3- CONECTIONS - Complexity in Sustainability (10-15 years)

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CONNECTIONS

COMPLEXITY IN

SUSTAINABILITY

SYSTEMS THINKING

IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTION

SOCIAL IMPACTS: Human actions can also have a signifcant impact on society. For example, the rise of

technology has changed the way people communicate and interact with one another, while globalization

has brought people from diferent cultures closer together. However, this same globalization has also

contributed to the widening income gap and economic inequality.

CULTURAL IMPACTS: Human actions can also have a signifcant impact on culture. For example, the

spread of western culture through media and communication has infuenced traditional cultural practices

and beliefs in many countries. This can lead to a loss of cultural diversity and identity.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS: Finally, human actions can have a signifcant impact on the economy. For

example, the expansion of trade and commerce can stimulate economic growth, but it can also lead to job

loss and economic inequality. Additionally, economic policies and decisions made by governments and

corporations can have a signifcant impact on the economy, afecting the lives of millions of people.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS

AND STRIVE TO MAKE CHOICES THAT PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY, AND

WELL-BEING FOR ALL.

Every human action has a ripple efect that extends

beyond the individual, impacting various aspects of

the environment, society, culture, and economy. These

impacts can be both positive and negative, and can

have long-lasting consequences.

Environmental Impacts: Human actions can have a

signifcant impact on the environment. For example,

the use of fossil fuels contributes to air and water

pollution, and the deforestation of forests contributes

to climate change. On the other hand, activities such as

recycling and conserving energy can have a positive

impact on the environment.

Imagine aliens land on Earth a million years from

now. What will these curious searchers fnd of us?

They will fnd what geologists, scientists, and other

experts are increasingly calling the Anthropocene,

or new age of mankind. David Biello explains how

the impacts that humans have made have become

so pervasive, profound, and permanent that some

geologists believe we merit our own epoch

HOW LONG WILL HUMAN

IMPACTS LAST?

HUMAN IMPACT ON THE

ENVIRONMENT

In this video we'll learn about how human activity has

a negative impact on the Earth because of burning

fossil fuels, deforestation and creating waste.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE

IMPACT PEOPLE

DIFFERENTLY?

Climate change is a big problem that's afecting

everyone, but some communities are getting hit

harder than others. It's not fair because the people

who did the least to cause it are the ones sufering

the most. Where we live, what resources we have,

and what part of society we belong to afects how

well we can deal with climate change, and that's not

right. It's important to work together to fnd ways to

help everyone, no matter who they are, because we

all share this planet.

POVERTY. People who are struggling fnancially

often don't have the help they need when really bad

weather strikes. For example, during a drought, they

might not have clean water to drink or use in their

homes. Or, if a food destroys their house, they might

not have insurance to help pay for it to be rebuilt. Many

people in this situation grow their own crops to eat or

sell, but if the weather is unpredictable and their crops

fail, they don't have anything to fall back on. It's

important to make sure everyone has the support they

need to get through tough times, especially when it's

related to the weather.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

Almost half of all the kids in the world (that's 2.2 billion

kids!) live in places where they're in danger because of

climate change. But even though they're at risk, they're

often not included in plans to make things better and

safer. It's not fair that some kids have to worry more

about the weather and its efects than others, and

everyone should work together to make sure all kids

are protected.

WOMEN. All over the world, women are treated

unfairly, which can make it harder for them to get

enough food to eat. When there isn't enough food,

they're usually the ones who are hungry. When the

crops don't grow well, they might have to work in

dangerous jobs just to make money. And when there

isn't enough water, they have to walk farther to fnd it,

which can be dangerous. It's not fair that women have

to face these problems just because they're women.

Everyone should work together to make sure everyone

has enough food, safe jobs, and clean water, no matter

who they are.

MINORITY OR MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES.

Many communities in rural areas and those belonging

to indigenous groups around the world depend on

nature for their livelihoods, but climate change is

making it harder for them to survive. Their crops are not

growing as well as they used to, and there's not as

much rain as before. Unfortunately, the people in

charge often don't pay attention to these communities

or don't help them enough. This means these

communities are left on their own, struggling to fnd

ways to cope with the changing climate. It's important

that everyone works together to support these

communities so that they can continue to thrive.

LET'S TAKE ACTION NOW!"

