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Cited by 297Sustainable Development and Environmental ManagementSustainable Development and Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Philosophy and Ethics

Framing the Elusive Concept of Sustainability: A Sustainability Hierarchy

Marshall, Julian D., Toffel, Michael W.·2005·Environmental Science & Technology
DOI 10.1021/es040394k
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Abstract

Usage of the word "sustainability" is widespread and incorporates a plethora of meanings. After reviewing four extant sustainability frameworks, we propose a Sustainability Hierarchy to structure a broad array of issues that have been associated with sustainability. These issues vary widely in their urgency, severity and uncertainty of consequences, and temporal and spatial dimensions. It categorizes actions some view as unsustainable based on their direct or indirect potential to (i) endanger the survival of humans; (ii) impair human health, (iii) cause species extinction or violate human rights; or (iv) reduce quality of life or have consequences that are inconsistent with other values, beliefs, or aesthetic preferences. Effects considered include impediments to the ecosystem functions that support human life, human health, and species viability. This paper argues that for sustainability to become a more meaningful concept, the many worthy issues in the fourth category (values, beliefs, and aesthetic preferences) should not be considered sustainability concerns. Implications for companies, policy makers, and scientists are discussed.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Marshall, J. D., & Toffel, M. W.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published
2004-12-22
Volume
39
Issue
3
Pages
673-682
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
DOI
10.1021/es040394k
OpenAlex
W2095265001
Cited by
297
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 15
Type
other
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Environmental Philosophy and Ethics
Keywords
sustainability, sustainability framework, human survival, human health, species extinction, human rights, quality of life, aesthetic preference, ecosystem functioning
MeSH terms
Animals, Conservation of Natural Resources, Environment, Esthetics, Humans, Human Rights, Terminology as Topic, Policy Making, Public Health, Social Values, Ecosystem

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