Sustainability science

Sustainability Science (English Sustainability Science ) is a new applied science that deals with the research and implementation of sustainability, sustainable development and sustainability strategies at local, regional, national and global levels and in fields of practice ( operational sustainability management, education, etc. ).

International Recognition

The Sustainability Science was established in 2001 officially at the conference "Challenges of a Changing Earth" in Amsterdam by the International Council for Science ( ICSU ), the International Geosphere - Biosphere Programme (IGBP ), the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change ( IHDP ) and the World Climate Research Programme ( WCRP ) was introduced. The German expression of sustainability science is a translation of the English term.

Science for sustainable development

Ins general scientific thought the idea of ​​sustainability came only when at the Earth Summit ( United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (English: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, UNCED) from 3 to 14 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro) in the Agenda 21 (Chapter 35) outlines the role of science in the service of sustainable development (see Stappen: 2000, p 259).

Nearly each of the 40 chapters of Agenda 21 stresses the need for the involvement of science for the implementation of globally - sustainable development. Sustainable development is, as can be inferred from this, without the support of science does not or only partially possible.

The science plays a crucial role for the practice of sustainability in terms of the practice of the "principle of responsibility " by Hans Jonas. Science for sustainable development will not and can not there be the new requirements through continuous changes. Linked to this is the need for a paradigm shift, also in terms of developing new Wissenschaftsdiziplinen.

Sustainability science thus is science in the service of sustainable development - in which all the sciences responsibility for the implementation of sustainable development carry.

Cornerstones of sustainability science

Based on the previous discussion can be the following basic consensus on science and sustainability and the sustainability science mooring (Lit.: Stappen, 2000 and 2006):

  • L In the Sustainability Science is a partial normative science. A letter of intent is the scientific foundation of sustainable practice and action (Agenda 21: Kap.35.3a ). Provided that there is about goals, values, norms and their assessment with each other goes (about: intergenerational justice versus economic freedom alive today ), so this is a normative question. If, however, for example by reference to instruments to implement this " weighed " targets or by cause unsustainability asked, so this is descriptive science ( cf. Ekardt 2009).
  • 2 Sustainability Science is aligned multi-and transdisciplinary. Sustainable development far exceeds the potential of a single scientific discipline.
  • 3 Sustainability Science is primarily practically oriented. Goal is to solve existential problems of the world society and the life of the Earth system. In practice, it comes to the management of sustainability and sustainable development.
  • 4 Sustainability Science is based on the responsibility of science and the individual scientist towards future generations and the Earth life system.

Early examples (1995 et seq ) for sustainability science is the study Sustainable Germany and the Applied Sustainability Science, the Altmühltal Agenda 21 project of the Catholic University of Eichstätt -Ingolstadt (1994-1999 ), the first attempts constitute sustainable development scientific and normative to substantiate and put into practice. Due to the lack of an appropriate scientific framework, such as sustainability science, there has been here after the publication of the study and considerable practical problems of legitimacy.

The central international platform on the development of sustainability science is the International Network on Science and Technology for Sustainability at Harvard University, where sustainability scientists have come together from all over the world and demonstrate the power plant projects the diversity of scientific sustainability research.

The national platform in Germany is " Research for Sustainable Development " initiative ( FONA ) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research ( BMBF), the actors and research activities in the field brings together research for sustainability.

Why is there a sustainability science?

The emergence of sustainability science can only be understood against the background that scientists from various disciplines (eg, climate scientists, ecologists, geoecologists, biologists, geographers, social and political scientists, physicists, human ecologists, etc.), dealing with the Global Change and employ sustainability research scientifically, are now virtually " always " forced to make statements outside their native ducks disciplinary boundaries. So over occurs, for example, a climate researcher already with a statement about reduction targets or climate change policy his science methodically secure area. This is because that allows reduction targets not only gain from scientific and descriptive models. It must always be determined at any point in the analysis a goal to be achieved Large or not infringing boundary condition. However, this definition itself is not possible with scientific means, but is a normative definition outside the area of ​​competence of each emipirischen science. It is, however, from an epistemological point of view perfectly possible to set appropriate targets and constraints of the hypothetical statement about reduction targets based. The emergence of a dedicated sustainability science can be seen as an expression of insight that such " transgressions " have to be protected and can methodically.

Genesis of Sustainability Science

The following text from the Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainability (Harvard University) gives an insight into the history of the " Sustainability Science ".

"The world 's present development path is not sustainable. Efforts to meet the needs of a growing population in a interconnectedness but unequal and human - dominated world are undermining the Earth 's essential life - support systems .... meeting fundamental human needs while preserving the life - support systems of planet Earth will require a world-wide acceleration of today 's halting progress in a transition toward sustainability ....

Above all, a response has begun to emerge from science Itself and the growing recognition across many disciplines of the need for synthesis and integration - needs are being reflected in many did new multidisciplinary research efforts and institutions. . Thesis various scientific efforts to promote the goals of a sustainability transition - meeting human needs while preserving the life support systems of the earth - are leading to the emergence of a new field of sustainability science " (Source: Sustainability Science Kates, Robert W. . .. , William C. Clark and al 2001 Science 292: 641- 2.längere version (pdf, 207 kB)

Study opportunities

In Germany:

  • University of Bochum - Integrative Institute Sustainable Development Sustainable Development ( Bachelor of Science, B.Sc. )
  • Mittweida - Institute for Technology and Knowledge Transfer Distance education ( with presence shares ) Sustainability in macroeconomic cycles ( Master of Engineering )
  • Technical University of Kaiserslautern - Distance & Independent Studies Center ( DISC) Distance education Sustainable development cooperation
  • University of Oldenburg Master of Sustainability Economics and Management
  • Technical University of Munich Sustainable Resource Management (Master of Science)
  • University of Kassel Sustainable Management (Master of Arts)
  • University of Lüneburg Sustainability Science - Sustainability Science (Master of Science, M.Sc. and MBA)
  • Martin- Luther -University Halle -Wittenberg Business Administration with a specialization column Sustainability Management ( Master of Science, M.Sc. )
  • University of Bayreuth Global Change Ecology within the Elite Network of Bavaria (Master of Science, M.Sc. )
  • University of Saarland Sustainability Science; ( Certificate program)
  • Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin, in cooperation with the University of Economics and Law Berlin Industrial Engineer / in Environment and Sustainability ( Bachelor of Engineering, B.Eng.)
  • Steinbeis University Berlin Masters in Responsible Management (Master of Arts, MA)
  • University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde Master Global Change Management (Master of Science, M.Sc. )
  • Master Regional Development and Nature Conservation ( Master of Science, M.Sc. )
  • Master Strategic Sustainability Management (Master of Arts, MA)
  • University of Greifswald Master Sustainability Geography and Regional Development ( Master of Science, M.Sc. )

In Austria:

  • University of Innsbruck Masters Degree Geography: Global Change - regional sustainability

In Switzerland:

  • University of Basel Master's program Sustainable Development
Sustainability measurement
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