title: Towards a sustainable world through human factors and ergonomics: it is all about values.
abstract: In this paper, we analyse two approaches that attempt to address how a human factors and ergonomics (HFE) perspective can contribute to the sustainability of the human race. We outline the principles, purposes and fields of application of ergoecology and green ergonomics, and thereafter deal with their context of emergence, and the overlaps in purpose, and principles. Shared values are deduced and related to socio-technical principles for systems' design. Social responsibility and environmental/ecospheric responsibility are the leading threads of ergoecology and green ergonomics, giving rise to the values of: respect for human rights, respect for the Earth, respect for ethical decision-making, appreciation of complexity, respect for transparency and openness, and respect for diversity. We discuss the consequences of considering these values in HFE theory and practice.
authors.affiliation: a School of Industrial Design - MIMAPRO Research Group , Universidad Nacional de Colombia , Bogotá , Colombia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lange-Morales
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Acosta
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004463:Ecology; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D062069:Inventions; D012945:Social Values
keywords: ergoecology; ergonomics; green ergonomics; sustainability; values