Technology choice for sustainable development

Abstract

At the heart of the concept of sustainable development is the concern that human interactions with the environment are becoming, or have already become, impossible to maintain in the long run. Eventually, these interactions could lead to an inability of the global biosphere to provide essential amenities and services for further human development. Thus, sustainable development is first a concern about environmental degradation, at least as understood by most observers in the industrial world. We adopt the Brundtland Report definition of sustainable development, and also recognize that in this terminology, development clearly represents more than material consumption and economic growth. It includes, among other things, education, cultural and social activity, health, justice, peace, and security. One of the critical elements of sustainable development lies in understanding the role that technological innovation plays in this process. Recognizing that technology is a critical ingredient in the sustainable development recipe, we devise an operational knowledge based tool that can help determine which technologies are best suited to the needs of a sustainable society. Our purpose is to present and explore this decision support tool in order to assist researchers and technology policy makers in structuring and making decisions in light of sustainable development goals.