1. Coupled Human - Environment Systems
Elizabeth King
Princeton University
Sustainability Science DGS
4th October, 2010

2. CHES: Complex Adaptive Systems
hrw.org/reports/2007/uganda0907
Math
Ecology
Sociology
Economics
Dynamics:
Non-linear
Cross-scale
Non-deterministic
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds
Components
Interactions
Selection

3. Offers a common foundation Relates directly to sustainability
CHES: A Framework
Offers a common foundation
Relates directly to sustainability
Room for multiple approaches
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds

4. Approaches based on discipline:  Earth Systems Science  Agriculture
CHES: A Framework
Approaches based on discipline:
 Earth Systems Science
 Agriculture
 Governance
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds

5. Approaches based on dynamics:  Resilience: Thresholds & surprises
CHES: A Framework
Approaches based on dynamics:
 Resilience:
Thresholds & surprises
 Social Psychology:
How perceptions shape behavior
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds

6. CHES: Benefits of Diversity
Diversity  Utility
Each approach uses
& develops tools.
Value of approaches
vary with context.
CHES is the common
“battery pack” for
different tools.
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds

7. CHES: Benefits of Diversity
Diversity  Efficiency
Common language facilitates
integration between approaches
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds

8. CHES and Sustainability Science:
Vision vs. Reality
Challenges:
1) Bounding systems for tractability.
2) Integrating disciplinary contributions.
3) Tools, models, methods to map CHES.
We see complex adaptive systems all around us:
Not just ecosystems:
Organisms
Social systems (animal or human)
Human institutions
**********
Ideas from a number of disciplines
Distilled 3 key common properties:
From these, a number of EMERGENT properties arise:
Feedbacks and self organization:
no global plan
hierarchical structure,
self-regulation, homeostasis
****
But these are also the ingredients for:
Non linear dynamics and thresholds