System Thinking and Climate Changes - Essay Example

System Thinking is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges Professor (Tutor) The Name of the School (University) The City and State Date System Thinking is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges Introduction The practice and nature of sustainability is very multifaceted, dynamic, and multidimensional. With its official recognition or acknowledgement in 1987, sustainability is currently a leading and globally validated principle. Sustainability is based on three main pillar including environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The basic goal of sustainability is ensuring that future generations can enjoy the world just as much as the current generation by ensuring that action is taken in preserving economic, social, and environmental resources. Nonetheless, the concerns and challenges associated with sustainability are complex and multiple in nature. These issues and problems incline to transcend the capacities and influences of any single profession, or organization to manage (Confino, 2012). With sustainability being a recent agenda, organizations and individuals have used traditional and reductionist to analyze and solve sustainability challenges and issues (Uphoff, 2014). Nonetheless, these methods have proven ineffective over the past few decades. This has brought about a new way of solving sustainability issues through system thinking. System thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges. One of the major sustainability challenges facing the world today is climate change. According to Gillard (2011), climate change is the worldwide and regional change in climate patterns, specifically a change outward from the mid to late 20th century ahead. The change in climate patterns occurs over several years and includes changes in rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns. Nonetheless, the major climate change is the rise of atmospheric temperatures due to increased emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Most of the climate changes occur naturally, but scientists and researchers are convinced that the major cause of climate change is increased atmospheric temperatures caused by increased emission of greenhouse gases (Dryzek, et al., 2011). Carbon dioxide is the largest greenhouse gas in terms of volume while other gases include sulphur and nitrogen. Overall, finding a solution to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases has been a major sustainability issue in today’s world. The use of different approaches including reductionists and traditional models has proved ineffective in addressing climate change. A new way of thinking is needed to effectively solve this sustainability issue. The following paper aims at arguing that yes indeed “systems thinking is critical in developing solutions for sustainability challenges”. The paper will focus on supporting this statement in relation to developing solutions for climate change. The main argument for this statement is that climate change just as other sustainability challenges functions as a system rather than dependent entities, thus their relationship is intricate and requires an all-round perspective when developing solutions. Systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges In the world of sustainability, system thinking has received enormous popularity as well as acceptance. Dozens of books and research have illustrated that the use of systems theory is effective and efficient than the use of traditional and reductionist’s approaches that considered each challenge as a single entity. Systems thinking has been defined as the new method of thinking to analyze, understand, and address complex challenges (Johnston, 2013). Moreover, systems thinking offers a new thinking methods that applies to complex challenged faced locally, internationally, or regionally (Nguyen et al., 2011). The successful application of systems thinking is evident in numerous fields including community development, environmental management, human resource management, and decision making among many others (Meadows and Wright, 2008). It is of great importance to get to understand how the systems theory works for it to be applied in solving climate change. When dealing with complex issues, it means they are unpredictable and can only be estimated. Such issues can be addressed through numerous ways such as ignoring the challenges, reducing them, use feeling, use best approaches, or undertake a systematic analysis. Systems theory is based on observing reality by attempting describe complex challenges through an interaction of factors or systems that are included in computer or mental models. That means that complex challenges can be understood by analyzing how they interact with other challenges within a larger system. In systems thinking, there are four main levels of thinking. These levels include the events, patterns, systemic structures, and mental models (Nguyen and Bosch, 2012). According to Maani & Fan (2008) suggested that most policy and management actions develop in this manner. The events level is also the symptoms level that signify the lowest yet most noticeable level of reality while the mental models reveal the deepest and weighty assumptions, motivations, and norms (Porter, 2008). Even though events are at the tip of the iceberg, most decisions and effective interventions occur at the mental level. This is based on the fact that the symptoms or events of deeper lying challenges are most noticeable and part of daily reality that often appears to need immediate attention and intervention. The patterns level illustrates a larger model of events that are connected together to develop a sort of history (Dominici, 2015). The systematic structures level reflect how such components and patterns of the system comprehensively relate to and influence each other. Therefore, the systematic patterns level enables the revelation of intricate patterns and relationships in a complex system. The last, but yet most important level is the mental level. This level reflects the assumptions, values, and beliefs individual hold personally, and act as motivations or reasoning for acting in certain manners (Nguyen and Bosch, 2012). The same case of systems thinking can also be applied in developing solutions for climate change. According to van der Lans, (2014) the world is made up of different systems; therefore the world is a product of interconnected set of fundamentals that is logically organized in a manner that accomplishes an outcome. The world has many systems including forests, oceans, the biogeochemical cycles as well as the climate. According to van der Lans, (2014), the earth’s climate is regarded as a system that consists of subsystems in the atmosphere, oceans, land, and society. Therefore, these subsystems interact in different levels to result in climate change be it a negative or positive outcome. The systems thinking approach views that the interaction and relationships of the system do contain the reasons of their own failure and successes. Therefore, climate has its own causes for the negative and positive outcomes. Overall, climate change is one of the main complex challenges in the world. Currently, almost every type of human activity is linked to the use of energy or burning of fossil fuels, which is the number one source of climate-changing greenhouse gases. For instance, when a person cooks, switches the light on, or uses the computer, they are indeed impacting the climate either directly or in directly. This is because, most of these activities require the use of energy, which may require burning of fossil fuels, thus emitting greenhouse gases that alter the earth’s climate. Furthermore, the same relationship has to continue as climate change affects everybody’s life all over the world. Climate change affects food prices, access to clean water, health, economic opportunities, and disasters among others. Climate as a system can be viewed in this manner among other major and