During the UNCED conference in Rio de Janeiro 1992 unsustainable consumption and production patterns were identified as one of the key driving forces behind theunsustainable development of the world (Agenda 21, chapter 4). These consumption and production patterns are based on the European model...

The objective of this paper is to identify those areas of consumption in which private households can make significant contributions to environmental sustainability, and to present a transparent and comprehensive set of indicators for them. The analysis of the environmental impacts of households...

In Europe since the 1950s, average working hours have declined steadily and the time available for unpaid work has increased. Nonetheless, its contribution to the total standard of living has not been taken into account so far, although the majority of working hours in Germany and Europe is in...

Sustainability as described in Agenda 21 is characterised by a complex system of interacting targets in four dimensions social, environmental, economic and institutional. This four-dimensional approach is illustrated with a new communicative tool based on a spherical structure, the "prism of...

The author wishes to correct and complete the 'acknowledgements' as follows: <P>The scenarios described in this paper have been developed by the ALARM scenario team, with contributions from Andrea Stocker and Ines Omann (economic modelling), Tim Carter, Stefan Fronzek, Kirsti Jylha (climate data...</p>

The rapid loss of biodiversity (however measured) constitutes an urgent need to develop policy strategies that reduce the anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity. To go beyond short-term curative measures, such strategies must address the driving forces causing the pressures in an integrated...

Sustainable development is based on the integration of four dimensions: the economic, the environmental, the social and the institutional. For the economic dimension in particular, growth has been considered an essential element of sustainable development.<P>This paper discusses the relationship of...</p>

Objectives of sustainable development are defined for the economic, social and environmental dimension, but for effective compliance as well as for sustainability characteristics such as justice or participation they must be complemented by core institutional objectives. The CSD's set of...

The situation for developing indicators is not clear-cut, but characterised by three dilemmata making it particularly challenging. Only by combining a strategic approach with short-term flexibility, the effort can be successful. These dilemmas are characterised as Indicators vs. Indicator...