A RALLYING CRY FROM YOUNG CLIMATE

ACTIVISTS JESSY AND ISAAC | OXFAM GB

People and communities worldwide are uniting

and advocating for a sustainable and equitable

future. It is crucial for global leaders to take bold

action by signifcantly reducing emissions and

providing extensive support to ensure that

communities can survive and fourish despite the

impact of climate change. By taking urgent

collective action, it is still possible to make

substantial positive changes for both humanity

and the planet.

“Climate change is real. And it’s really afecting us.

Let’s take action now!” Watch to see Jessy & Isaac

describe

the

devastating

impact

the

#ClimateCrisis in #Malawi. Join them & demand

urgent action now”

CLIMATE JUSTICE AND

HUMAN RIGHTS EXPLAINED

Human rights are intimately linked with climate

change because of its efect on not just the

environment but our own well-being. Its efects

will continue to grow and worsen over time,

creating ruin for current and future generations.

This is why the failure of governments to act on

the climate crisis in the face of overwhelming

scientifc evidence may well be the biggest

inter-generational human rights violation in

history.

Human actions have the ability to infuence outcomes

across time and space, leading to a range of results that can

be positive, neutral, or negative. These outcomes are

determined by the complex interplay of various factors,

including the nature of the action, the context in which it

occurs, and the resources and capacities available to

people.

POSITIVE OUTCOMES: Human actions can lead to

positive outcomes that improve the quality of life for

individuals and communities. For example, investing in

education and healthcare can have long-lasting positive

efects on human well-being, while investing in renewable

energy sources can help protect the environment for future

generations.

NEUTRAL OUTCOMES: In some cases, human actions

may have no signifcant impact, either positive or negative.

For example, decisions about personal lifestyle choices,

such as what to eat for lunch, may not have a signifcant

impact on the world at large.

NEGATIVE

OUTCOMES:

Unfortunately,

human

actions can also lead to negative outcomes that harm the

environment, harm other people, or undermine progress

and well-being. For example, over-extraction of natural

resources can lead to environmental degradation and the

depletion of valuable resources, while discrimination and

prejudice can harm marginalized groups and undermine

social cohesion.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE EFFECTS OF

HUMAN ACTIONS CAN BE FELT ACROSS TIME AND

SPACE, SOMETIMES LONG AFTER THE ACTION HAS

TAKEN

PLACE.

THIS

UNDERSCORES

THE

IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL

LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS AND

MAKING CHOICES THAT PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY,

EQUITY, AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL.

POSITIVE, NEUTRAL AND

NEGATIVE RESULTS OF

HUMAN ACTION

REWILDING

EUROPE

The Paris Agreement of 2016 aimed to limit global

temperature rise to 1.5°C by reducing man-made

greenhouse gas emissions, but even if successful, it

will not be enough to achieve the target. To combat

climate change, nature's help is required through

rewilding. Rewilding revitalizes natural processes

and supports the comeback of wildlife, restoring the

overall health and functionality of ecosystems, and

enabling them to play their optimal role in the global

carbon cycle. Large animals have the potential to

mitigate climate change at a global scale via various

mechanisms, including changes in fre regime,

terrestrial albedo, and increasing the amount of

carbon stored in vegetation and soil through grazing

and trampling. Rewilding Europe has demonstrated

the benefcial impact of rewilding on climate change

across the portfolio of rewilding landscapes where

they operate, contributing to climate change

mitigation and adaptation on a local level.

THIS INTRODUCTION TO LIFE CYCLE

THINKING COURSE CONSISTS OF

FOUR MODULES:

Introduction; Drive Change in Public Policies; Drive

Change in Business; Drive Change in Sustainable

Lifestyles. The course has videos, lecture material,

quizzes to test learning, and additional materials and

examples of LCT in practice.

A product life cycle can begin with the extraction of raw

materials from natural resources in the ground and the

energy generation. Materials and energy are then part of

production, packaging, distribution, use, maintenance,

and eventually recycling, reuse, recovery or fnal disposal.

In each life cycle stage there is the potential to reduce

resource consumption and improve the performance of

products.

Life-cycle thinking refers to the practice of considering the entire life cycle of a product, service, or system, from its

inception to its eventual disposal or recycling, when making decisions about its design, manufacture, use, and disposal.

