<p> SUST S501 Sustainability Strategies and Applications Reading and Discussion Guide Robert, et. al., Sustainability Handbook, pp. 9-73 Core Concepts of Strategic Sustainable Development</p><p>Before you start the reading, review the following questions to help inform your work. Please be ready to discuss the following questions:</p><p>1. What is systems thinking? In your discussion, explain what is a system, what are system boundaries, what are surroundings and what are subsystems? What is the difference between an open and closed system? What are three characteristics of the behavior of complex systems? Give an example of a system not mentioned in the reading (pp. 15- 19). 2. How are earth and society systems and how do they interrelate? How is society as a system and its behavior contributing to unsustainability in the socio-ecological system, i.e. what is the sustainability challenge? (pp. 19-22) 3. What is the paradigm of the funnel? How does it help us understand the challenge of sustainability in systems thinking terms? What are the threats and opportunities of avoiding hitting the walls of the funnel? (pp. 22-29) 4. What is backcasting? How does it differ from forecasting and why is it more effective as a tool when planning for sustainability? What are, and what is the difference between backcasting from scenarios and principles? Can you use the analogy of chess or some other game to explain backcasting from principles? (pp. 31-37) 5. What is the Five Level Framework for Planning in Complex Systems (5LF). List and describe each level and the relationship between them? How is the 5LF useful? (pp.38- 44) 6. What are the scientific concepts on which the Framework for Sustainable Development is based? List and explain each. (pp. 46-50). 7. Based on the above scientific concepts, what are the mechanisms through which society is contributing to the destruction of the socio-ecological system? What are the 4 Sustainability Principles that we can derive from identifying these mechanisms? Describe and give examples of each? Based on these principles, what must society do to move towards sustainability (strategic guidelines)? (pp. 50-54) 8. What are the three prioritization questions we must ask when deciding on what actions to take in a sustainability plan? (pp. 54-55) 9. What is the ABCD process. Explain what each letter stands for and of what each element consists. (pp. 59-64). 10. What are dematerialization and substitution? How are they related? Give examples of both. (pp. 64-65) 11. What are some considerations to take into account when prioritizing among many different possible actions? (pp. 65-68)</p>