Artificial intelligence, systemic risks, and sustainability

Technology in Society, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 67, С. 101741 - 101741

Опубликована: Сен. 17, 2021

Automated decision making and predictive analytics through artificial intelligence, in combination with rapid progress technologies such as sensor technology robotics are likely to change the way individuals, communities, governments private actors perceive respond climate ecological change. Methods based on various forms of intelligence already today being applied a number research fields related environmental monitoring. Investments into applications these agriculture, forestry extraction marine resources also seem be increasing rapidly. Despite growing interest in, deployment AI-technologies domains critical for sustainability, few have explored possible systemic risks depth. This article offers global overview sectors high impact potential sustainability like farming, resources. We identify including a) algorithmic bias allocative harms; b) unequal access benefits; c) cascading failures external disruptions, d) trade-offs between efficiency resilience. explore emerging risks, questions, discuss limitations current governance mechanisms addressing AI sectors.

Язык: Английский

---

Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 375(1794), С. 20190124 - 20190124

Опубликована: Янв. 27, 2020

Managing and adapting to climate change in urban areas will become increasingly important as populations grow, especially because unique features of cities amplify impacts. High impervious cover exacerbates impacts warming through heat island effects heavy rainfall by magnifying runoff flooding. Concentration human settlements along rivers coastal zones increases exposure people infrastructure hazards, often disproportionately affecting those who are least prepared. Nature-based strategies (NBS), which use living organisms, soils sediments, and/or landscape reduce hold promise being more flexible, multi-functional adaptable an uncertain non-stationary future than traditional approaches. Nevertheless, research should address the effectiveness NBS for reducing whether they can be implemented at scales appropriate hazards Further, there is a need accurate comprehensive cost–benefit analyses that consider disservices co-benefits, relative grey alternatives, how costs benefits distributed across different communities. most likely effective fair when match scale challenge, with input from diverse voices specific social, cultural, ecological technological contexts. This article part theme issue ‘Climate ecosystems: threats, opportunities solutions’.

Язык: Английский

---

Assessment of urban flood vulnerability using the social-ecological-technological systems framework in six US cities

Sustainable Cities and Society, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 68, С. 102786 - 102786

Опубликована: Фев. 21, 2021

As urban populations continue to grow through the 21st century, more people are projected be at risk of exposure climate change-induced extreme events. To investigate complexity floods, this study applied an interlinked social-ecological-technological systems (SETS) vulnerability framework by developing flood index for six US cities. Indicators were selected reflect and illustrate exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity flooding each three domains SETS. We quantified 18 indicators normalized them cities' 500-yr floodplain area census block group level. Clusters vulnerable areas identified differently SETS domain, some floods in than one domain. Results provided support decision-making reducing risks flooding, considering social, ecological, technological as well hotspots where multiple sources coexist. The spatially explicit can transferred other regions facing challenging types environmental hazards. Mapping helps reveal intersections complex interactions inform policy-making building resilient cities face events change impacts.

Язык: Английский

---

A social-ecological-technological systems framework for urban ecosystem services

One Earth, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 5(5), С. 505 - 518

Опубликована: Май 1, 2022

As rates of urbanization and climatic change soar, decision-makers are increasingly challenged to provide innovative solutions that simultaneously address climate impacts risks inclusively ensure quality life for urban residents. Cities have turned nature-based help these challenges. Nature-based solutions, through the provision ecosystem services, can yield numerous benefits people multiple challenges simultaneously. Yet, efforts mainstream impaired by complexity interacting social, ecological, technological dimensions systems. This must be understood managed ecosystem-service provisioning is effective, equitable, resilient. Here, we a social-ecological-technological system (SETS) framework builds on decades services research better understand four core associated with solutions: multi-functionality, systemic valuation, scale mismatch inequity injustice. The illustrates importance coordinating natural, technological, socio-economic systems when designing, planning, managing enable optimal social-ecological outcomes.

