TREN 1F90 Introduction to Sustainability. courses/tren3p18 These notes available via the online course outline at:

TREN 1F90TREN 1F90

Introduction to Introduction to SustainabilitySustainability

http://www.brocku.ca/tren/courses/tren3p18

These notes available via the These notes available via the online course outline at:online course outline at:




TREN 1F90

Introduction to Sustainability

Definitions

– environment

– policy

– scale

– jurisdiction Defining Sustainable Development About Interdisciplinarity

Definitions, tools Definitions, tools and frameworksand frameworks

en·vi·ron·menten·vi·ron·ment in-'vI-r&(n)-m&nt, -'vI(-&)r(n)-

[n] 1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions [n] 1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surroundedby which one is surrounded

2 a : the complex of physical, chemical, and 2 a : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form community and ultimately determine its form and survival b : the aggregate of social and and survival b : the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community.individual or community.

- Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2004

environmentenvironment [n] [n] the totality of the totality of

surrounding conditions.surrounding conditions.

environmentalenvironmentaleffectseffects

……are felt, and modified, in 3 main ways are felt, and modified, in 3 main ways - through the flows of:- through the flows of:

MATERIALSMATERIALS ENERGYENERGY

INFORMATIONINFORMATION -> -> fundamental ‘spheres of influence’ fundamental ‘spheres of influence’

for sustainabilityfor sustainability

policypolicy

……a course or general plan of action to be a course or general plan of action to be adopted by a government, party, person, adopted by a government, party, person, etc.etc.

- Concise Oxford Dictionary

policypolicy

……a selected, planned line of a selected, planned line of conduct in the light of which conduct in the light of which individual decisions are made and individual decisions are made and coordination achievedcoordination achieved

- Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary

ENVI conceptual toolsENVI conceptual tools

scalescale

- - an ordered series of an ordered series of graduated quantities, values, graduated quantities, values, degrees, etc.degrees, etc.

- - relative magnituderelative magnitude

- Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary

scalescalemay be:may be:

- - physical / geographicalphysical / geographical– ranking based upon size, dimension, ranking based upon size, dimension,

geographical subunit, etc.geographical subunit, etc.

- - ecologicalecological– individual, deme, community, populationindividual, deme, community, population

- - jurisdictionaljurisdictional– local, municipal, regional, federal, globallocal, municipal, regional, federal, global

scalescale

earthearth

continentcontinent

countrycountry

provinceprovince

regionregion

municipalitymunicipality

neighbourhoodneighbourhood

householdhousehold

individualindividual

United NationsUnited Nations

..

..

governmentsgovernments

..

..

ngos / community groupsngos / community groups

..

individualsindividuals

GLOBAL / MACROGLOBAL / MACRO

LOCAL / MICROLOCAL / MICRO

spatialspatial jurisdictional /jurisdictional /decision makingdecision making

jurisdictionjurisdiction- - the legal power to administer and the legal power to administer and

enforce the lawenforce the law

- the exercising of this power- the exercising of this power

- the region within which this power is - the region within which this power is valid or in which a person has valid or in which a person has authorityauthority

- authorityauthority - Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary

Defining Defining SustainableSustainable

DevelopmentDevelopment

Sustainable development:Sustainable development:

meeting the needs of the meeting the needs of the present without compromising present without compromising the ability of future generations the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.to meet their own needs.

– World Commission on Environment and World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Development (1987): Our Common FutureOur Common Future

Elements of sustainabilityElements of sustainability

Environment

Economy Society

- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

the sustainable the sustainable development triangledevelopment triangle


Environment

Economy Society



Environment


•biodiversitybiodiversity•materialsmaterials

•energyenergy•biophysical interactionsbiophysical interactions


Economy


•money and capitalmoney and capital•employmentemployment

•technological growthtechnological growth•investmentinvestment

•market forcesmarket forces


Society


•human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)•equity (dependence / independence)equity (dependence / independence)

•quality of lifequality of life•institutional structures and organizationinstitutional structures and organization

