3
© The Author(s) 2020
T. Mino, S. Kudo (eds.), Framing in Sustainability Science,
Science for Sustainable Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9061-6_1
Chapter 1
Framing in Sustainability Science
Shogo Kudo and Takashi Mino
Abstract This chapter discusses multiple understanding of sustainability by examining the process to identify what must be framed as sustainability challenges. The
chapter first provides a summary of past development of sustainability science as a
new interdisciplinary filed that sets its primary purposes in understanding complex
human-nature system and academic knowledge contribution to the pursuit of sustainable development. To elaborate some of the educational features of sustainability science, brief history and curriculum design of Graduate Program in Sustainability
Science – Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI) of The University of Tokyo is
introduced. One central question in sustainability science is “what to frame as sustainability challenges?”. The chapter employs the concept of framing to examine
what topics to be included and how they should be discussed in sustainability science. Framing explains how people perceive and interpret particular topics or events
with the social norms, values, and assumptions that they apply in all situations.
Being self-aware about what type of framing is used when discussing particular
sustainability challenge is critically important. At the last, the chapter proposes a
conceptual framework that includes holistic treatment, resilience, and transboundary thinking to depict multi-level dynamics of sustainability challenges. This
framework serves as a guideline to (i) analyze the complexity of sustainability
issues through multiple framings, (ii) apply holistic treatment and trans-boundary
thinking in the process of developing action plans, and (iii) evaluate the proposed
S. Kudo (*)
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science-Global Leadership Initiative,
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: kudo@edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
T. Mino
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science-Global Leadership Initiative,
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
Department of Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences,
The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: mino@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
© The Author(s) 2020
T. Mino, S. Kudo (eds.), Framing in Sustainability Science,
Science for Sustainable Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9061-6_1
Chapter 1
Framing in Sustainability Science
Shogo Kudo and Takashi Mino
Abstract This chapter discusses multiple understanding of sustainability by examining the process to identify what must be framed as sustainability challenges. The
chapter first provides a summary of past development of sustainability science as a
new interdisciplinary filed that sets its primary purposes in understanding complex
human-nature system and academic knowledge contribution to the pursuit of sustainable development. To elaborate some of the educational features of sustainability science, brief history and curriculum design of Graduate Program in Sustainability
Science – Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI) of The University of Tokyo is
introduced. One central question in sustainability science is “what to frame as sustainability challenges?”. The chapter employs the concept of framing to examine
what topics to be included and how they should be discussed in sustainability science. Framing explains how people perceive and interpret particular topics or events
with the social norms, values, and assumptions that they apply in all situations.
Being self-aware about what type of framing is used when discussing particular
sustainability challenge is critically important. At the last, the chapter proposes a
conceptual framework that includes holistic treatment, resilience, and transboundary thinking to depict multi-level dynamics of sustainability challenges. This
framework serves as a guideline to (i) analyze the complexity of sustainability
issues through multiple framings, (ii) apply holistic treatment and trans-boundary
thinking in the process of developing action plans, and (iii) evaluate the proposed
S. Kudo (*)
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science-Global Leadership Initiative,
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: kudo@edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
T. Mino
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science-Global Leadership Initiative,
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
Department of Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences,
The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: mino@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp