Terminologies of Integrated Environmental Management

 

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A Plethora of Unsolved Environmental Problems

There are so many unsolved environmental problems because those in power want to keep us on track for eternal economic growth. And, oddly the adverse environmental effects from economic activities are not really accounted for. Since 1800, the human population has increased in number (from one billion to almost 8 billion today), we have increased the use of fossil fuels for products and energy consumption. We as a species have become a super-organism and now the ecosystems that support us are under excessive stress. It has been predicted that many ecosystems will collapse if we continue on our current trajectory. 

Environmental – what does this mean?

In the context Integrated Environmental Management (IEM), the environment refers to the natural environment which encompasses the biophysical elements and systems that maintain life on this planet, for example, air, water, soil. However, there are many things such as the interaction of cosmic forces that play a role in the environment, for example, the sun, the moon, meteors and cosmic particles from outer space. Within the environment, there are living organisms that find niches to survive and flourish. Humans are from this environment and therefore part of it, yet, as we have become more reliant on technology and cultural symbolism, we have sought to transform ourselves and the environment in ways to provide comfort, excess foods, transport, entertainment, products and resources to prevent boredom and feel secure from death and the unknown. From an ecological perspective, the environment is an interaction between living and non-living things. The video below which is presented by Sir David Attenborough looks into the earths systems and how human impacts are affecting the environment.

How ‘Integrated’ is our approach to managing environmental issues?

The term integrated in this context refers to using a range of principles and processes to address something. Depending on the level of the issue and those involved, the integration and complexity can increase. As the problem increases in severity, more people, concepts, resources and time will need to be included for integration to occur. The example I think of when it comes to integration is systems dynamics and the Limits to Growth team that was put together with funding from The Club of Rome in the early 1970s. They fed a range of complex inputs, such as human population growth, debt, resource use and pollution into computer models and extracted scientific formulas for their findings. Their results showed that humanity was heading for disaster, yet governments did not listen and instead ignored the findings. Outside influence from a range of industries had a part to play in creating a counter narrative about the research from the Limits to Growth, and industry came up with cleaver ways to influence political and public perceptions of the issues. 

Management – what does this even mean?

To manage something is also contextual for the issue and can involve a range of strategies, tactics, organising, delegating, hierarchy, communication, systems, methods, resources, funding, people and time. Essentially, the greater the issue needed to be managed, there will be more complexity, funding and time required. A large part of managing an environmental issue relies on understanding the issue and strategising ways to confront it. Which also requires considering the implications of the interventions for the short and long-term outcomes. Here’s an interesting podcast that talks about solving complex problems by Nate Hagens. Check it out a leave comment on what you think about these ideas.

Wicked and Super Wicked Problems

Super wicked problems generally include international or large-scale national involvement and have innumerable interconnected causes that many human and natural processes feed into. For example, climate change is defined as a super wicked problem.

A wicked problem, is less complex by comparison, for example, exterminating wasps within NZ using gene editing. For either of the issues mentioned above, IEM could be beneficial, however, it is still too early for me to have a formed opinion on this. Evidence of solving a super wicked problem using an IEM approach was where the use of CFCs were reduced so the ozone layer could be self restored. This was done through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach that spanned the globe diminishing harmful human impacts and the size of the hole in the ozone layer. 

What are you're thought's on solving climate change and wasp eradication? Leave a comment and chat about these concepts with friends to see what they think about these problems and potential solutions.