Governance & Policy

Sustainability Indicator

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Definition

A sustainability indicator is a measurable variable used to track environmental, social or economic sustainability performance against objectives — from tonnes of CO₂e and water per unit output to lost-time injury rates and diversity percentages. Good indicators are relevant, measurable, comparable over time, and decision-useful; frameworks such as the SDG global indicator framework (231 indicators) and GRI standards systematise them, while composite indices aggregate them (with well-documented trade-offs).

References

www.globalreporting.orgBulk import source

This reference provides supporting context for how “Sustainability Indicator” is defined and used.

unstats.un.orgBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Overview

How it is used

Indicators structure target setting, reporting frameworks, SDG monitoring, executive pay linkage and ESG data products.

Why it matters

Organisations become what they measure; sustainability indicators decide whether they measure what counts.