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particular theoretical and methodological perspectives. The presented typology
serves as a thinking tool for framing and reframing sustainability research.
Chapter 3 by Ness introduces four general approaches to frame sustainability
challenges, which are DPSIR, causal look diagrams, multi-scale and multi-level
perspective in transitions, and socio-ecological system framework. The chapter
describes how these frameworks are taught at the international master’s program in
sustainability at Lund University (LUMES). The chapter provides reflections from
teaching various framework approaches in sustainability science. The author suggests that multiple occasions to learn the approaches to frame complex sustainability challenges must be provided both within and outside of an educational program
for students in order to obtain the key competencies required for becoming sustainability experts.
Chapter 4 by, