Multispecies sustainability

Abstract

Non-technical summary The sustainability concept seeks to balance how present and future generations of humans meet their needs. But because nature is viewed only as a resource, sustainability fails to recognize that humans and other living beings depend on each other for their well-being. We therefore argue that true sustainability can only be achieved if the interdependent needs of all species of current and future generations are met, and propose calling this ‘multispecies sustainability’. We explore the concept through visualizations and scenarios, then consider how it might be applied through case studies involving bees and healthy green spaces.

Autonomous re-naturalization of cities in a context of degrowth

“…At the same time in the field of Deep Ecology, Naess (1973) insisted on the interconnection of all phenomena in the biosphere, and the interdependence of everything which is part of it, and hence the assumption of a shift from hierarchies to webs for social organization (Capra, 1997). The concept of "multi-species sustainability" assumes the necessity of recognizing the interdependence of the needs of multiple species for current and future generations (Rupprecht et al, 2020). This would be a major paradigm shift, accompanied by an economic, ecological and social transition.…”

Whose Health in Whose City? A Systems Thinking Approach to Support and Evaluate Plans, Policies, and Strategies for Lasting Urban Health

“…Kim et al [101] use causal loops to explore urban walking and health promotion in Seoul, South Korea; the same approach is used by Tan et al [102] to evaluate urban health policy proposals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; by Siri and Tan [103] for a macroscopic approach to urban health and well-being in the Asia-Pacific region; and by Pineo et al [104], who developed loop diagrams from semistructured interviews with urban health indicator producers and users in San Francisco, California and Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, for the improvement of local urban planning policies. Thinking in terms of ecological systems is at the basis of a new proposal for moving towards a multispecies sustainability as a key driver to imagine and plan healthy cities [105]. Instead, community-based system dynamics are used by de Oliveira Morais et al [106], matched with participatory processes, to inform urban health policies in São Paulo, Brazil, with a focus on food and transportation; and by Browne et al [107] to approach Aboriginal health on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Wathaurong, Gunditjmara, Taungurung, Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri, and Eora peoples.…”

Empaques ecológicos, una práctica con limitaciones y ventajas para los servicios de comida rápida en la ciudad de Machala

“…Por su parte Rupprecht et al (2020), afirman que en la actualidad la comunidad no toma en consideración la diversidad de especies que existen en el planeta, y que la sostenibilidad se basa en satisfacer las necesidades de los humanos en tiempo presente sin hacer daño a la generación futura para que esta pueda alcanzar los niveles satisfactorios de vida.…”