A project to learn
systems thinking for sustainability
SDG Thinking is a free to use project to work on an issue within one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
No prior knowledge
No prerequisite knowledge of sustainable development issues required.
Use current events
Use issues in the online news within
the scope of a UN SDG.
See that change is possible
Students find leverage points to bring about systemic change.
Step 1 – Learn systems thinking
Take an online course in systems thinking at www.thinkingcomplexity.com
Step 2 – Find an issue in the online news
The news regularly reminds us of society’s wicked problems such as climate change, resource depletion, terrorism and poverty.
Step 3 – Tell the systemic story
Students read widely, identify key variables and write a rich story of the behaviour under study.
Step 4 – Model the problem situation
Students draw a causal loop diagram of the situation to help explain the behavior under study.
Step 5 – Find systemic leverage for change
Students identify places to act within a system where the result is amplified compared to the required effort.
Step 6 – Design an action plan
Students formulate a coherent, multi-stakeholder strategy to address the problem of sustainability.
