Sustainable Development Indicators

Analyzing the self-sufficient Danish island of Samsø, this book explains sustainability through a bio-geophysical understanding of how to best use society’s limited resources to achieve true sustainability. The method used derives from the thermodynamic function of exergy. By analyzing exergy flows and establishing a system for evaluating the energy and the materials used in a society, the author creates a platform for monitoring certain indicators of sustainability. These indicators inform readers about the actions that must be taken and the time frames for achieving sustainability goals. The exergy-based approach is an important tool for carrying out such an analysis because it

• Focuses on several key thermodynamic concepts and the usefulness of exergy analysis for evaluating sustainability
• Explains sustainability by implementing thermodynamic laws to societal consumption and the use of resources
• Discusses new methods that integrate energy and material fluxes and evaluates them against each other
• Provides direct indicators for finding the largest problems/obstacles and deciding where measures should be taken
• Includes instructions on how to establish an accounting system for evaluating the energy and the materials used in a society

This book is aimed for professionals, researchers, and students working on nature conservation and environmental management projects related to sustainability.