Abstract
This public symposium explored ways to integrate knowledge about and strengthen cooperation on complex and interconnected global sustainability issues. (The symposium was organized by the United Nations University (UNU), The University of Tokyo Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), as well as UNESCO. Co-organizers were the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan (MEXT) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Participants included representatives from key institutes and UNESCO’s programs in the areas of water, ocean and ecological sciences as well as social and natural sciences, UNESCO Member states, scholars and policymakers. The symposium program and list of speakers is attached. See also www.isp.unu.edu). The central question put to symposium deliberations was one that many policy- and decision-makers as well as academic scholars struggle with today: how can we overcome barriers to action that will put societies around the world on a path to a more stable and sustainable future? This article examines the presentations made during the symposium and draws upon them to explore opportunities for sustainability scientists to help meet this challenge. The paper is divided into three parts: Part I provides a brief introduction that places the symposium in context of current debates on sustainability science and discusses (a) the role of UNESCO and (b) the relevance of sustainability science to policy- and decision-making for sustainable development. Part II examines three steps that can be taken now to overcome barriers to sustainability and the role of sustainability science in each (a) building societal and environmental resilience; (b) increasing collaboration across geographical and disciplinary boundaries as well as between scientists and decision-makers; and (c) enhancing education for sustainable development (ESD). The paper concludes with a review of why these keys are essential and steps that can be taken in the future to facilitate their widespread application at multiple scales.
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Notes
For visualisation of progress to meet the goals see the United Nations Millenium Development Goals:2013 Progress Chart at http://www.un.org/milleniumgoals/pdf/report-2013/2013_progress_english.pdf. Accessed January 10, 2014.
The full text of the proposal is available at the Web site of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) at www.mext.go.jp/english/unesco/1323150.htm. Accessed February 21 2014.
See the Kuala Lumpur Statement: Sustainability Science:A Science based Approach to Realize the Future We Want for All, Kuala Lumpur 4,5 April 2013 available at www.unesco.org/geography/en/ev.php-URL_ID=16591&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
The term refers to research methods that integrate fundamental understanding of scientific problems with research that aims to solve problems and to benefit society bringing together science, engineering and technological innovation. See, Stokes (1997).
For further examination of the role of sustainability scientists in contributing to societal transitions for sustainability, see the articles by Polk, Wittmayer and Luthe in this issue.
The transdisciplinary approach of sustainability science runs through this special issue of the journal as a leitmotif providing readers the opportunity to explore its application in dealing with complex issues in many contexts.
See, for example, the UNEP Science Strategy at www.unep.org/science/ and reports of the OECD Global Science Forum at http://www.oecd.org/sti/scienceandtechnologypolicy/.
The first Inclusive Wealth Report was issued in 2012. It examined 20 countries, 19 which came out “sustainable”. However, when calculations wee made on a per capita bassis, six countries measured as unsustainable, an indication that in those countries, capital was not keeping up with the birthrate. See the 2012 report at www.indp.unu.edu/article/iwr. (UNU-IHDP and UNEP 2012).
For information on the history and process of ITRS, see www.itrs.net. The most recent (2012) report is available at www.itrs.net/reports.html.
Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen first used the term “Anthropocene” in 2000 to denote the profound changes with potential thresholds and tipping points that human activity is having on geologically significant conditions and processes. There is a Web site : www.anthropocene.info Sponsors and partners inckude ICSU, IHDP, The International Geosphere-Biospher Programme, Stockholm Resilience Centre and CSIRO, among others.
For expansion of the argument made by Folke at the symposium, see Folke Carl et al. (2011).
See Takeuchi (2010). The Japan Satoyama Satoumi Assessment (JSSA) provides examples of the impacts of human interactions with terrestrial-aquatic and marine-coastal ecosystems over time and insights into the sustainable use and governance of ecosystems and building resilience in social-ecological systems. (see Duraiappah and Pablo 2012). For relevance to the affected areas and other examples of integrated approaches, see Rebuilding from the Great Eatern Japan Earthquake in the report of the Third International Conference on Sustainability Science, ICSS 2012 (Wiek et al. 2012a, b).
See for example work of UNU on building inclusive and resilient societies in Africa through joint initiatives on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). These programs recognize the need for capacity building and are advanced in partnership with international organizations UNESCO and UNICEF that have a mission capacity building in developing countries: http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=35&ddlID=2686.
See Arnim Wiek’s overview article in this issue “Quality criteria for visions and visioning in sustainability science.”
Since the first ICSS Conference in 2009 (Kauffman 2010) held in Tokyo, conferences have been held at La Sapienza University of Rome (2010), Arizona State University, United States (2012); and Aix-Marseille University, France (2013). The 2015 ICSS conference will convene at United Nations University.
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Kauffman, J. Promoting integration and cooperation for sustainability views from the symposium held at UNESCO headquarters September 19, 2013. Sustain Sci 9, 419–430 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-014-0255-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-014-0255-7