Agosto de 2020
Systems Thinking to Reach SustainabilityAlfredo Ramos Vázquez
aramosvr@gmail.com
For decades, sustainability has been considered by society as a fundamental goal; however, we are so far away from it and looks like we are in the wrong direction. The problem starts in how we try solving problems, which most of the time is by using simple solutions and linear thinking. We are experts in these kinds of solutions, particularly our politicians. But, it is time to change using new perspectives and institutions, because, nowadays, we have to face very complex problems like climate change, deforestation, extinction, water depletion, etcetera, and governments have neither the plans nor the institutions to solve them.
Besides, the economic system is deteriorating natural ecosystems through different actions, and we must look for new types of solutions. For many years, scientists have pointed out that our activities and consumption use a lot of natural resources, for that reason, in the last fifty years, we are using many of them that include biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores, and non-metallic minerals. The production and the extraction of all these natural resources require activities that are destroying and deteriorating nature. For example, land use change has made high ecosystems deterioration in all over the world. In especial, agricultural expansion has produced high deforestation, which has affected many different wild species, increasing the extinction rate. According to scientists, we are in the sixth extinction period due to human activities.
Furthermore, most agricultural systems are unsustainable; because they use many fertilizers, and insecticides creating environmental problems like eutrophication and decrease the populations of insect pollinators. Some species of these are at risk of becoming extinct, which is a big problem because we depend on these pollinators to produce our food. Fortunately, in natural ecosystems, there are many pollinators, and when some of them decrease their population numbers, others replace them. But, if we continue, in this way, we will lose all of them, and we do not have the technology to replace them. Also, many wild plants will be affected by this situation, due to, they depend on pollinators to reproduce, and in the end, many natural ecosystems will be affected.
Besides, land use change produces high deforestation in all over the world, which affects the whole system, since wild species lose their habitat and physical environment change, and creates a Domonic Effect by a stressful environment in which ecosystems are more vulnerable to plagues and fires. This situation releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and increases greenhouse gases and climate change, which produces extreme environmental conditions like droughts and big storms and hurricanes. Furthermore, water security for humans and the environment became more unpredictable, due to climate change, and all the negative effects that produce this one has an adverse outcome on the environment, society, and economy. Also, land use changes into agriculture and livestock ranchers are reducing wildlife habitats, making us more vulnerable to zoonotic diseases; because we are closer to wild species. And sometimes after many complicated processes can jump some virus or bacteria to domestic animals and them to humans, creating a new disease. This situation is quite rare, but it happens, and most of the time happens in disturbed ecosystems by humankind.
Everything looks catastrophic; however, we can change this situation. Humankind has evolved through history, and we need a new kind of democracy and institutions which can solve complex problems, like those that we have to face sooner or later. We must use a systems approach to solve complex problems, because, we live in a place full of systems, since, we can find them everywhere in our society, economy, and nature, and these systems are linking.
We need new institutions that involve professionals from many different areas that include sociologists, biologists, ecologists, economics, climatologists, mathematicians, engineers, and so on, who must create sustainable scenarios through systems analysis approach. We urgently need these groups which should work according to the best science practices, and their resolutions and recommendations must be considered by the government immediately. Also, ethics is fundamental in these teams, because, reduce corruption and make the right decisions for the common welfare.
Instead of damaging our environment, we must emulate nature; for example, when elements make bonds they create molecules, some of them have incredible characteristics as water, proteins, lipids, DNA that make possible life. Also, when our body systems work together, they make that our body function as a perfect machine, or when species interact, they make incredible ecosystems like coral reefs or forests. It means if we work together, we can create marvelous things instead of destroying nature, due to our selfishness and greediness. We need a new type of human society with more ethics and wisdom.
We should follow how nature makes things, for example, physicists know about magnetism, so when some metals are magnetized, all atoms follow the same direction according to the Domain Theory of Magnetism, and this is the way that we should act. It means we need to follow the right direction according to sustainability. Besides, we might emulate bees and ants that work in favor of the group instead of individualism. In that sense, we do not need parties or political groups that divided us in the wrong direction. Just remember what happened in The Second World War to understand this point.
Another example that nature offers us, it is by forests since trees are connected among them to help each other to survive. And this is a complex process, due to, trees through their roots system make incredible things, since, create a mutualistic relation with some fungus (mycorrhizas), and both groups win. On one side, mycorrhizas offer water and nutrients to trees, and on the other, trees give food and protection to mycorrhizas. Furthermore, the roots system connects trees among them and help each other to survive especially in stressful circumstances. This situation makes that forest became resistant, and survive even in stressful conditions. So we must learn this situation from nature, and civil society and nations should increase their solidarity.
It is time to consider that natural ecosystems are the base of our development, so we must preserve and restore ecosystem integrity; because, environmental services are essential for all living organisms and socio-economic development. Finally, we could reach sustainability if we work together sharing information and technology, but above all, without greediness and selfishness.
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