minor subsystems such as the biogeochemical cycles. Overall, climate change is a system that consists of numerous subsystems that interplay to bring different outcomes whether positive or negative. The main challenge with tackling climate change is obviously reducing or eliminating the emission of greenhouse gases to the earth’s atmosphere (van der Lans, 2014). Current literature on different approaches of solving climate change has illustrated increased ineffectiveness. Most countries as well as organizations rely upon policy as the single or major solution for climate change. This is achieved through policies that limit or regulate the levels of greenhouse gases emitted in the atmosphere. Nonetheless, the focus on policy has not addressed the issue of greenhouse gases as well as climate change. This is because the issue of climate change policy does not apply internationally with most developed countries being a step further than most developing countries. The overall effect is that the cycle of climate change continues since the focus on policy, but at a local rather than international level does not offer solutions in the effective manner. A research by di Lernia, (2011) found that carbon taxation policies in developed countries are effective policy approaches for dealing with climate change. Nonetheless, the study does challenge the free-market alignment of neoliberal resolutions for climate change. This means that focus on a single part of the challenge is not enough to address the problem effectively. Therefore, using the systems thinking approach, it is possible to integrate the main issues and develop a more effective solution to climate change. The use of systems thinking may not be applicable in all areas, but has been used successfully in numerous sustainability challenges. A study by Nguyen and Bosch, (2012) used systems thinking in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve case study to demonstrate its use to effectively address complex sustainability issues. The study believed that increased efforts by international environmental organizations in protecting the national reserve were of little impact since they dealt with the daily events or symptoms of the challenge. The same case applies to climate change, where organizations and individuals focus on policy for addressing the daily events. All the increased activities directed towards mitigating climate change do not incorporate the major elements or models needed to make climate change solutions effective (Lopoukhine, 2008). Again, the use of systems thinking of the Vietnam reserve illustrated the major patterns to be the environment, tourism, population, poverty, and GDP. The same pattern analysis or relationships also exists for climate change. Numerous issues are interconnected in the whole debate on climate change such as renewable energy, consumption, lifestyles, and environment among others. For instance, increased GDP and growing economy can increase a country’s fossil fuel consumption, thus the emission of greenhouse gases as people buy more cars and new industries are opened. Overall, the focus on a single solution or element in the solution does not offer an effective overall solution. The most dynamic level of the systems thinking approach is the mental models. As illustrated in Mai and Smith, (2015) the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve was not succeeding in sustainability because the locals had little awareness of sustainability. This represents the beliefs, assumptions, and values that each individual or organization use to reason and act in certain manners. The same applies to climate change since people have less knowledge on climate change, thus the careless attitude in climate change solutions. If people were well aware of climate change, they would change their lifestyles to enable increased reduction in production and emission of greenhouse gases (Davidson and Venning, 2011). Another major flaw in the climate change solutions is setting the wrong goals. For effective climate change solutions individuals and organizations should focus on systems thinking. Climate change has been effectively addressed through organizations using a holistic approach. Holistic approaches are based on being open-minded such as using new technologies, new business models, engagement, and new policy frameworks. The success and continued use of systems thinking makes it a critical element in developing solutions in sustainability (Cork, 2010). Nonetheless, it is limited in terms of resources as well as implementation. The systems theory can offer a perfect diagnose of climate change issues, but the solution that is best suited may be too expensive to implement at once or without major setbacks. Additionally, even if a solution is reached, the implementation may not be as effective as the analysis and identification part. Conclusion In conclusion, systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges. This is especially in the part it plays to ensure that all stakeholders can comprehensively analyze, understand, and manage the challenge. It enables stakeholders to identify key issues that are interconnected and interdependent in the whole cycle, thus a better chance of tackling the challenge. Nonetheless, the use of systems thinking may be limited in terms of organizational or individual abilities to analyze as well as implement effective solutions. With the issue of systems, the solution derived from systems thinking may require too many resources to implement. Nevertheless, systems thinking is still a critical part in developing solutions for sustainability challenges. References Confino, J., 2012. The art of systems thinking in driving sustainable transformation. [online] the Guardian. Available at: [Accessed 24 Aug. 2015]. Cork, S., 2010. Resilience and transformation: Preparing Australia for Uncertain Futures. Collingwood, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Pub. Davidson, K. and Venning, J., 2011. Sustainability decision-making frameworks and the application of systems thinking: an urban context. Local Environment, 16(3), pp.213-228. di Lernia, C., 2011. Carbon Tax: Challenging Neoliberal Solutions to Climate Change. Social and Environmental Accountability Journal, 31(2), pp.173-174. Dominici, G., 2015. Systems Thinking and Sustainability in Organisations. J. Organ. Transform. Soc. Chang., 12(1), pp.1-3. Dryzek, J., Norgaard, R. and Schlosberg, D., 2011. Oxford handbook of climate change and society. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press. Gillard, A., 2011. Climate change. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Johnston, E., 2013. Climate Access | sharing what works. [online] Climateaccess.org. Available at: [Accessed 24 Aug. 2015]. Lopoukhine, N., 2008. Climate change—Emission focused solutions overlook biodiversity. Biodiversity, 9(3-4), pp.3-4. Mai, T. and Smith, C., 2015. Addressing the threats to tourism sustainability using systems thinking: a case study of Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, pp.1-25. Meadows, D. and Wright, D., 2008. Thinking in systems. White River Junction, Vt.: Chelsea Green Pub. Nguyen, N. and Bosch, O., 2012. A Systems Thinking Approach to identify Leverage Points for Sustainability: A Case Study in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. Syst. Res., 30(2), pp.104-115. Nguyen, N., Graham, D., Ross, H., Maani, K. and Bosch, O., 2011. Educating Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Experience with a Developing Country. Syst. Res., 29(1), pp.14-29. Porter, T., 2008. Managerial applications of corporate social responsibility and systems thinking for achieving sustainability outcomes. Syst. Res., 25(3), pp.397-411. Uphoff, N., 2014. Systems thinking on intensification and sustainability: systems boundaries, processes and dimensions. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 8, pp.89-100. van der Lans, D., 2014. How Systems Thinking Can Impact Climate Change. [online] Clinton Foundation. Available at: [Accessed 24 Aug. 2015]. Read More