Язык: Английский

---

Radical changes are needed for transformations to a good Anthropocene

npj Urban Sustainability, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 1(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2021

Abstract The scale, pace, and intensity of human activity on the planet demands radical departures from status quo to remain within planetary boundaries achieve sustainability. steering arms society including embedded financial, legal, political, governance systems must be radically realigned recognize connectivity among social, ecological, technological domains urban deliver more just, equitable, sustainable, resilient futures. We present five key principles requiring fundamental cognitive, behavioral, cultural shifts rethinking growth, efficiency, state, commons, justice needed together transform neighborhoods, cities, regions.

Язык: Английский

---

Urbanization in and for the Anthropocene

npj Urban Sustainability, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 1(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2021

Key insights on needs in urban regional governance - Global urbanization (the increasing concentration settlements of the world population), is a driver and accelerator shifts diversity, new cross-scale interactions, decoupling from ecological processes, risk exposure to shocks. Responding challenges demands fresh commitments city–regional perspective ways that are explictly embedded Anthopocene bio- techno- noospheres, extend existing understanding city–nature nexus scale. Three key dimensions cities constrain or enable constructive, cross scale responses disturbances extreme events include 1) shifting 2) connectivity modularity, 3) complexity. These three characteristic current processes offer potential intervention points for local global action.

Язык: Английский

---

Resilience of urban social-ecological-technological systems (SETS): A review

Sustainable Cities and Society, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 99, С. 104910 - 104910

Опубликована: Сен. 3, 2023

Resilience is a widely debated concept that encompasses various interpretations. Recently, in science and policy circles, there has been growing interest the of Social-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS) resilience which offers new interpretation. While this now used frequently, it not properly understood still lack clarity on what means its underpinning principles. This understanding may confuse even disorient researchers makers. To address issue, we review literature published context urban systems. The reviewed mainly focused nature-based solutions, indicating more contributions from ecological field. Also, flooding, extreme heat, drought are major stressors discussed literature. We elaborate definition SETS discuss dominant principles adaptability, transformability, flexibility, redundancy, equity, diversity, foresight capacity, connectivity, robustness, multi-functionality, learning, non-linearity. also expound upon key components SETS, how they intertwined, potential trade-offs emerge between them. Our study demonstrates implementation approach leads to numerous ancillary benefits. If multi-level polycentric governance strategies adopted, can help avoid social, ecological, technological dimensions. conclude by emphasizing dominated epistemological approaches empirical research needed understand better complex dynamics resilience.

Язык: Английский

---

Food System Resilience: Concepts, Issues, and Challenges

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 47(1), С. 511 - 534

Опубликована: Сен. 21, 2022

Food system resilience has multiple dimensions. We draw on food and concepts review framings of different communities. present four questions to frame (Resilience what? Resilience from whose perspective? for how long?) three approaches enhancing (robustness, recovery, reorientation—the “Rs”). focus outcomes argue this will require actors adapting their activities, noting that activities do not change spontaneously but in response a drivers: an opportunity or threat. However, operationalizing enhancement involves normative choices result decisions having be negotiated about trade-offs among stakeholders. New including actors’ perceptions goals are needed build systems better positioned address challenges the future.

Язык: Английский

---

Global mapping of urban nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation

Nature Sustainability, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(4), С. 458 - 469

Опубликована: Янв. 30, 2023

Язык: Английский

---

Multisector Dynamics: Advancing the Science of Complex Adaptive Human‐Earth Systems

Earth s Future, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 10(3)

Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2022

Abstract The field of MultiSector Dynamics (MSD) explores the dynamics and co‐evolutionary pathways human Earth systems with a focus on critical goods, services, amenities delivered to people through interdependent sectors. This commentary lays out core definitions concepts, identifies MSD science questions in context current state knowledge, describes ongoing activities expand capacities for open science, leverage revolutions data computing, grow diversify workforce. Central our vision is ambition advancing next generation complex adaptive human‐Earth better address interconnected risks, increase resilience, improve sustainability. will require convergent research integration ideas methods from multiple disciplines. Understanding tradeoffs, synergies, complexities that exist coupled particularly important energy transitions increased future shocks.

Язык: Английский

---