SUSTAINABILITY - A REVIEW OF THE DEBATE AND AN EXTENSION

This paper argues that the current debate on sustainability is obscure d by a number of misunderstandings. These relate, first, to the ongoin g dispute between ecologists and economists holding different visions about the limits of economic growth and the carrying capacity of the E arth; and second, to the discrepancy between theoretical sustainabilit y and practical sustainability. The paper concludes that the current v agueness surrounding sustainability may be reduced by reframing the de bate. It demonstrates that the dispute between ecologists and economis ts can largely be considered as unproductive because the only sustaina bility concept supported by theory is that of 'strong sustainability'. The paper argues further that the gap between theoretical and practic al sustainability may be bridged by distinguishing three concepts whic h properly account for informational inadequacies and human preference s in the design of sustainability constraints. These are: the 'sustain able EUS' (Environmental Utilization Space), the 'measured EUS', and t he 'chosen EUS'.