Strong sustainability, critical natural capital and the capability approach

•This paper aims to improve the implementation of strong sustainability (SS)•It analyses the linkage between well-being and critical natural capital (CNC) through the capability approach (CA).•The rapprochement between CNC and CA form both the normative basis and the informational basis for implementation of SS.•This paper opens up avenues of research towards the practical implementation of human development from a SS perspective.

This article is an attempt to conceptually improve the notion of strong sustainability by creating a rapprochement between its core concept, critical natural capital, and the capability approach. We first demonstrate that the capability approach constitutes a relevant framework for analysing the multiple links between human well-being and critical natural capital. Second, we demonstrate that the rapprochement between critical natural capital and the capability approach can form both the normative basis and the informational basis for a deliberative approach to human development which embraces a strong sustainability perspective. This conceptual rapprochement, as illustrated in our case study, opens up avenues of research towards the practical implementation of human development projects from a strong sustainability perspective.