Abstract

The quest for sustainability is about the quality of life and the possibilities for maintaining this quality in the future. The extent to which this quest is fulfilled will depend both on the public opinion with respect to the desired quality of life and the distribution of this quality of life across the globe (reflected in four world views), and the scientific understanding of the functioning of humans and natural systems. The intention of this sustainability outlook then is to contribute to an ensuing public debate on the sustainability issue, through analysis of societal values and scientific insights.