The goal of life-cycle thinking is to minimize the environmental impact of a product, service, or system and promote

sustainability.

Life-cycle thinking is important because it helps to identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of products,

services, and systems, and make more informed decisions about the choices we make. It allows us to understand the

environmental and economic implications of our decisions throughout the entire life cycle of a product, service, or system,

and to make choices that minimize harm to the environment while also being economically viable.

In addition, life-cycle thinking is important because it helps to address the issue of unsustainable consumption and

production patterns. By considering the entire life cycle of a product, service, or system, and making choices that minimize

its impact on the environment, we can reduce the amount of waste and pollution generated by our activities and promote

sustainable consumption and production patterns.

SYSTEMS THINKING

LIFE CYCLE THINKING AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE

PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

A TYPICAL PRODUCT LIFECYCLE

DIAGRAMME

To tackle the problem of plastic pollution and marine litter,

we need to start thinking about plastics in a whole new

way. Instead of just looking at the immediate impact of

plastic waste, we need to consider the entire life cycle of

plastic products.

This means looking at all the stages involved in creating

and using plastic, from sourcing the raw materials to

disposing of the product at the end of its life. By doing this,

we can identify the key areas where plastic waste is created

and fnd ways to reduce it.

We also need to consider all the potential impacts of

plastic, such as how it afects the environment,

ecosystems, and people's health. By taking a broader

perspective, we can make informed decisions about which

plastic products are best for the environment and which

ones we should avoid.

Finally, we need to consider the trade-ofs between

environmental impacts and economic sustainability. By

looking at the entire life cycle of plastic, we can identify the

best solutions for the environment that also have positive

social and economic implications.

So, by taking a life cycle approach to plastic, we can work

towards a more sustainable future, where plastic waste is

minimized, and the environment and people's wellbeing

are protected.

Today, Europe aims for a transition from a linear to a

circular economy where products are kept in the circle

after their use to reduce waist

LIFE CYCLE APPROACH TO

PLASTIC POLLUTION

FULL LIFE CYCLE THINKING

FROM WASTE TO WEALTH:

HARNESSING THE CIRCULAR

ECONOMY

Nigeria is kickstarting a circular economy for electronics,

creating safe employment for over 100,000 people. What

is your country doing to tackle e-waste?

VIEW

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interrelated goals aimed at addressing the

world's most pressing sustainability challenges. The SDGs are designed to be integrated and interdependent, with each

goal supporting and reinforcing the others.

For example, Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) is interconnected with Goal 1 (No Poverty), as reducing poverty is an important step

towards ending hunger. Similarly, Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) is linked to several other goals,

such as Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 7 (Afordable and Clean Energy), and Goal 13 (Climate Action), as

sustainable consumption and production practices can help to conserve resources, reduce pollution, and mitigate the

efects of climate change.

However, there can be tensions between individual SDGs, as addressing one goal may have unintended consequences

for others. For example, increasing agricultural production to meet the needs of a growing population (Goal 2) may lead

to deforestation (Goal 15), and increasing energy production from renewable sources (Goal 7) may impact the

livelihoods of local communities and wildlife (Goal 14).

To address these tensions and achieve the SDGs in an integrated and efective way, it is important to adopt a holistic

approach that balances the needs of diferent sectors and stakeholders. This may involve trade-ofs and compromises,

but it is crucial to ensure that progress towards one goal does not undermine progress towards another.

RED ALERT

HOW TO MEET THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS TOGETHER

At a time of great uncertainty, the SDGs – a blueprint for ending poverty, tackling the climate crisis and boosting the

economy – show the way forward to a better future for all on a safe and healthy planet.

To scale up action on the SDGs would require transformational change with regard to current policies, governance

arrangements and economic systems

UNITED NATIONS SDGS AND IS AWARE OF INTERCONNECTIONS

NO POVERTY

ZERO HUNGER

GOOD HEALTH

& WELL-BEING

QUALITY

EDUCATION

GENDER

EQUALITY

CLEAN WATER

AND SANITATION

AFFORDABLE

AND CLEAN ENERGY

DECENT WORK

AND ECONOMIC

CROWTH

INDUSTRY, INNOVATION

AND INFRASTRUCTURE

REDUCED

INEQUALITIES

SUSTAINABLE CITIES

AND COMMUNITIES

RESPONSIBLE

CONSUMPTION AND

PRODUCTION

CLIMATE ACTION

LIFE BELLOW

WATER

LIFE ON LAND

PEACE, JUSTICE AND

STRONG INSTITUTIONS

PARTNERSHIPS

FORTHE GOALS

SDG

SYSTEMS THINKING

COMPLEX SYSTEMS

The concepts and aspects of complex systems are

important to consider in the context of sustainability

because they help us understand how systems interact

and change over time.

