  The advancement of software sustainability encounters notable challenges,
underscoring the necessity for understanding these challenges to facilitate
significant progress and pave the way for effective solutions to advance
software sustainability. This paper outlines key challenges identified in
literature based on findings from a tertiary study. Challenges identified
include: confusion regarding the definition of software sustainability,
uncertainty about when to consider sustainability in software development, lack
of assessment metrics and tools, narrow perspectives on sustainability in
software systems, insufficient awareness and education, and a lack of serious
considerations in practice. The paper aims at clarifying the confusion
surrounding software sustainability to motivate effective solutions. The
provided recommendations aim to give a more organized approach towards
advancing sustainable software development, emphasizing comprehensive
strategies, the integration of sustainability as a fundamental aspect of
software development, actionable research directions, and the cultivation of a
common understanding of sustainable software.
