Humanity's economic future is linked to the integrity of natural systems. We must act to preserve as many options as possible for future generations since they have the right to determine for themselves their own needs. Protecting the environment is impossible unless we improve the economic prospects of the Earth's poorest peoples. The Sustainable Seattle Indicators Project was in part a local response to these global efforts. While we continue to publish the Indicators, our work is focusing more and more on projects to help move them in the right direction.
Indicators are bits of information that highlight what is happening in the large system.
For example, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is an indicator of the health of the stock market. It doesn't include every stock, but covers a representative sample. Trends in that sample closely match trends in the stock market as a whole. Another example is the Northern Spotted Owl, which is an indicator of the health of old growth forest habitat in the Pacific Northwest. Knowing the owl's status tells us the probable status of many other species of plants and animals, without having to evaluate each one individually.