Component

Logic

Environmental Systems

A country is more likely to be environmentally sustainable to the extent that its vital environmental systems are maintained at healthy levels, and to the extent to which levels are improving rather than deteriorating

Reducing Environmental Stresses

A country is more likely to be environmentally sustainable if the levels of anthropogenic stress are low enough to engender no demonstrable harm to its environmental systems

Reducing Human Vulnerability

A country is more likely to be environmentally sustainable to the extent that people and social systems are not vulnerable to environmental disturbances that affect basic human wellbeing; becoming less vulnerable is a sign that a society is on a track to greater sustainability

Social and Institutional Capacity

A country is more likely to be environmentally sustainable to the extent that it has in place institutions and underlying social patterns of skills, attitudes, and networks that foster effective responses to environmental challenges

Global Stewardship

A country is more likely to be environmentally sustainable if it cooperates with other countries to manage common environmental problems, and if it reduces negative trans-boundary environmental impacts on other countries to levels that cause no serious harm