•political structurespolitical structures

The ‘The ‘3 Es3 Es’ Model ’ Model

Ecology

Economy Equity

The Healthy Community Model The Healthy Community Model

SOCIETYSOCIETY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

ECONOMYECONOMY

HEALTHHEALTH

Sustainability: PROBLEMSSustainability: PROBLEMS Depletion of finite resourcesDepletion of finite resources

– fuels, soil, minerals, speciesfuels, soil, minerals, species Over-use of renewable resourcesOver-use of renewable resources

– forests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public fundsforests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public funds PollutionPollution

– air, water, soilair, water, soil InequityInequity

– economic, political, social, gendereconomic, political, social, gender Species lossSpecies loss

– endangered species and spacesendangered species and spaces

- WCED, 1987- WCED, 1987

Sustainability: SOLUTIONSSustainability: SOLUTIONS Cyclical material useCyclical material use

– emulate natural cycles; 3 R’semulate natural cycles; 3 R’s Safe reliable energySafe reliable energy

– conservation, renewable energy, conservation, renewable energy, substitution, interim measuressubstitution, interim measures

Life-based interestsLife-based interests– health, creativity, communication, health, creativity, communication,

coordination, appreciation, learning, coordination, appreciation, learning, intellectual and spiritual developmentintellectual and spiritual development

Two key sustainable development concepts:Two key sustainable development concepts:

EQUITYEQUITY

LIMITS TO GROWTHLIMITS TO GROWTH

-WCED 1987-WCED 1987


the concept of the concept of needsneeds, particularly the essential , particularly the essential needs of the world’s poorneeds of the world’s poor

EQUITYEQUITY



EQUITYEQUITY• the quality of being fair or impartial;the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality fairness; impartiality

• something that is fair and just.something that is fair and just.

-dictionary.com-dictionary.com

Contrast with:Contrast with:

EQUALITYEQUALITY• the state or quality of being equal;the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability. value, rank, or ability.

• uniform character, as of motion or uniform character, as of motion or surface. surface.

-dictionary.com-dictionary.com


the idea of the idea of limitationslimitations (ecological, technological, (ecological, technological, and social) which affect the environment’s and social) which affect the environment’s ability to meet present and future needsability to meet present and future needs

LIMITS TO GROWTH LIMITS TO GROWTH



LIMITS TO GROWTHLIMITS TO GROWTH- - quantitative quantitative andand qualitative limits qualitative limits- living within the regenerative and- living within the regenerative and

assimilative capacities of the assimilative capacities of the planetplanet


Sustainable development...Sustainable development...

implies limitsimplies limits Not predefined absolute limits, but Not predefined absolute limits, but

limitations imposed by:limitations imposed by:– the ability of the biosphere to absorb the the ability of the biosphere to absorb the

effects of human activitieseffects of human activities– adaptability of human social and political adaptability of human social and political

organizationorganization– technologytechnology

Sustainable development Sustainable development and economic growthand economic growth

Economic growth must be made:Economic growth must be made:– less material intensive (‘dematerialization of less material intensive (‘dematerialization of

the economy’)the economy’)– less energy intensiveless energy intensive– more equitable in its impactsmore equitable in its impacts

Economic growth may be reduced or Economic growth may be reduced or curtailed to meet limitations imposed by curtailed to meet limitations imposed by environment, technology, or societyenvironment, technology, or society

Institutional gaps impeding Institutional gaps impeding sustainable developmentsustainable development

2 major gaps:2 major gaps: fragmented decision makingfragmented decision making

– narrow mandates, jurisdictional rigidity, narrow mandates, jurisdictional rigidity, lack of communication and coordinationlack of communication and coordination

lack of accountabiitylack of accountabiity– failure to make the bodies whose policy failure to make the bodies whose policy

actions degrade the environment actions degrade the environment responsible for their actions responsible for their actions

materials and materials and energyenergy

Obsolescent “frontier” civilization:Obsolescent “frontier” civilization:

ENERGYENERGY

CONVENTIONALCONVENTIONALURBAN SYSTEMURBAN SYSTEM

MATERIALSMATERIALS

HEATHEAT

WASTE &WASTE &TOXINSTOXINS

One-way flow of materials and energyOne-way flow of materials and energy

CONSUMERCONSUMERSOCIETYSOCIETY

NON-RENEWABLENON-RENEWABLEand RENEWABLEand RENEWABLE

HIGHHIGHTHROUGHPUTTHROUGHPUT

CONSERVERCONSERVERSOCIETYSOCIETY

Sustainable civilization:Sustainable civilization:

