Sustainability has become an important word in the world’s vocabulary. The United Nations defines it as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainability has generally been recognized as reaching a balance (in a community, area, state, nation or world) among economic vitality, environmental enhancement, and human well-being. Sustainability can be measured. Is Albuquerque a sustainable community? Has the quality of our community changed over the last 5 years, 10 years, 20 or 50?

As the prominent sustainability measurement researcher Maureen Hart has noted, “When society, economy and environment are viewed as separate, unrelated parts …, the community's problems are also viewed as isolated issues. Economic development [agencies] try to create more jobs. Social needs are addressed by health care services and housing [agencies]. Environmental agencies try to prevent and correct pollution problems.”

Solutions to one problem can make other problems worse. Creating affordable housing is a City of Albuquerque priority and a Desired Community Condition. (DCC #5: Safe, decent, and affordable housing is available.) However, if that housing exists only in areas far from employment, unintended consequences are created - increased traffic, more air pollution, and greater financial burdens on low and moderate income households caused by longer commutes and high energy prices.

In place of a stove pipe approach is a view of our community that values links between the economy, the environment and the society. This is the view of a sustainable community.

As Maureen Hart notes, “Actions to improve conditions in a sustainable community take these connections into account. The very questions asked about issues in a 'sustainable' community include references to these links. For example, the question 'Do the jobs available match the skills of the work force?' looks at the link between economy and education. Understanding the three parts and their links is the key to understanding sustainability, because sustainability is about more than just quality of life. It is about understanding the connections between and achieving balance among social equity, economic vitality, and environmental enhancement of a community.”

Albuquerque’s Goals and Desired Community Conditions are our framework for sustainability. They define what a Sustainable Albuquerque is or desires to be. The chart above connects Albuquerque’s framework to that of the United Nations.

The Albuquerque Progress Report is not a report about solutions. However, the APR also puts conditions (and solutions) in context and allows us to, as Mayor Chávez says, “…know where we are today. With this knowledge we can craft plans and take action to move us toward that desired future.” It provides a way for our community to focus on priorities. It begins to define problems and opportunities. It tries to assess conditions based on facts. If the Albuquerque Progress Report 2008 is to contribute to sustainable solutions in Albuquerque, those solutions will have to recognize the linkage among the desired conditions and how solutions designed to address one condition can impact others in unintended ways.