Sustainability lenses

The Brundtland definition of sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is the basis of various sustainability frameworks promoting the need to balance environmental, social and economic factors (e.g. the triple bottom concept: People, Planet, Profit). At a global level, it has driven the sustainability agenda for many years, and is an invaluable reflection point for anyone interested in understanding, questioning, stimulating or implementing a sustainability agenda.

The transition to a circular economy is critical to tackle global environmental challenges including climate change. Circular economy is relevant to all sectors of the economy and LSE disciplines: be it finance, cities, artificial intelligence, fashion, plastic, food, behaviour change and many more. LSE is an active member the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for circular economy and is committed to work with the Foundation to raise awareness of its principles and benefits within LSE and beyond.  

• What is the Circular Economy? (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021)
• Circular Economy resources guide for Higher Education educators  (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2020).
• LSE Circular Economy webpage

Climate change presents complex and interlinked social, cultural and geo-political challenges, providing excellent material for system thinking critic and reflection.

Among the wealth of resources available on the topic, the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment series of explainers provides a summary on:

• Climate change science - The evidence for climate change, the role of natural factors, and the contribution of humans to global temperature rise.
• Impacts of climate change -How climate change will impact on the places we live, the wider environment, the economy, society and human health.
• Climate and the economy - The economic measures that can be taken to tackle climate change and the cost and benefits involved in implementing them.
• International action on climate change - How international cooperation, agreements and forums are helping to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development.
• Energy and climate change: Policy measures and technological solutions that can help reduce carbon emissions from energy generation and use.
• Climate change policies: What governments, policymakers and business can do to tackle climate change and its impacts.
• Climate change and the UK: What the UK is doing to reduce its carbon emissions and how climate change will impact on the country.
• Business and climate change: How companies are responding to climate change by reducing carbon emissions and managing climate change risks.

Social sciences have a critical part to play in mapping a politically and economically feasible path to sustainability: one that recognises the need for a transition that doesn’t impact disproportionally the most vulnerable in society. To do this, policy makers and practitioners must carefully consider and mitigate the social consequences of environmental and climate policies in order to secure society-wide acceptance and buy-in. At a global scale, the challenge is to deliver a zero-carbon world together with climate justice for developing countries. In many cases, developing countries are most impacted by the effects of climate change, yet they have historically contributed least to the problem. However, crucially, they are arguably amongst the fastest-growing emitters - although not necessarily the largest emitters per capita!

• Why a just transition is crucial for effective climate action – Short read – Full report (GRI/UNPRI, 2019)
• The opportunity for a Just Transition - Podcast (London First, 2021)
• The energy that Africa needs to develop and fight climate change - TED Talk video (Rose Mutiso, 2020)

The concept of Natural Capital as an extension of the economic notion of capital to goods and services provided by the natural environment provides complex systems thinking reflection linking natural resources, environmental assets, ecosystems services, biodiversity and ecosystems.

The Sustainable Development Goals as a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a ‘blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all’, provides a useful and widely recognised framework for reflection.

• UNSDGS official website - Resources and infographics
• UNSDGs Project: unpacking the goals  - Classroom reflection questions, curriculum outcomes (each goal icon is a link)
• UNESCO - Sustainable Development Goals - Resources for educators

A valuable question to ask is how ‘anthropocentric’ most concepts of sustainability are, including Brundtland. Are we incapable of valuing certain forms of life and nature without relating them to how they serve humanity?  Two articles to reflect:

• From ‘zombies’ to ‘coyotes’: environmentalism where we are (Jon Anderson, 2010)
• The five dimensions of sustainability (Lucas Seghezzo, 2009)