This timeline captures influences on planetary systems and societies as humans grew in numbers and wealth, and associated impacts escalated even faster. The first Sustainability Timeline document was published in 2015. It is updated annually and attempts to capture the key aspects of sustainable development.

Glimpses of sustainability are emerging as global population is likely to peak before 2080. Increasingly, pathways are available for reduced material extraction, fossil fuel combustion, and biodiversity loss.

The timeline is further divided into categories: Exploration and discovery, society and culture, planetary impacts, improving outcomes, and growing the economy. Below are links to the main timeline, a PDF version, and the five individual categories.

Timeline by topic area