Below is a collection of some common sustainability frameworks and their descriptions. These frameworks articulate different components of what sustainability means and are often used in industry. They span topics and issues, presenting them as aspects of the concept of sustainability, sometimes, but not always, with relation to one another.
This summary is not intended to adjudicate different models, or provide an academic list of definitions, but rather to give you some ways of thinking about sustainability to reflect upon. This brief descriptions are intended to provide some information about the framework, which you can further research and reflect upon. Frameworks for sustainability are constantly expanding and are often contested across and within disciplines. If there are other frameworks you would recommend we include, or if you have suggested edits, please email us.
Environment, Social, Governance (ESG)
An acronym for Environment, Social, and Governance, ESG is a set of metrics and practices within an organization on the topic of sustainability as it relates to each of these areas. These are used to evaluate a company beyond financial performance. (BDC, 2024). This approach is more commonly used within the business and finance community, and is often considered synonymous with corporate sustainability, though there are meaningful differences.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs are an international call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and natural world, and foster peace and prosperity. The goals are inherently integrated, as action in one area naturally will affect another (UNDP, n.d.) They span 17 different goals, broadly falling under the above three pillars but with more specific objectives and targets.
Planetary Boundaries Framework
The Planetary Boundaries framework encompasses 9 boundaries within which humans can continue to develop and thrive (Ernstberger, 2023). This is a more scientific extension of the natural dependencies, introducing the context of ecological limits within which human social and economic activity can take place.
Safe and Just Ecosystem Boundaries
A set of Earth System Boundaries to ensure the stability of the planet and safety for humans (Rockstrom et al., 2023). This builds off the Planetary Boundaries framework, while also emphasizing equity in access to resources within planetary limits, and justice in distribution of impacts when limits are breached.
Sources
BDC. (2024, January 16). What is ESG? https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/sustainability/environment/what-esg-and-what-does-mean-business
Ernstberger, J. (2023). Planetary boundaries. Stockholm Resilience Centre. https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html
Rockström, J., Gupta, J., Qin, D. et al. Safe and just Earth system boundaries. Nature 619, 102–111 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8
UNDP. (n.d.). Sustainable development goals. https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals