Climate change and social sustainability: A case for polycentric sustainabilities

Abstract

Neither climate change nor human societies are homogeneous. Thus, in addressing the issues of climate change and social sustainability, we must consider "which climate change?" and "whose social sustainability?" Recognition of this difference and complexity calls for diverse locally-based innovation to solve problems rather than top-down universal solutions. This suggests the need to identify polycentric sustainabilities. For the purposes of this article, the concept of polycentric sustainabilities refers to the differential effects of the biophysical and social characteristics of a socio-ecological system in a particular place and time on what is defined as "sustainable" and what can be sustained by what mechanism. In effect, this multiscalar phenomenon means that policies that assume a single homogeneous sustainability will fail. The argument for taking polycentric sustainabilities into account is illustrated by case studies of two communities (one in Zimbabwe, one in the US) each of which refuses to wait for, much less accept, externally imposed solutions to the problems it faces. These case studies illustrate how these communities have taken the initiative to identify innovative, locally appropriate ways to address their problems.