Approaching the Wicked Problem of Sustainability
Student’s Name
Institution’s Affiliation
Course
Professor
Date
Approaching the Wicked Problem of Sustainability
Marine plastic waste is a well-known example of a wicked sustainability problem. Several things contribute to this issue: the large and complex marine ecosystem; the various sources of plastic garbage; and the numerous adverse effects on health and the environment caused by plastic pollution (McKibben, 2019). Figuring out where plastic pollution comes from, the many possible answers, and the difficulty in setting clear goals for success are all signs of wickedness (Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2023). Moreover, the issue is ever-changing, as new plastic keeps entering the seas, making it hard to judge how well solutions work.
Diverse interests and viewpoints must be included to solve the wicked problem of plastic waste. According to Harris, (2019) scientists and environmental professionals can provide their expertise to comprehend the ecological consequences and create practical mitigation plans (Harris, 2019). Alongside the corporate initiatives formulated by major plastic production companies, policymakers and legislators actively enforce regulations to reduce plastics and shift towards more sustainable alternatives. Plastic products are part of the life cycle, so industries and businesses must develop an eco-friendly approach while processing the material, for example, recycling plastic products or producing ecologically safe prototypes (Reinecke & Manning, 2016). Furthermore, communities and NGOs can be involved in raising awareness of cleaning communities from littering their surroundings, among others. A cooperative interdisciplinarity method, including professional scientists, policymakers, businesses, and villages, is the requirement of costly.
Talking about the difficulties of plastic pollution as a “wicked problem” in sustainability education can help students get better at thinking critically and fixing problems (Harris, 2019). Using real-life examples helps students understand the problems better and makes them think about how multiple environmental problems are linked. Teachers and students can gain new perspectives and insights using tools like TED talks (Wujec, 2015). This method aligns with the teaching principle of anticipatory education by getting people ready to deal with the unknowns and difficulties that come with wicked sustainability problems.
References
Harris, P. (2019, September 12). Too many “wicked problems”: how science, policy, and politics can work together. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/too-many-wicked-problems-how-science-policy-and-politics-can-work-together-8990
McKibben, B. (2019, November 12). What We’ve Learned About Climate Change in the Last 30 Years | Bill McKibben. Bioneers. https://bioneers.org/what-learned-climate-change-bill-mckibben-zstf1911/
Reinecke, J., & Manning, S. (2016, October 3). We’re failing to solve the world’s “wicked problems.” Here’s a better approach. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/were-failing-to-solve-the-worlds-wicked-problems-heres-a-better-approach-64949
Stockholm Resilience Centre. (2023). Planetary boundaries – Stockholm Resilience Centre. Stockholmresilience.org. https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html
Wujec, T. (2015, February 5). Got a wicked problem? First, tell me how you make toast. Www.ted.com. https://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_got_a_wicked_problem_first_tell_me_how_you_make_toast#t-311716