The human–technical–environmental systems framework for sustainability analysis

The human–technical–environmental systems framework for sustainability analysis
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DOI:
10.1007/s11625-022-01177-0
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发表时间:
2022-07
影响因子:
6
通讯作者:
Henrik Selin;N. Selin
Henrik Selin;N. Selin
中科院分区:
环境科学与生态学2区
文献类型:
--
作者:
Henrik Selin;N. Selin

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在过去的二十年里,可持续发展科学领域在概念发展和实证研究方面都有了显着的发展。以系统为中心的分析对于在该领域建立可推广的知识至关重要,但许多相关研究并没有采取系统观点。面向系统的分析框架可以帮助研究人员概念化和分析可持续性相关的系统,但现有的框架可能缺乏特定研究传统之外的访问或效用。在这篇文章中,我们概述了人-技术-环境(HTE)框架,该框架为来自不同学科背景和研究领域的分析师提供了一种共同的方式,以推进以系统为重点的可持续发展问题研究。我们详细介绍了一步一步的指导HTE框架的应用程序,通过矩阵为基础的方法来识别系统组件,研究系统组件之间的相互作用,并检查针对组件和/或其相互作用的干预措施,以促进可持续发展。我们证明了HTE框架和矩阵为基础的方法的适用性,通过分析燃煤电厂和汞污染的经验案例,这是相关的大规模可持续发展的转变。在此分析的基础上,我们确定了具体的见解相关的适用性的上游和下游的杠杆点,能源市场和污染控制技术的使用之间的连接,以及机构的重要性,既适合生物物理动态和社会经济和政治动态。进一步应用HTE框架和确定见解可以帮助开发面向系统的分析,并为推进可持续发展的社会努力提供信息,并有助于制定与可持续发展系统和可持续发展转型相关的基于经验的中档理论。最后,我们讨论了进一步发展和应用的HTE框架的领域。
The field of sustainability science has grown significantly over the past two decades in terms of both conceptual development and empirical research. Systems-focused analysis is critical to building generalizable knowledge in the field, yet much relevant research does not take a systems view. Systems-oriented analytical frameworks can help researchers conceptualize and analyze sustainability-relevant systems, but existing frameworks may lack access or utility outside a particular research tradition. In this article, we outline the human–technical–environmental (HTE) framework, which provides analysts from different disciplinary backgrounds and fields of study a common way to advance systems-focused research on sustainability issues. We detail a step-by-step guide for the application of the HTE framework through a matrix-based approach for identifying system components, studying interactions among system components, and examining interventions targeting components and/or their interactions for the purpose of advancing sustainability. We demonstrate the applicability of the HTE framework and the matrix-based approach through an analysis of an empirical case of coal-fired power plants and mercury pollution, which is relevant to large-scale sustainability transitions. Based on this analysis, we identify specific insights related to the applicability of upstream and downstream leverage points, connections between energy markets and the use of pollution control technologies, and the importance of institutions fitting both biophysical dynamics and socioeconomic and political dynamics. Further application of the HTE framework and the identification of insights can help develop systems-oriented analysis, and inform societal efforts to advance sustainability, as well as contribute to the formulation of empirically grounded middle-range theories related to sustainability systems and sustainability transitions. We conclude with a discussion of areas for further development and application of the HTE framework.