Ben Gilna, Rob Heinsohn, David B. Lindenmayer, Ben MacDonald, Frank Mills, Barry Newell, Julian Reid, Libby Robin, Kate Sherren, Alan Wade

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

149 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite increasing efforts to reach sustainability, key global biophysical indicators such as climate change and biodiversity loss continue to deteriorate rather than improve. Ongoing failure to move towards sustainability calls into question the focus of current research and policy. We recommend two strategies for progress. First, sustainability must be conceptualized as a hierarchy of considerations, with the biophysical limits of the Earth setting the ultimate boundaries within which social and economic goals must be achieved. Second, transdisciplinary research programs must confront key normative questions facing modern consumer societies. The humanities should have a key role in such programs. Assisted by these strategies, ambitious targets that realistically reflect the biophysical limits of the life-support system of the Earth must be set and relentlessly worked towards.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	621-624
Number of pages	4
Journal	Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Volume	22
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.08.016
Publication status	Published - Dec 2007

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10.1016/j.tree.2007.08.016

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AU - Steffen, Will

AU - Rose, Deborah B.

AU - Daniell, Katherine

AU - Felton, Adam

AU - Garnett, Stephen

AU - Gilna, Ben

AU - Heinsohn, Rob

AU - Lindenmayer, David B.

AU - MacDonald, Ben

AU - Mills, Frank

AU - Newell, Barry

AU - Reid, Julian

AU - Robin, Libby

AU - Sherren, Kate

AU - Wade, Alan

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AB - Despite increasing efforts to reach sustainability, key global biophysical indicators such as climate change and biodiversity loss continue to deteriorate rather than improve. Ongoing failure to move towards sustainability calls into question the focus of current research and policy. We recommend two strategies for progress. First, sustainability must be conceptualized as a hierarchy of considerations, with the biophysical limits of the Earth setting the ultimate boundaries within which social and economic goals must be achieved. Second, transdisciplinary research programs must confront key normative questions facing modern consumer societies. The humanities should have a key role in such programs. Assisted by these strategies, ambitious targets that realistically reflect the biophysical limits of the life-support system of the Earth must be set and relentlessly worked towards.

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JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution

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Mind the sustainability gap

Abstract

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