•Cyclical flows of materials Cyclical flows of materials •Appropriate energy usageAppropriate energy usage

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

RENEWABLERENEWABLE

Waste MinimizationWaste MinimizationToxics controlToxics control

LOWLOWTHROUGHPUTTHROUGHPUT

ENERGYENERGY

MATERIALSMATERIALS

Low-qualityLow-qualityHeat EnergyHeat Energy

Low-volumeLow-volumeNontoxic Nontoxic Waste Waste MaterialsMaterials

informationinformationand decision and decision

makingmaking

Sustainable development...Sustainable development...

considers future and present needs considers future and present needs when when making decisionsmaking decisions about: about:– resource and energy useresource and energy use

– technological developmenttechnological development

– direction of investmentsdirection of investments

– social, political & institutional social, political & institutional change...etc. etc. etc.change...etc. etc. etc.

ECONOMYECONOMY

ENV’TENV’T

SOCIETYSOCIETY

TRADITIONALDECISION MAKING

ECONOMYECONOMY

ENV’TENV’T

SOCIETYSOCIETY


• NON-PARTICIPATORYNON-PARTICIPATORY

•FRAGMENTEDFRAGMENTED

SOCIETYSOCIETY


ECONOMYECONOMY

ECONOMYECONOMY

ENV’TENV’T

SOCIETYSOCIETY


ECOSYSTEM-BASEDDECISION MAKING

‘‘ECO-ECO-

SYSTEMSYSTEM

HEALTH’HEALTH’

SOCIETYSOCIETY


ECONOMYECONOMY

ECOSYSTEM-BASEDDECISION MAKING

• PARTICIPATORYPARTICIPATORY

• INTEGRATEDINTEGRATED

‘‘ECO-ECO-

SYSTEMSYSTEM

HEALTH’HEALTH’

Fragmented decision-makingFragmented decision-making

ISSUE ISSUE federal /federal /

nationalnational

municipalmunicipal

publicpublic

privateprivate

provincial /provincial /

statestateregionalregional

otherother

interestsinterests

communitycommunity

groupsgroups

- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

Integrated decision-makingIntegrated decision-making

regionalregional

provincial/provincial/

statestatemunicipalmunicipalmunicipal

privateprivateprivate

communitycommunitycommunity

groupsgroupsgroups

publicpublicpublicother other

interestsinterests

federal/federalfederal/

nationalnationalnationalISSUEISSUEISSUE

- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

decision makingdecision making

• reactivereactive


• reactivereactive (‘end of pipe’)(‘end of pipe’)


• anticipatoryanticipatory



• anticipatoryanticipatory(planning for (planning for change)change)



• radicalradical




• radicalradical(fundamental; (fundamental; root causes)root causes)




• radicalradical



• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change in demandchange in demand - - less consumptionless consumption - alternative consumption- alternative consumption

• change in processchange in process - - clean technologyclean technology - elimination of toxics- elimination of toxics

• sewage treatment plantsewage treatment plant- - ‘end of pipe’ solution‘end of pipe’ solution

• environmentenvironment andand

economyeconomy andand

societysociety

• environmentenvironmentandand

economyeconomy

• environmentenvironmentoror

economyeconomy

Northern Northern TelecomTelecom

based in Canadabased in Canada 42 plants in various countries42 plants in various countries manufacturer of electronic components manufacturer of electronic components

(telecommunications)(telecommunications) 1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year 1992: 0 tonnes of CFCs used per year1992: 0 tonnes of CFCs used per year

Historical Historical example:example:

Original ProcessOriginal Process

1) raw components and grease1) raw components and grease

2) manufacturing and assembly process2) manufacturing and assembly process

3) clean off grease with CFCs3) clean off grease with CFCs

4) finished product4) finished product

Revised processRevised process

1) raw components, 1) raw components, nono grease grease

2) manufacturing and assembly process2) manufacturing and assembly process

3) no need to clean off grease with CFCs3) no need to clean off grease with CFCs

4) finished product4) finished product

Environment Environment ANDAND Economy Economy

$1 million to develop new process$1 million to develop new process $4 million savings in first year (no $4 million savings in first year (no

