Visioneering: an essential framework in sustainability science

The science of sustainability has inevitably emerged as a vibrant field of research and education that transcends disciplinary boundaries and focuses increasingly on understanding the dynamics of social-ecological systems (SES). Yet, sustainability remains an elusive concept, and its nature seems unclear for the most part. In order to truly mobilize people and nations towards sustainability, we place emphasis on the necessity of understanding the nature, cost and principles of `visioneering`aEuro"the engineering of a clear vision. In SES, purpose is the most important pillar, which gives birth to vision-the key to fulfilling the systems` mission. Such a systems perspective leads us to redefine resilience as jumping back to the original purpose, for which SES do not necessarily retain the same structures and functioning after disturbances. A sustainable future will require purpose-driven transformation of society at all scales, guided by the best foresight, with insight based on hindsight that science can provide. Visioneering with resilience-based systems thinking will provide communities with a logical framework for understanding their interconnections and purposes, envisioning a sustainable web of life, and eventually dancing with the systems. ; Wagener T, 2010, WATER RESOUR RES, V46, DOI 10.1029/2009WR008906 ; LEVIN SA, 2010, 196 HARV U CTR INT D ; CHAPIN F, 2009, PRINCIPLES ECOSYSTEM ; MITCHELL M, 2009, COMPLEXITY GUIDED TO ; RIFKIN J, 2009, EMPATHIC CIVILIZATIO ; Rockstrom J, 2009, ECOL SOC, V14 ; Kajikawa Y, 2008, SUSTAIN SCI, V3, P215, DOI 10.1007/s11625-008-0053-1 ; EHRENFELD J, 2008, SUSTAINABILITY DESIG ; HAHN T, 2008, COMPLEXITY THEORY SU, P119 ; MASER C, 2008, UNDERSTANDING SUSTAI ; MEADOWS DH, 2008, THINKING SYSTEMS PRI ; NORBERG J, 2008, COMPLEXITY THEORY SU ; KEMP R, 2007, SUSTAINABILITY SCI P, V3, P5 ; LOORBACH D, 2007, SUSTAIN SCI PRACT PO, V3 ; *RES ALL, 2007, ASS RES SOC EC SYST ; STANLEY A, 2007, MAKING VISION STICK ; MEADOWS DH, 2004, LIMITS GROWTH 30 YEA ; Costanza R, 2003, FUTURES, V35, ...