We develop and formalize a utilitarian notion of responsibility for sustainability
which is inspired by Singer‟s (1972) principle and the Brundtland Commission‟s notion of
sustainability (WCED 1987). We relate this notion of responsibility to established criteria for
the assessment of intertemporal societal choice, namely Pareto-efficiency, (discounted)
utilitarian welfare maximization, and Brundtland-sustainability. Using a two-generationsresource-
model, we find the following. Sustainability and responsibility for sustainability are
equivalent if and only if sustainability is feasible. If it is not, there still exists a responsible
allocation which is also Pareto-efficient. Further, the utilitarian welfare maximum without
discounting always fulfills the criterion of responsibility. Discounting may be responsible to a
certain extent if sustainability is feasible. If sustainability is not feasible, discounting is not
responsible.