Quantitative Human Ecology: Data, Models and Challenges for Sustainability

Abstract

In July 2022 we entered the international year of basic science for sustainable development (IYBSSD). There are two ways in which basic sciences can play a crucial role in attaining a more sustainable planet. The first has to do with applying the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated in basic sciences so far, to issues relevant to sustainability. The second focuses on addressing what we still do not understand about sustainability. The first is the most direct use of basic sciences for sustainability and it is currently carried out within well defined disciplinary boundaries (e.g., physics and climate change, material science for energy efficiency, etc).