ABSTRACT

In the words of the late Donella Meadows, Unsustainability does not arise out of ignorance, irrationality or greed. Too many of our human-built systems behave unsustainably over time. This was made clear in a pivotal project that traced the root causes and behaviors of unsustainability at the global scale. Systems thinking can help develop questions and illuminate connections that make a difference to both the immediate work and the long-term mission. It provides a holistic design framework for the idea that what to make and how to make are at the core of creating change toward more sustainable and more equitable ways of living on this planet. Systems are made up of stocks and flows. Very few systems have clear boundaries. When a change in one part leads to a change in another part that then increases the change in the first, we see the circular and amplifying nature of the reinforcing feedback loop.