This scoping paper discusses options for the design of a single indicator of strong sustainability for development, in light of current proposals for sustainability indicators generally. It also discusses possible approaches for practical implementation of such an indicator, including associated data requirements.
The paper provides a theoretical framework to define environmental sustainability, and argues that to reflect the extent to which countries are close to environmental sustainability, indicators need to meet three conditions. First, they need to take the form of a distance-to-target indicator. Second, this reference point needs to represent the conditions under which the provision of critical functions of natural capital is maintained. Third, the indicator needs to be defined at the national level, as is the level at which most environmental policy is implemented.
It also proposes the Environmental Sustainability Gap (ESGAP) framework, which is intended to fill the indicator gap described above. It represents a dashboard of environmental sustainability indicators that provides a thematic overview of the extent to which a country can be considered environmentally sustainable across a wide range of environmental and resource issues.