1. Sustainability Science and Transition toward Rural Sustainability: Some Issues and Concepts.
Helmi
Andalas University, Indonesia
A presentation material for the 2018 International Conference on
Social and Sustainability Science in ASEAN
Organized by Chulalongkorn University and UNESCO, Bangkok, Thailand
23 – 25 Januari 2018

2. Outline
Global assessment on progress of sustainable development and related issues/tendencies;
How do we understand the issues/tendencies?: The sustainability science perspective and concept;
Challenges of transition toward sustainability;
Framework for transition toward sustainability.

3. Global Assessment on progress of Sustainable Development
From 1987’s Brundlandt Commission on Our Common Future, to 1992 Earth Summit which endorsed sustainability as development paradigm, to Agenda 21 and then MDGs, and now SDGs.
2012: that was 20 years of Earth Summit  IISD Report: "the results (of sustainable development initiatives) fell short what is needed to redirect the global economy onto a sustainable course clearly something is not working" (Halle, Najam and Beaton, 2013: p1, emphasis added).
We live in one planet, but the trend on level of resources we use more than the planet could provide, the waste we produced more than the planet could absorb, and disturbance we created more than the planet could recover from/renew itself.
 What is not working and why?

4. Issues and Tendencies related to Progress of Sustainable Development (SD)

5. Insufficient attention on social dimensions of SD
PARADOX: Recognition of growing complexity and inter-relatedness of major SD problems and challenges (social, economics and environmental) VERSUS narrow and technocratic approach in dealing with those problems (focus more on environmental aspects and eco-efficiency)  failure to solve sufficiently more pressing issues of poverty alleviation, environmental degradation and social breakdown (exclusion) (Creech and Willard, 2001).

6. Less attention on sufficient actions at local (rural) level (
Less attention on sufficient actions at local (rural) level (... think globally, act locally)
Sustainability aspects and problems are interelated each other, encompassing issues from global to local levels, involving actors from differents sectors, and required knowledge of various disciplines  there is a need to balance between the aspect of think globally and act locally.
High intensity of related activities at global level  intensity of actions at local level were not matching of those at international level.
The IISD report  concluded that "we can no longer rely principally on the approach centered on global summits, universal agreements and independent commisions" (Halle, Najam and Beaton, 2013: p3).
 it is time to put more attention and resources to the aspect of "act locally" (with global support), so that transition toward sustainability can be done with greater intensity.

7. Lack of synergy and concerted actions (esp. at local/rural level)
Scientific knowledge NOT meet with public policies  lack of impacts that research has had on public policy  need to promote a knowledge-based (evidence-based) public policy.
The problem is NOT always a lack of information BUT  inadequate capacity to translate knowledge and innovation into:
useful policy, and appropriate actions.
(how to do it?)
(Maurice Strong’s Report on Connecting with the World, 1996)

8. Knowledge management (KM).
Current model/framework of knowledge management could not catalyze and fast-track innovation, research and development (R&D) and realization of economic, environmental and social benefits (esp. at rural area)  sustainability is about maintaining the continuation of benefits streams).
 related to concept of TFP (total factor of productivity)  increases in TFP resulted usually from technological innovations or improvements.
KM aim at creating and sharing new knowledge with others and put that knowledge into action (at local/rural level).

9. How do we understand the issues/tendencies
How do we understand the issues/tendencies?: The sustainability science perspective and concept.

10. Life systems on earth, SD Problems and domains of sciences
• Physics, chemistry, biology and the environmental sciences can deliver wonderful solutions to some of the challenges facing individuals and societies, but it depends on whether the research is solution oriented. If social, economic and/or cultural factors are not included in the framing of the (research) questions, a great deal of creativity can be wasted (p.5).
• If you want (natural) science to deliver for society, through commerce, government or philanthropy, you need to support a capacity to understand that society (social sciences) that is as deep as your capacity to understand the (natural) science (p.5).
•  There is a need to establish inter/ trans- disciplinary projects – and integrate natural sciences, social sciences and humanities from the outset.
Natural Sciences
NOT WELL-CONNENCTED EACH OTHER AND HIGHLY FRAGMENTED…
Social Sciences
Source: Falkenmark (1997).
Source: Nature, Journal of Science, Vol 517, 1 January 2015