CFCs)CFCs) $50 million savings to year 2000$50 million savings to year 2000 international environmental prize -> international environmental prize ->

great publicitygreat publicity contract with Mexico for industrial contract with Mexico for industrial

innovation (very lucrative)innovation (very lucrative)

• radicalradical



• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change inchange in demand for demand for product product

• change inchange in industrialindustrial process process

• sewagesewage treatmenttreatment plant forplant for wastes wastes

• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change inchange in• demand for demand for product product

• change inchange in• industrialindustrial process process

• sewagesewage• treatmenttreatment• plant forplant for wastes wastes

BiodiversityBiodiversity

• apply apply landscape landscape ecologyecology principles principles to humanto human activity activity

• establish establish national national parks (12%)parks (12%) to protectto protect habitats habitats

• zoo / seed zoo / seed bank for bank for endangered endangered species species

TransportationTransportation

• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change inchange in demand fordemand for product product

• change inchange in industrialindustrial process process

• sewagesewage treatmenttreatment plant forplant for wastes wastes

BiodiversityBiodiversity

• apply apply landscape landscape ecologyecology principles principles to humanto human activity activity

• establish establish national national parks (12%)parks (12%) to protectto protect habitats habitats

• zoo / seed zoo / seed bank for bank for endangered endangered species species

TransportationTransportation

• completecomplete redesign of redesign of our cities our cities

• alternativealternative fuels for carsfuels for cars

• catalyticcatalytic convertersconverters

valuesvalues ideologyideology strategiesstrategies

values, ideologies values, ideologies and strategiesand strategies

interactions amongstinteractions amongst

values / ideologies / strategiesvalues / ideologies / strategies

valuesvaluesindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moralindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral



valuesvalues

ideologiesideologies

Definable sets of values constituteDefinable sets of values constitute

individual, cultural, social, spiritual, moralindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral

Short form summary of basic values that Short form summary of basic values that eliminates the need to engage in deep eliminates the need to engage in deep

philosophical investigations every time action is philosophical investigations every time action is requiredrequired



valuesvalues



(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)




valuesvalues


strategiesstrategies


(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)

……which give rise towhich give rise to

practical applications of ideologically consistent practical applications of ideologically consistent ideas, actions, policies and programsideas, actions, policies and programs





environmental valuesenvironmental values


• holistic perspectiveholistic perspective

• everything is connected to everything elseeverything is connected to everything else• parts can only be understood in the context parts can only be understood in the context of the wholeof the whole

• nature as a living organism or systemnature as a living organism or system

(after (after Macdonald, D. 1991. Macdonald, D. 1991. The Politics of PollutionThe Politics of Pollution. . McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)



• humans living within naturehumans living within nature -> inherent value of other organisms and-> inherent value of other organisms and inanimate objectsinanimate objects

• limits to growthlimits to growth

(after (after Macdonald, D. 1991. Macdonald, D. 1991. The Politics of PollutionThe Politics of Pollution. . McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)



• appropriate technologyappropriate technology

• matching the scope and scale of technologymatching the scope and scale of technology to the task at handto the task at hand

• principles of durability and efficiencyprinciples of durability and efficiency

• recognition that new technology brings bothrecognition that new technology brings both benefits benefits andand problems problems



•appropriate scaleappropriate scale

• appropriate sizes for institutions, socialappropriate sizes for institutions, social organizations, communitiesorganizations, communities

•accessible and accountable decision-makingaccessible and accountable decision-making

in public and private sectorsin public and private sectors




environmental ideologiesenvironmental ideologies


• technological optimismtechnological optimism

• sustainable development sustainable development (Brundtland Commission)(Brundtland Commission)

• social ecology social ecology (Murray Bookchin)(Murray Bookchin)

• deep ecology deep ecology (Arne Naess)(Arne Naess)

• ecofeminism ecofeminism (Françoise D’Eaubonne)(Françoise D’Eaubonne)

• various ‘green’ political partiesvarious ‘green’ political parties

many variants: e.g., alliances with socialism, many variants: e.g., alliances with socialism, feminism, peace movement, etc.feminism, peace movement, etc.

examples ofexamples of




• reform environmentalism (traditional reform environmentalism (traditional bureacracies and political action) bureacracies and political action)

• direct action and intervention direct action and intervention (e.g. Earth First!)(e.g. Earth First!)