Synthesis: In complex systems, new properties and

behaviors emerge from the interaction of individual

components. This process of synthesis is crucial for

understanding how systems change and adapt over time,

and it is an important aspect to consider when developing

sustainable solutions.

Emergence: Emergence refers to the appearance of new

properties and behaviors in a system that cannot be

explained by the individual components. For example, the

behavior of a fock of birds is an emergent property that

arises

from

the

interactions

individual

birds.

Understanding emergence is important for predicting and

managing change in complex systems, including

sustainable systems.

Interconnectedness: Complex systems are characterized

by interconnectedness, which refers to the relationships

and

interactions

between

components.

This

interconnectedness creates feedback loops and cascade

efects that can amplify or dampen change in the system.

Understanding the interconnectedness of a system is

critical for predicting and managing change, and for

designing sustainable solutions.

Feedback loops: Feedback loops are relationships between

components that can amplify or dampen change in a

system. For example, a positive feedback loop can amplify

a change in one component, while a negative feedback

loop can dampen the change. Understanding feedback

loops is important for predicting and managing change in

complex systems, including sustainable systems.

Cascade efects: Cascade efects refer to the chain

reactions that occur when a change in one component of a

complex system triggers changes in other components.

These efects can amplify or dampen change in the system

and can have unintended consequences. Understanding

cascade efects is important for predicting and managing

change, and for designing sustainable solutions that take

into account the interconnectedness of systems.

Where are we currently? Systems are interconnected

with each other, and each system is composed of other

systems. Therefore, decisions that afect one system can

have unforeseen and uncertain impacts on other

systems.

WHAT IS SYSTEMS

THINKING?

SYSTEMS THINKING FOR

SUSTAINABILITY

Today our world is home to people already consuming

more natural resources than our planet can sustainably

ofer. If we continue to live as we do now, by 2030 we will

need the resources of three planets

Sustainability is a holistic concept that considers the

long-term health and well-being of both the environment

and human societies. It recognizes that the well-being of

the planet and its inhabitants is interconnected, and that

solutions to environmental challenges must consider

economic, social, and cultural factors.

Environmental sustainability refers to the preservation

and protection of the natural environment and the

resources it provides. This includes air, water, soil, and

biodiversity, and it requires eforts to reduce pollution and

waste, protect wildlife, and conserve energy and other

resources.

Economic sustainability refers to the ability of an

economy to continue functioning over the long-term

without causing harm to the environment or people. This

involves creating sustainable economic growth, reducing

inequality, and ensuring that the benefts of economic

development are shared fairly.

Social sustainability refers to the well-being and quality

of life of individuals and communities. This includes issues

related to poverty, health, education, and equal access to

resources and opportunities. Social sustainability requires

that all people have the opportunity to lead fulflling and

productive lives, regardless of their background or

circumstances.

Cultural sustainability refers to the preservation and

protection of cultural heritage and diversity, including

traditional ways of life, languages, and cultural practices.

Cultural sustainability is important for maintaining cultural

identity, promoting diversity and tolerance, and for

ensuring that the knowledge and traditions of diferent

cultures are passed on to future generations.

In conclusion, sustainability is a holistic concept that

recognizes the interconnections between environmental,

economic, social, and cultural issues. It requires a

comprehensive approach that considers the long-term

impacts of decisions and actions, and that balances the

needs of the environment and society with the goal of

creating a sustainable future for all.

SUSTAINABILITY AS A

HOLISTIC CONCEPT THAT

INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL,

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND

CULTURAL ISSUES

WHAT IS YOUR

DEFINITION OF

SUSTAINABILITY?

A group of experts from diverse felds at the University

of Cincinnati, including Psychology, Chemistry,

Communication, Curriculum & Instruction, Philosophy,

and Environmental Engineering & Science, share their

perspectives on the meaning of sustainability

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