Harness Science and Systems Thinking

Understanding the inherent complexity and trade-offs of achieving planetary sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing modern science. This entails the earth system, including its variety of complex and interlinked dynamics, as well as our economic and social systems and sectors. The question of how different feedback loops operate to either reinforce or shift system behaviours is also key.

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A “systems thinking’’ holistic approach that focuses on how a system’s constituent parts interrelate, how systems work over time (and within the context of larger systems) is necessary. A science-based understanding of how digital technologies are changing key economic, social and environmental systems and how they can be aligned towards sustainability outcomes is needed as part of the new social contract for the digital age.