• single-issue lobbying / intervention groupssingle-issue lobbying / intervention groups (e.g., Save the Rouge Valley System)(e.g., Save the Rouge Valley System)

• permanent organizations permanent organizations (e.g., Greenpeace)(e.g., Greenpeace)

• alliances and coalitions alliances and coalitions (e.g., Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain)(e.g., Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain)

• round tables, forums round tables, forums (e.g., National Round Table on(e.g., National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy) the Environment and the Economy)

environmental environmental strategiesstrategiesand and strategistsstrategists







• feedback loop allows for reflection, feedback loop allows for reflection, re-evaluation, adaptive managementre-evaluation, adaptive management

ideologyideology



valuesvalues strategiesstrategies

• if no feedback loop: inflexible, unresponsiveif no feedback loop: inflexible, unresponsive

ideologyideology



valuesvalues strategiesstrategies

dogmadogma




Sustainability: Sustainability: How do we move from How do we move from

rhetoric to reality?rhetoric to reality?

principlesprinciples


policypolicy


policypolicy

practicepractice

To be useful, principles of To be useful, principles of sustainability must:sustainability must:

be easily understoodbe easily understood be applicable in many contextsbe applicable in many contexts be transferrable across scalesbe transferrable across scales translate well from fundamental values translate well from fundamental values

into applied policy and practical actioninto applied policy and practical action identify possibilities for identify possibilities for radical radical

transformative changetransformative change AND AND positive incremental changepositive incremental change

SomeSome

Principles of Sustainability Principles of Sustainability in the literature:in the literature:

Our Common Future (WCED 1987)Our Common Future (WCED 1987) Principles defining sustainable development Principles defining sustainable development (OSEM 1989)(OSEM 1989) Defining a sustainable society Defining a sustainable society (Robinson (Robinson et et alal . 1990,1996) . 1990,1996) Agenda 21 (1992)Agenda 21 (1992) Six principles of sustainable development Six principles of sustainable development (ORTEE 1992)(ORTEE 1992) Guideposts for a sustainable future Guideposts for a sustainable future (Nickerson 1993)(Nickerson 1993) Framework for Sustainable Development Framework for Sustainable Development (CIDA 1994)(CIDA 1994) The Natural Step The Natural Step (Robert (Robert et et alal . 1994) . 1994) Sustainability Principles Sustainability Principles (ORTEE 1994), etc.(ORTEE 1994), etc.

Recent compilation of Recent compilation of Principles of SustainabilityPrinciples of Sustainability

http://iisd1.iisd.ca/sd/principle.asphttp://iisd1.iisd.ca/sd/principle.asp

-IISD (Winnipeg)-IISD (Winnipeg)

Guideposts for SustainabilityGuideposts for Sustainability(after Nickerson, 1993)(after Nickerson, 1993)

Activities are Activities are sustainable sustainable when they:when they:

1.1. Use materials in continuous cycles.Use materials in continuous cycles.

2.2. Use continuously reliable sources of Use continuously reliable sources of energy.energy.

3.3. Encourage desirable human traitsEncourage desirable human traits(equity; creativity; communication; (equity; creativity; communication; coordination; appreciation; intellectual coordination; appreciation; intellectual and and spiritual development).spiritual development).

One example:One example:

Guideposts for SustainabilityGuideposts for SustainabilityActivities are Activities are not sustainable not sustainable when they:when they:

4.4. Require continual inputs of non-renewable Require continual inputs of non-renewable resources.resources.

5.5. Use renewable resources faster than their Use renewable resources faster than their rate of renewal. rate of renewal.

6. 6. Cause cumulative degradation of the Cause cumulative degradation of the environment.environment.

7. 7. Require resources in quantities that could Require resources in quantities that could never be available for people everywhere.never be available for people everywhere.

