Writing a book and one chapter is on how managing sustainability seems to be turning into a profession, with full-time managers doing this in business. What do professionals in sustainability need to know? Is there a distinct science underlying the field? If so, what does it involve? Are environmental sciences and studies programs providing adequate grounding in this science?
Please concentrate on the questions, not the definition of sustainability. There are lots of different definitions of sustainability (my book will offer another one), but for the purpose of this discussion, please assume that "sustainability" means doing business and managing enterprises in a way that works toward the goal that there is minimum impact on the environment, good prospects for the future, no degradation that would compromise the future, and that protects health and a decent life.
How do you expect to get a sound scientific answer, when the definition needed is not exact?
Because the definition will never be exact - it has too many dimensions - but the sense of sustainability as environmental, social, and economic progress and leaving something for future generations has passed into the common shared culture. The discussion is not irrelevant because there are university programs in the field already and positions in business to which graduates are recruited.
I didn't mean to be rude - it was an honest question.
OK, from a physical point of view I would recommend basic thermodynamic knowledge about energy conservation, thermodynamic efficiency, etc... (These are very fundamental concepts with which I would start).
Also statistics will be helpfull I guess.
From the points of view of my Thailand's case. The problem is people-rift problems which is very difficult to resolute. The overall-aspect problem is very difficult to model.
Classical Heuristic approaches might help. Also, the modeling of Relational approach like the one which Prof. Katai Osamu of Kyoto University started(something like Relational Diagram of TQM) might help. Rather, It might be "Arts" (related to Influence
Science)more than Science.
A good source:
Kates, Robert W., ed. (2010). Readings in Sustainability Science and Technology. CID Working Paper No. 213. Center for International Development, Harvard University. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, December 2010.
There's also a journal on Sustainability Science, and a Journal of Environmental Sustainability. Both give piecemeal examples of the science behind sustainability.
As a professor teaching in a sustainable business program, I would say we are NOT teaching students enough about the science behind sustainability. (I would say we're not teaching enough of the social science either, but that's uneven bigger topic.)
for an insightful framing of the scientific questions, look at The Natural Step's "system conditions" for sustainability. The Natural Step seems to be somewhat out of fashion among Americans working in this area, but the framework is immensely valuable conceptually.
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