1. Linking Methodologies to Theories in Sustainability Science Lennart Olsson & Barry Ness LUCSUS – Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, Sweden www.lucsus.lu.se

2. World View

3. From science to society Scientific understanding Goals Strategies Implementation

4. By accident Deliberately

5. What is Sustainability Science? A science that explores two voids: between natural and social science between science and the workings of society A science that studies and contributes to sustainability transitions. A science that seeks new solutions to wicked problems. A science that seeks syntheses rather than specialisations.

6. The dominating belief underpinning science: the piecemeal study of the real world.

7. biology history fluid mechanics physical geography chemistry ethnology philosophy sociology literature pedagogics epidemiology law theology limnology linguistics business law economic history micro biology orthopedics economics human ecology archeology quarternary geology political science psychology arts nuclear physics atomic physics sociology of law social anthropology statistics mathematics electronics water resources eng. genetics chemical engineering business adm. psychiatry radiophysics environmental engineering informatics media and communication geophysics nutrition social works gender studies social geography economic geography ecology public health innovation studies

8. Natural science doesn’t question its ontology Social science constantly questions its ontology Example 1. Water is a bio-physical entity (H 2 O) that can exist in three forms – solid, liquid, and gas. It can be studied objectively. Water-flows in nature are driven by gravity and thermodynamics. Water is an economic good. Water is primarily a source of conflict Water is primarily a source of co-operation Water-flows in society are driven by power relationships

10. Natural science doesn’t question its ontology Social science constantly questions its ontology Example 2. Carbon is a bio-physical entity. In the form of CO 2, it contributes to global warming. The cycling of CO 2 can be studied by quantitative and objective methods The cycling of carbon is embedded in almost all human activities. This cycling is determined by economic, political and social drivers.

11. Fig. 5. Global C cycle showing fossil C stock, CO2 emissions, and fate of CO2 in the 1990s. Carbon stocks are in units of Pg C; annual flows and changes in atmospheric CO2 are in PgC per year. Net annual absorption by terrestrial and ocean sinks is only roughly known (House et al., 2003; Houghton, 2003); values shown are from IPCC (2001a). Other sources include: IPCC (2000), Sundquist (1993) and Rogner (2000). Janzen H.H.: 2005: Carbon cycling in earth systems—a soil science perspective. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

12. Sustainability assessment Indicators/ indices Product related assessments Integrated assessment Non-Integrated Environmental Pressure Indicators Regional flow assessments Integrated UNCSD 58 Input-Output Energy Analysis Regional Emergy Analysis Regional Exergy Analysis Economy-wide Material Flow Analysis Sustainable National Income Genuine Progress Indicator and ISEW Adjusted Net Savings (Genuine Savings) Ecological Footprint Wellbeing Index Environmental Sustainability Index Human Development Index Conceptual Modelling System Dynamics Multi-Criteria Analysis Risk Analysis Uncertainty Analysis Vulnerability Analysis Cost Benefit Analysis Impact assessment Environmental Impact Assessment Strategic Environmental Assessment EU Sustainability Impact Assessment Life Cycle Assessment Product material flow analysis Material Intensity Analysis Substance Flow Analysis Product energy analysis Process Energy Analysis Emergy Analysis Exergy Analysis Life cycle costing Full Life Cycle Accounting Life Cycle Cost Assessment Assessment focus ForecastingRetrospective Ness, B., Urbel-Piirsalu, E., Anderberg, S., Olsson, L., 2007: Categorising tools for sustainability assessment. Ecological Economics. Vol 60, pp 498-508

13. www.lucsus.lu.se Sustainability science needs to bridge these scientific gaps! Within universities Between universities Across world regions … and contribute to social change towards sustainability transitions!