Sustainability indicators
Sustainability indicators are quantitative measures that help us assess the health and viability of systems across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
- They provide insights into whether current practices are sustainable or if adjustments are needed to ensure long-term balance.
- They track biodiversity, pollution, population growth, climate change, and ecological footprints to evaluate whether development is sustainable.
- These indicators can be applied locally, nationally, or globally.
Key Sustainability Indicators
1. Biodiversity Indicators
- Measure how varied and abundant species are in an ecosystem.
- Useful because ecosystems with higher biodiversity tend to be more resilient.
Species richness and indices such as Simpson’s Diversity Index.
NoteSimpson’s Diversity Index provides a numerical value for species diversity.
2. Pollution Indicators
- Used to determine where and to what extent pollution is occurring.
- A common method is using indicator species, which are organisms that react predictably to pollution.
- Air Quality Index (AQI): measures pollutants like NO₂, SO₂, CO, PM2.5, and O₃.
- Biotic Index: uses aquatic organisms to infer water quality.
3. Climate Change Indicators
- Based on long-term records of changes in climate systems.
- Include:
- Mean global temperature
- Atmospheric CO₂ concentration
- Ocean pH
- Sea-level rise
- These indicators show the direction and pace of environmental change.
4. Human population/ Demographic Indicators
- Population growth and resource demand are closely linked.
- High growth rates often increase pressure on land, water and energy resources.
Population growth rate and Urbanization rate
Air Quality Index (AQI)
- AQI measures the concentration of major air pollutants and communicates their effect on human health.
- Used daily in major cities to inform the public and adjust industrial or transport activities.
New Delhi, India
- AQI regularly reaches hazardous levels during winter.
- Caused by vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, and crop-residue burning.
- Leads to increased respiratory illness, reduced outdoor activity, and economic losses.
AQI is a strong sustainability indicator because it directly reflects how human activity affects environmental and public health.
Ecological Footprint
Ecological footprint
An ecological footprint is the measure of the amount of land and water area required to provide all resources a population consumes and absorb waste and emissions (e.g., CO₂ absorption by forests)
- The ecological footprint reflects lifestyle, consumption patterns, and efficiency of resource use.
- It is expressed in global hectares (gha) per person.
The carbon footprint is a major part of the EF, reflecting the environmental cost of energy consumption.
Factors That Increase Ecological Footprint
- Diets high in meat and dairy.
- Dependence on private vehicles and aviation.
- Energy supply based mainly on fossil fuels.
