Sustainability Assessments in Developing Regions

Sustainability Assessments in Developing Regions

William Croft & Jeffrey Seay

University of Kentucky

Current day society is facing the escalating issue of maintaining global equilibrium. Factors contributing to the equilibrium imbalance include: global warming, energy, population, the economy, etc. Sustainability has the ability to integrate the array of contributing factors making the application crucial to global equilibrium. The understanding and application of sustainability is gradually emerging, however, sustainability is often generalized and misconstrued.  Sustainability assessments are commonly used in industry to promote a secure future while leaving a minimal footprint. Product and process designs can be assessed then sustainably optimized. Current assessments are applicable to most products and processes; however, assessment metrics are not adaptive to all global regions. Geography and impact have a direct relationship requiring the ability of an assessment to be calibrated for regional accuracy. In consequence, commonly used sustainability assessments are not effective in developing regions. Assessments for developing regions should encompass regionally appropriate economic, ecological and social indicators. Deployment of a sustainability assessment that accurately assesses developing regions can be transformative to regional and global equilibrium.