Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment
In 2015, the United Nations created a framework comprising 17 aspirational goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a view toward peace and prosperity by 2030. Green Chemistry (GC) has always been recognized as a pathway to sustainability. However, the best solutions cannot be f...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17518253.2024.2381596 |
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| author | Meghna Dilip Margaret E. Kerr |
| author_facet | Meghna Dilip Margaret E. Kerr |
| author_sort | Meghna Dilip |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2015, the United Nations created a framework comprising 17 aspirational goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a view toward peace and prosperity by 2030. Green Chemistry (GC) has always been recognized as a pathway to sustainability. However, the best solutions cannot be found if we look at each of these separately, but rather it is important to apply a systems thinking approach and recognize the interconnected nature of the systems being studied. In this paper, we present activities that allow learners to visualize synergies and trade-offs with the SDGs when applying a systems thinking approach compared with a narrower perspective. We applied the approach to an industrial example (Nike) and to concerning chemicals such as bisphenols and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’). We believe this approach can be modified and used widely for various chemical processes in an educational context. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c83081c9c6ce4fc49f4fa164732a217c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1751-8253 1751-7192 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews |
| spelling | doaj-art-c83081c9c6ce4fc49f4fa164732a217c2025-08-20T02:36:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGreen Chemistry Letters and Reviews1751-82531751-71922024-12-0117110.1080/17518253.2024.2381596Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environmentMeghna Dilip0Margaret E. Kerr1Department of Chemistry, Worcester State University, Worcester, USADepartment of Chemistry, Worcester State University, Worcester, USAIn 2015, the United Nations created a framework comprising 17 aspirational goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a view toward peace and prosperity by 2030. Green Chemistry (GC) has always been recognized as a pathway to sustainability. However, the best solutions cannot be found if we look at each of these separately, but rather it is important to apply a systems thinking approach and recognize the interconnected nature of the systems being studied. In this paper, we present activities that allow learners to visualize synergies and trade-offs with the SDGs when applying a systems thinking approach compared with a narrower perspective. We applied the approach to an industrial example (Nike) and to concerning chemicals such as bisphenols and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’). We believe this approach can be modified and used widely for various chemical processes in an educational context.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17518253.2024.2381596Green chemistrygreen educationsystems thinkingUNSDGssynergies and tradeoffs |
| spellingShingle | Meghna Dilip Margaret E. Kerr Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews Green chemistry green education systems thinking UNSDGs synergies and tradeoffs |
| title | Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment |
| title_full | Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment |
| title_fullStr | Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment |
| title_short | Circles of sustainability: an activity for visualizing synergies and trade-offs in a systems thinking environment |
| title_sort | circles of sustainability an activity for visualizing synergies and trade offs in a systems thinking environment |
| topic | Green chemistry green education systems thinking UNSDGs synergies and tradeoffs |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17518253.2024.2381596 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meghnadilip circlesofsustainabilityanactivityforvisualizingsynergiesandtradeoffsinasystemsthinkingenvironment AT margaretekerr circlesofsustainabilityanactivityforvisualizingsynergiesandtradeoffsinasystemsthinkingenvironment |