The previous section introduced the current trajectories of the ecological crisis we find ourselves in. This section will talk about the system dynamics behind that crisis.
The world now needs:
Rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society -IPCC Report 2018
But the question still remains what does this change look like and why haven't we changed already. To understand the underlying factors we must look at a large systemic view of the cause of the crisis.
Systems thinking is a way of approaching problems that asks how various elements within a system — which could be an ecosystem, an organization, or something more dispersed such as a supply chain — influence one another. Rather than reacting to individual problems that arise, a systems thinker will ask about relationships to other activities within the system, look for patterns over time, and seek root causes.
The world is a interconnected web of networks where global macroeconomic, material, informational, political, and ecological systems all rely on each other to perpetuate evolution of the system over time. We currently find ourselves in a run away feedback loop of energy production, productivity, ecological ruin in the goal of of human development and safety.
Watch the following videos and reflect on the below questions. We will discuss them during class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Km4MUMiWE&list=PLfhKSsmO71c0V50JIR7io_SEOFdGuyNS3&index=2&t=0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-WAEW06J00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgZTXf5PDis&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9CvEuC8Dmo
Cliamte Change Iceberg Worksheet.pdf
1. The Event Level
The event level is the level at which we typically perceive the world—for instance, waking up one morning to find we have caught a cold. While problems observed at the event level can often be addressed with a simple readjustment, the iceberg model pushes us not to assume that every issue can be solved by simply treating the symptom or adjusting at the event level.
2. The Pattern of Behavior Level
If we look just below the event level, we often notice patterns. Similar events have been taking place over time — we may have been catching more colds when we haven’t been resting enough. Observing patterns allows us to forecast and forestall events.
3. The Systemic Structure Level