Indicators of Sustainability

They can be an effective tool for communities and organizations to measure important things and make strategic choices on the following topics:

• their goals;
• how they are succeeding or failing at attaining their goals,
• how their work contributes to the various dimensions of sustainability;
• connections between those goals and achievements/failures;
• effective practical steps and strategies for moving towards a more sustainable world.

In view of the usefulness of indicators, when MV2050 was launched we picked sustainability indicators workshop as our initial top priority.

• A workshop on sustainability indicators at U.Mass. Lowell 2/24/97. For a report on this workshop, click here.
• A workshop on sustainability indicators at St. Joseph The Worker Shrine, Lowell, 3/8/98. This was organized by the Merrimack Valley Project. For a report on this workshop, click here.
• A workshop on sustainability indicators at the Rogers School, Lowell, 10/7/98. This was part of the program of the University of the Neighborhoods. For a report on this workshop, click here.

As a result, there is now a core of 5 local leaders who are ready to conduct other workshops.

For more information on indicators  of sustainability:

In all this work, we have received invaluable advice from Maureen Hart.  Ms Hart is a nationally-known expert on indicators of sustainability. For more information on her work, go to www.sustainablemeasures.com (Training information, resources for presentations, discussion of indicators etc.); for additional information on indicators of sustainability, go to www.redefiningprogress.org (Site of Redefining Progress, which includes alternatives to Gross Domestic Product, details of Ecological Footprints, policy proposals etc.); www.slnet.com (Simple Living Network, with resources for those wanting a conscious, healthy, simple lifestyle); www.worldwatch.org (Worldwatch Institute, who publish reports on many aspects of sustainability).