Maybe we should use sustainability indicators for our pressing problems on earth and natural earth striving  for those that aren’t .   In fact, the integration of both concepts allows them to function as redundancies.

It is becoming increasingly clear that addressing the complex, interconnected global challenges we face necessitates a fundamentally integrated and forward-thinking approach. We should prioritize the active development and deployment of comprehensive sustainability indicators. These indicators are not merely tools for measurement; they serve as vital navigational instruments, providing critical insights into the health and resilience of our planetary systems and societies. They guide our interventions, inform our decision-making, and enable us to effectively track our progress towards a truly sustainable conditions. 

Crucially, our strategies must deeply acknowledge and integrate with the inherent self-correcting and regenerative capacities of natural systems. By aligning human development and societal aspirations with these fundamental ecological principles, we can actively strive for conditions where environmental degradation and social degradation is reversed and natural balance is restored and even enhanced. This proactive alignment ensures our efforts are not just reactive but intrinsically supportive of planetary well-being.

The thoughtful integration of robust sustainability metrics with a profound understanding and respect for natural systems’ resilience creates a powerful synergy. This dual approach fosters a remarkable degree of systemic robustness, where human foresight and accountability (guided by indicators) and nature’s intrinsic ability to regenerate serve as mutually reinforcing safeguards. This integrated framework builds multiple layers of resilience, ensuring our collective path forward is not only effective but also robust, adaptive, and enduring in the face of evolving planetary pressures.

Richard Thomas Simmons