Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review
A growing number of sustainability studies establish well-being frameworks for building social foundations within environmental limits. Numerous indicators are used to track and monitor the progress of well-being. Yet, the overlap and differences among frameworks limit a holistic, consolidated, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008209 |
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| author | Jing Li Anne Warchold Prajal Pradhan |
| author_facet | Jing Li Anne Warchold Prajal Pradhan |
| author_sort | Jing Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A growing number of sustainability studies establish well-being frameworks for building social foundations within environmental limits. Numerous indicators are used to track and monitor the progress of well-being. Yet, the overlap and differences among frameworks limit a holistic, consolidated, and systemic understanding. Our systematic literature review addresses this gap, identifying 108 papers on well-being in sustainability studies and compiling a dataset of 725 unique socioeconomic indicators across these studies. We compared these indicators with two major frameworks, the ‘Safe and Just Space for Humanity’ and the ‘2030 Agenda’ with its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other well-being frameworks. We identified an unequal distribution of indicators, with objective indicators predominating over subjective ones, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach to measure well-being. We also identified indicators beyond existing frameworks and developed an integrated social foundation by incorporating indicators across five themes and 21 dimensions. Our framework integrates individuals, social groups, society, and the environment, considering future impacts and various forms of equity. Doing so will enhance the clarity and efficacy of well-being indicators, support policy-making, and achieve social foundations within planetary boundaries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db5f374b324348cb9b8e9e1a8ef5a49f |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-db5f374b324348cb9b8e9e1a8ef5a49f2025-08-02T04:46:38ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-09-01178113890Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature reviewJing Li0Anne Warchold1Prajal Pradhan2Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands; Corresponding author.Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, The NetherlandsIntegrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands; Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, P.O. Box 60 12 03, Potsdam, D-14412, GermanyA growing number of sustainability studies establish well-being frameworks for building social foundations within environmental limits. Numerous indicators are used to track and monitor the progress of well-being. Yet, the overlap and differences among frameworks limit a holistic, consolidated, and systemic understanding. Our systematic literature review addresses this gap, identifying 108 papers on well-being in sustainability studies and compiling a dataset of 725 unique socioeconomic indicators across these studies. We compared these indicators with two major frameworks, the ‘Safe and Just Space for Humanity’ and the ‘2030 Agenda’ with its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as other well-being frameworks. We identified an unequal distribution of indicators, with objective indicators predominating over subjective ones, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach to measure well-being. We also identified indicators beyond existing frameworks and developed an integrated social foundation by incorporating indicators across five themes and 21 dimensions. Our framework integrates individuals, social groups, society, and the environment, considering future impacts and various forms of equity. Doing so will enhance the clarity and efficacy of well-being indicators, support policy-making, and achieve social foundations within planetary boundaries.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008209Sustainable developmentSocial foundationWell-beingIndicatorSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Systematic review |
| spellingShingle | Jing Li Anne Warchold Prajal Pradhan Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review Ecological Indicators Sustainable development Social foundation Well-being Indicator Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Systematic review |
| title | Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review |
| title_full | Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review |
| title_short | Revisiting social foundations and well-being indicators for sustainability: Insights from a systematic literature review |
| title_sort | revisiting social foundations and well being indicators for sustainability insights from a systematic literature review |
| topic | Sustainable development Social foundation Well-being Indicator Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Systematic review |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008209 |
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