Systems thinking has been defined as the new method of thinking to analyze, understand, and address complex challenges (Johnston, 2013). Moreover, systems thinking offers a new thinking methods that applies to complex challenged faced locally, internationally, or regionally (Nguyen et al., 2011). The successful application of systems thinking is evident in numerous fields including community development, environmental management, human resource management, and decision making among many others (Meadows and Wright, 2008).

It is of great importance to get to understand how the systems theory works for it to be applied in solving climate change. When dealing with complex issues, it means they are unpredictable and can only be estimated. Such issues can be addressed through numerous ways such as ignoring the challenges, reducing them, use feeling, use best approaches, or undertake a systematic analysis. Systems theory is based on observing reality by attempting describe complex challenges through an interaction of factors or systems that are included in computer or mental models.

That means that complex challenges can be understood by analyzing how they interact with other challenges within a larger system. In systems thinking, there are four main levels of thinking. These levels include the events, patterns, systemic structures, and mental models (Nguyen and Bosch, 2012). According to Maani & Fan (2008) suggested that most policy and management actions develop in this manner. The events level is also the symptoms level that signify the lowest yet most noticeable level of reality while the mental models reveal the deepest and weighty assumptions, motivations, and norms (Porter, 2008).

Even though events are at the tip of the iceberg, most decisions and effective interventions occur at the mental level. This is based on the fact that the symptoms or events of deeper lying challenges are most noticeable and part of daily reality that often appears to need immediate attention and intervention. The patterns level illustrates a larger model of events that are connected together to develop a sort of history (Dominici, 2015). The systematic structures level reflect how such components and patterns of the system comprehensively relate to and influence each other.

Therefore, the systematic patterns level enables the revelation of intricate patterns and relationships in a complex system. The last, but yet most important level is the mental level. This level reflects the assumptions, values, and beliefs individual hold personally, and act as motivations or reasoning for acting in certain manners (Nguyen and Bosch, 2012). The same case of systems thinking can also be applied in developing solutions for climate change. According to van der Lans, (2014) the world is made up of different systems; therefore the world is a product of interconnected set of fundamentals that is logically organized in a manner that accomplishes an outcome.

The world has many systems including forests, oceans, the biogeochemical cycles as well as the climate. According to van der Lans, (2014), the earth’s climate is regarded as a system that consists of subsystems in the atmosphere, oceans, land, and society. Therefore, these subsystems interact in different levels to result in climate change be it a negative or positive outcome. The systems thinking approach views that the interaction and relationships of the system do contain the reasons of their own failure and successes.

Therefore, climate has its own causes for the negative and positive outcomes. Overall, climate change is one of the main complex challenges in the world. Currently, almost every type of human activity is linked to the use of energy or burning of fossil fuels, which is the number one source of climate-changing greenhouse gases. For instance, when a person cooks, switches the light on, or uses the computer, they are indeed impacting the climate either directly or in directly. This is because, most of these activities require the use of energy, which may require burning of fossil fuels, thus emitting greenhouse gases that alter the earth’s climate.

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