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Does sustainability emerge from

the relationships

between scales?

Dr Helena BenderKate Judith

Framing theory • Systems

– Boundary– Size is variable (super-system through to sub-system)– Elements that interact

• Emergence– Local actors at micro scale– Patterns emerge from interactions, observed at macro scale– Patterns emerge without a leader

• Scale– Changes in one scale (micro/macro) affects the other– Small changes can have big impacts– Micro = bottom-up– Macro = top-down

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Sustainability is:

• the emergent quality of a system that results from the responsive interplay between the caring actions of individuals (bottom-up) and feedback about the persistence and nourishment of the interrelationships between elements of the supporting environment and ultimately the global system (top-down)

Defining sustainability

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Space between micro and macro scales

• Structure of the space– difficult to describe– not static– size of the gap between the scales is variable

• Questions important to the relationship between scales– know and understand each other?– communicate and feedback to each other?– direction of communication (bi-directional)?– contribution of the structure of the space?

Knowing the other scale

• Different culture, different scale– Mismatches that prevent

• flow of information• good decision making• attempts to work towards sustainability

• Action – recognise different cultures– establish structures, habits or values– experience at different scales– choice of language, venue and framing– develop value frameworks– develop theory and practice together to

inform each other (Norton 2002)

Photo copyright R.W. D

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Communication and feedback between the scales

• Different language between scales– Mismatches prevent

• Understanding• Exchange• Communication• Attempts to move towards sustainability

• Action– Position of problem solving (Norton 2002)– Open and vigorous communication

• Emergence of well-adapted theory and action

Structure of the space between scales

• Structure shapes outcome– Indirect (termites, policy documents)– Direct (body language)

• Encourage – Examine the structure for facilitation– reasoned decisions

• Minimise – inappropriate responses– boundary less defined

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Processes to support emergence

• Reduced outside control• Create a space for risk taking• Reduce need for security • Maintain complexity and diversity– interaction– information sharing

• Reduce control from above• Decision making based on local

information and environment (Johnson 2003)

http://inhabitat.com/earthquake-resistant-earthships-for-haiti-disaster-relief/

Processes that ensure emergence leads to sustainability

• Nourishing interactions between the system and its environment

• Framework to determine patterns at macro scale from local nourishment

• Iterative process between the scales• Tight feedback: timely information sharing

that reaches all stakeholders

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Summary – What is needed to lead to sustainability?

• Efforts to get to know the scales above and below• Attention to the communication channels between the

scales• Monitoring structures, tools and processes• Decision making structures that flatten power structures• Iterative processes between scales• Valuing of diversity and complexity• Creation of a space for risk taking, tolerance of some

vulnerability• Nourishing actions at the micro scale

What’s next for working towards sustainability?

• Models for better communication between scales– Duplication in knowledge carriers– Command ethic to share and trade knowledge

• Approaches for tight feedback– role of command and character ethics– flattening the space between the scales

http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/indigenous-australian-art-comm.php