8. 8. Lead to the extinction of other life forms.Lead to the extinction of other life forms.

About About InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity

What do you answer if someone asks you,What do you answer if someone asks you,

– What is your major?

– What are your career goals?

– What is your ethnic origin?

careercareergoalsgoals

academic academic majormajor

ethnoculturalethnoculturalidentityidentity

Normative Normative categories categories

doctordoctor mechanicmechanic

paramedicparamedic Normative Normative categories categories

literatureliterature biologybiology

Normative Normative categories categories ““disciplines” disciplines”

disciplinarydisciplinary

MultiMultidisciplinarydisciplinary

InterInterdisciplinarydisciplinary

TransTransdisciplinarydisciplinary

- what are the differences?- what are the differences?

ReferenceReference: : Stefanovic, Ingrid. 1996. InterdisciplinarityStefanovic, Ingrid. 1996. Interdisciplinarity and Wholeness: Lessons from Eco-Research.and Wholeness: Lessons from Eco-Research. EnvironmentsEnvironments 23(3): 74-94. 23(3): 74-94.

Disciplinary:Disciplinary:

of or pertaining to a discrete branch of or pertaining to a discrete branch of learningof learning

knowledge within generally accepted knowledge within generally accepted boundariesboundaries

Disciplinary:Disciplinary:

often associated with discipline-specific often associated with discipline-specific vocabularies, methods, and assumptionsvocabularies, methods, and assumptions

Examples of disciplines: Examples of disciplines:

sociology, philosophy, biology, sociology, philosophy, biology, political science, chemistry, economics, political science, chemistry, economics, geography, mathematics...geography, mathematics...

MultiMultidisciplinary:disciplinary:

standard disciplinary approaches are applied to a common research question, problem or standard disciplinary approaches are applied to a common research question, problem or issueissue

insights achieved through an approach which is essentially insights achieved through an approach which is essentially additiveadditive rather than rather than integrative integrative

MultiMultidisciplinary:disciplinary:

a a spontaneous coalescence spontaneous coalescence of these disparate approaches is anticipatedof these disparate approaches is anticipated

arguably the approach which produces the most substantive research resultsarguably the approach which produces the most substantive research results

ISSUE

ISSUEdisciplinediscipline

discipline

discipline

dis

cip

line

dis

cip

line

discipline

discipline

dis

cip

line

dis

cip

line

discipline

discipline

discipline

discipline

disciplinediscipline

InterInterdisciplinary:disciplinary:

the the issue, problem, or concern issue, problem, or concern defines the disciplinary expertise which is brought to defines the disciplinary expertise which is brought to bear bear

……arguably the most effective policy-oriented problem-solving approacharguably the most effective policy-oriented problem-solving approach

InterInterdisciplinary:disciplinary:

a level of integration which involves more than an additive analysis of the disciplinary a level of integration which involves more than an additive analysis of the disciplinary perspectivesperspectives

insights are achieved through an approach which is explicitly insights are achieved through an approach which is explicitly integrative -> integrative -> an an a priori a priori

attempt is made at attempt is made at synthesissynthesis across disciplinary boundaries across disciplinary boundaries

ISSUE

ISSUE

disciplinedisciplinedisciplinediscipline ISSUE




disciplinedisciplinedisciplinediscipline


sectorsector sectorsector ISSUE

sectorsector

sectorsector

sectorsector

sectorsector sectorsector

sectorsector

TransTransdisciplinary:disciplinary:

recognizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of reality and knowledge recognizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of reality and knowledge

Goal: distinctions amongst disciplines are eliminated completely Goal: distinctions amongst disciplines are eliminated completely

TransTransdisciplinary:disciplinary:

““an attempt to transcend the dynamics of a dialectical synthesis to grasp the total dynamics of reality as a an attempt to transcend the dynamics of a dialectical synthesis to grasp the total dynamics of reality as a whole”whole”

Examples of transdisciplinary endeavour:Examples of transdisciplinary endeavour:– general systems theorygeneral systems theory– phenomenologyphenomenology







disciplinediscipline ISSUE












Documents

TREN 1F90 Introduction to Sustainability. courses/tren3p18 These notes available via the online course outline at: