Standard reference on sustainability, a comprehensive introduction for higher education

ELEMENT NOTE: 4th, fully revised edition in preparation, planned for 2028 ELEMENT CROSSLINK to “News Button UTB Book”.)

Why this work exists and what it changes in the reader’s mind

This standard reference textbook provides a comprehensive and accessible foundation for understanding sustainability, bringing together its theoretical foundations, historical development, and interdisciplinary systems perspective in a clear and structured way.

“What is this about?”

My first academic textbook as a student was published by UTB. At a time when I was searching for orientation, the UTB / UVK catalogue — especially the Red Series — became a trusted point of reference. I returned to these books again and again because they offered something rare: clarity, reliability, and a comprehensible entry into complex fields across disciplines. This book was written in that same spirit. Its aim is to provide a clear and accessible foundation in sustainability that integrates theory and practice and serves students regardless of their disciplinary background or future academic path. The focus lies on conveying the essential foundations of sustainability in a structured and intelligible way — from theory to concept (relevance, history, systematics, trends) and from concept to implementation (policy, economy, law, science, and societal models). The book follows a clear learning logic: from the general to the specific, from theory to practice, and from strategic orientation to concrete implementation.

“Why does this matter now?”

Sustainability matters now. And it cuts across all fields of study, research, and knowledge. The more systematically and clearly students understand it, the faster and more effectively meaningful transformation becomes possible. Broad, well-founded understanding is not optional; it is the precondition for developing viable ways of living and working in the future.

“Who is this especially useful for?”

The textbook is designed as an integrative, interdisciplinary introduction to sustainability for students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level across all fields of study. It requires no prior knowledge and offers a didactically clear, well-structured, and highly readable entry into the topic. Complex relationships are made accessible through consistent visual guidance. Definitions, key takeaways, studies, survey results, case studies, practical applications, cross-references, tables, diagrams, matrices, and overview graphics (such as scenario funnels and roadmaps) support structured learning and understanding. Interactive QR codes provide access to up-to-date content and enable hybrid learning. As a result, this book is not only widely used by students, but also frequently cited — serving as a reliable reference and working tool throughout their studies.

After reading this, you will understand…

…that a physical, tangible book can still be a reliable intellectual companion — a reference you return to, browse back and forth in, and explore as a whole. Sustainability knowledge becomes accessible, coherent, and always within reach.