Sustainability Indicators: a survey on the main evaluation systems

Abstract

This article presents the results of a survey which aims to determine the most important methods of evaluation to measure the sustainability of development. In this sense, the text discusses the environment crisis and its main consequences up to the appearance of the concept of sustainable development. This concept is seen considering different approaches in order to emphasizes the need for enhancing the knowledge about different sustainability indicators systems and their use. Systems of sustainable development indicators may be important tools for public or private environmental management as they are able to guide and measure the development. However, it is important a more detailed comprehension on the existing methodologies concerning to sustainable development. The first step towards a better comprehension on the sustainability evaluation tools is determining which of these tools are the most important in terms of international acknowledgment.