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The Wicked Problem of Climate Change: A New Approach Based on Social Mess and Fragmentation

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  • Jiazhe Sun

    (School of Government, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Kaizhong Yang

    (School of Government, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

The 21st century has been the warmest period on record since 1880, making the problem of climate change a central issue in the global political arena. While most approaches to climate change emphasize setting and imposing thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions, this paper argues that the issue of climate change and its solutions should be viewed in a more dynamic and complex way, involving social messes and the fragmentation of industries and organizations. In this context, learning models can offer a starting point to understand the reasons why organizations engage in certain types of corporate environmental strategies with regard to climate change, and can help in the search for solutions to the problem of climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiazhe Sun & Kaizhong Yang, 2016. "The Wicked Problem of Climate Change: A New Approach Based on Social Mess and Fragmentation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:12:p:1312-:d:85083
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    2. Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Philippe Burny & Ioan Banatean-Dunea & Dacinia Crina Petrescu, 2022. "How Climate Change Science Is Reflected in People’s Minds. A Cross-Country Study on People’s Perceptions of Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Mpandeli, S. & Naidoo, D. & Mabhaudhi, T. & Nhemachena, Charles & Nhamo, Luxon & Liphadzi, S. & Hlahla, S. & Modi, A. T., "undated". "Climate change adaptation through the water-energy-food nexus in southern Africa," Papers published in Journals (Open Access) H048960, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Stephen Schweinsberg & Simon Darcy, 2022. "Climate Change, Time and Tourism Knowledge: The Relativity of Simultaneity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Aldo Mascareño & Pablo A. Henríquez & Marco Billi & Gonzalo A. Ruz, 2020. "A Twitter-Lived Red Tide Crisis on Chiloé Island, Chile: What Can Be Obtained for Social-Ecological Research through Social Media Analysis?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-38, October.
    6. Behnam Ghasemzadeh & Zahra Sadat Saeideh Zarabadi & Hamid Majedi & Mostafa Behzadfar & Ayyoob Sharifi, 2021. "A Framework for Urban Flood Resilience Assessment with Emphasis on Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions: A Qualitative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-27, July.
    7. Rodrigo Valencia Cotera & Sabine Egerer & María Máñez Costa, 2022. "Identifying Strengths and Obstacles to Climate Change Adaptation in the German Agricultural Sector: A Group Model Building Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Nina Van der Vliet & Brigit Staatsen & Hanneke Kruize & George Morris & Caroline Costongs & Ruth Bell & Sibila Marques & Timothy Taylor & Sonia Quiroga & Pablo Martinez Juarez & Vojtech Máca & Milan Š, 2018. "The INHERIT Model: A Tool to Jointly Improve Health, Environmental Sustainability and Health Equity through Behavior and Lifestyle Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, July.
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