Editor's Summary

The time has come for the U.S. government to improve national governance for sustainable development. To further this effort, the federal government must work to integrate sustainability into its national strategic processes by requiring agencies to achieve sustainable development; develop a set of indicators to measure activities, impacts, and trends quantitatively; and engage both the public and private sectors to help address sustainability threats. Furthermore, Congress should establish an Office of Sustainability Assessment, staffed by professionals from a range of disciplines, to advise it on sustainable development matters.