title: Mind the sustainability gap.
abstract: Despite increasing efforts to reach sustainability, key global biophysical indicators such as climate change and biodiversity loss continue to deteriorate rather than improve. Ongoing failure to move towards sustainability calls into question the focus of current research and policy. We recommend two strategies for progress. First, sustainability must be conceptualized as a hierarchy of considerations, with the biophysical limits of the Earth setting the ultimate boundaries within which social and economic goals must be achieved. Second, transdisciplinary research programs must confront key normative questions facing modern consumer societies. The humanities should have a key role in such programs. Assisted by these strategies, ambitious targets that realistically reflect the biophysical limits of the life-support system of the Earth must be set and relentlessly worked towards.
authors.affiliation: The Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. joern.fischer@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Joern
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Adrian D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: Deborah B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daniell
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felton
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garnett
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilna
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heinsohn
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lindenmayer
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Libby
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sherren
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D011640:Public Policy; D012106:Research