We live in a changing world and it was ever thus. But things are different now. At the beginning of the third millennium we have a nexus of social, economic, technological and environmental trends the like of which has not been seen before. Population growth has brought us to the point where we are the dominant species on this planet, and there is growing evidence of our power to modify the global climate. in the past 30 years there has been a sea change in our relationship with the planet on which we live.
A more sustainable future for all inhabitants of the global biosphere requires some reconciliation and consilience. Seeking Sustainability in an Age of Complexity explains the difficulties of sustainability and why 'collapse' can occur. In the last twenty years the theory of complexity has been developed - complex systems science (CSS) speaks to natural systems and particularly to ecological, social and economic systems and their interaction.
Due to the growing concern over the huge changes occurring in the global environment, such as climate change, deforestation, habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity, Graham Harris sets out what has been learned in an attempt to understand the implications of these changes and suggests ways to move forward. This book discusses a number of emerging tools for the management of 'unruly' complexity that facilitate stronger regional dialogues about knowledge and values. |