11. DOMAIN OF ACTIONS: SECTORAL, PARTIAL AND NOT INTEGRATED
 the need to move from silo toward higher intensity of synergy for SD
GOVERN-MENT AGENCIES
SOCIETY/ COMMUNITYFACING SD PROBLEMS
PRIVATE, SOC . BUSINESS, & INTL ORG.
UNIVERSITY/RESEARCH INSTITUTES
GOVERNMENT
PRIVATE/ SOC. BUSINESS
SOCIETY/ COMMUNITY CONCERNED
UNIVERSITY/RESEARCH INST
EVIDENCE-BASED INNOVATIVE POLICY
PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP 3P
AFS & RURAL SUST. 3P 3P 3P
COMMUNITY. ENGAGEMENT
CSR

12. Challenges related to domain of action
 tendency for each SD actors to work in silo, less interaction among them, or tend to be sectorial within its authority/mission boundaries
 framework for synergy and partnership has yet to develop.
 require more open minded and develop “boundaries” processes.
 require bridging and linking social capital as well as better governance (well functioning state).

13. The concept of sustainability science (SS).

14. The concept of sustainability science (SS) - 1
First, un-sustainability partly caused by the divided domain of natural and social sciences and increasingly fragmented disciplines and tended to be un-connected each other and become less relevant to help addressing the complex problems of sustainability (Spangenberg, 2002; Komiyama and Takeuchi, 2006; Benneth, 2013).
Therefore, there is a need to cross the disciplinary borders and reconnect science to society through renovations of disciplinary approaches (Spangenberg, 2002).
 inter/trans-disciplinary approach.

15. The concept of sustainability science (SS) - 2
Second, the aim of SS is to formulate science-based innovatives solutions to the sustainability problems. It is an interdisciplinary arena to satisfy society's need within the limit of nature carrying capacity (Bennet, 2013)  solution oriented and welfare for all.
The objectives of SS are: ( provide basis for transition toward sustainability)
(a) understanding the fundamental interaction between nature and society;
(b) guiding these interactions along sustainable trajectories; and
(c) promoting social learning necessary to navigate the transition to sustainability (Miller, Wiek, Sarewitz, Robinson, Olsson, Kriebel, and Loorbach, 2014: 239).

16. The concept of sustainability science (SS) - 3
Third, there is a need for participatory approach in dealing with sustainability problems (by all related stakeholders), (Miller, Wiek, Sarewitz, Robinson, Olsson, Kriebel, and Loorbach, 2014).  integrated approach, optimizing social and humans potentials.
 Sustainability science required a new approach in setting the boundary of analysis, assessing the impact of the interface between society and nature, formulating innovative solutions and its implementation.

17. The concept of sustainability science (SS) - 4
There is a need to move from narrow analytic focus (which is more experimental in approach) which has limited impact on solving problems (Potschin and Hainess-Young (2006).
 toward integrative stream of science which provided basis for science-based problem solving.

18. The concept of sustainability science (SS) - 5
It implies that combination of crititical and problem solving approach are essential in doing research, ... formulation of solutions, and strategies for implementation (Jerneck, Olsson, Ness, Anderberg, Baier, Clark, Hickler, Hornborg, Kronsell, Lovbrand, and Person, 2011).
 The co-production of knowledge, reciprocal learning, and the applied aspects of science are very important in this context (Spangenberg, 2002; Benneth, 2013).

19. The concept of sustainability science (SS) - 6
... is the scientific knowledge generated as the basis to formulate science-based innovative solutions to the sustainability problems and delivery of sustainable development goals (SDGs)..
Elements of sustainability science:
problems driven and solutions oriented;
interdisciplinary (interdisciplinary; trans-disciplinary; cross-disciplinary);
integrated approach and optimising social and humanity potential (through learning process approach);
Maintaining continuation of benefits stream (from ecosystem);
aim at well-being for all.

20. Challenges of transition toward sustainability
The obstacles are (Komiyama and Takeuchi, 2006: 3-4):
"(1) complexity of the problems and the specialization of the scholarship that seek to address them;
(2) the scientific discipline that examines this complex problems have themselves grown increasingly fragmented in recent years, so much research is conducted from a highly restricted perspective with regard to both phenomena identification and problem solving; and
(3) piecemeal approach which constraining the development and application of comprehensive solutions to these problems".
 IN THE PAST efforts NOT SUFFICIENT to connect and integrate FRAGMENTED SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES AND PIECEMEAL APPROACH.

21. Framework for transition toward sustainability (Helmi, 2017)

22. THANK YOU
ANDALAS UNIVERSITY