Sustainable Development Integrated in the Concept of Resilence

PROBLEMY EKOROZWOJU – PROBLEMS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2015, vol. 10, no 1, 7-14 EDITORIAL

8 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2015

See all articles by Jürg Bloesch

Jürg Bloesch

Independent

Michael von Hauff

University of Kaiserslautern

Klaus Mainzer

Technische Universität München (TUM)

S. Mohan

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology

Ortwin Renn

Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)

Verena Risse

Munich School of Philosophy

Yonghui Song

Chinese Research Academy on Environmental Sciences (CRAES)

Kazuhiko Takeuchi

United Nations - United Nations University (UNU)

Peter A. Wilderer

Technische Universität München (TUM)

Date Written: January 27, 2015

Abstract

The purpose of sustainable development is to minimize the likelihood of dynamic natural and/or man-made systems to exceed tipping points, when exposed to disturbances. In effect, the systems are protected from losing identity and integrity. The authors of this paper suggest accepting resilience thinking as a basis of setting sustainability goals and reaching the respective targets. The resilience theory provides the method needed to maintain identity and integrity, and to manage system´s dynamics. Of concern are three interwoven systems: environment, society and economy, forming a complex super-system coined eco-social triad. Sustainable development of the triad applies to each of the three sub-systems despite conflicting interests of the various actors within each.

Resilience is expressed by the ability of natural or man-made systems to respond dynamically to changes of ambient conditions with the aim to retain their inherent function, structure and feedbacks. To manage such changes and associated disturbances a repetitive sequence of processes (also called adaptive cycle) needs to be executed. In ecosystems these cycles are self-regulated and characterized by recycling of materials and energy. In systems dominated by humans adaptive cycles are characterized by phases such as re-evaluation, re-orientation and re-commencement. The concept of adaptive cycles and adaptive management embedded in the resilience theory is considered a promising method to satisfy sustainability goals and reach respective targets.

Keywords: sustainable development, resilence, adaptive cycle, economy, society, ecosystems

JEL Classification: O13,Q20, Q32, Q41, R11, M14

Suggested Citation

Bloesch, Jürg and von Hauff, Michael and Mainzer, Klaus and Mohan, S. and Renn, Ortwin and Risse, Verena and Song, Yonghui and Takeuchi, Kazuhiko and Wilderer, Peter A., Sustainable Development Integrated in the Concept of Resilence (January 27, 2015). PROBLEMY EKOROZWOJU – PROBLEMS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2015, vol. 10, no 1, 7-14 EDITORIAL , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2556181

Jürg Bloesch

Independent ( email )

No Address Available
Switzerland

Michael Von Hauff

University of Kaiserslautern ( email )

Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 14
Kaiserslautern, D-67663
Germany

Klaus Mainzer

Technische Universität München (TUM) ( email )

Arcisstrasse 21
Munich, DE 80333
Germany

S. Mohan

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology ( email )

Hyderabad, 500607
India

Ortwin Renn

Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) ( email )

Berlinerstrasse 130
Potsdam
Germany

Verena Risse

Munich School of Philosophy ( email )

Kaulbachstraße 31a
Munich, 80539
Germany

Yonghui Song

Chinese Research Academy on Environmental Sciences (CRAES) ( email )

8 Dayangfang BeiYuan Road
Chaoyang District
Beijing, 100012
China

Kazuhiko Takeuchi

United Nations - United Nations University (UNU) ( email )

Tokyo, 150-8925
Japan

Peter A. Wilderer (Contact Author)

Technische Universität München (TUM) ( email )

Arcisstrasse 21
Munich, DE 80333
Germany

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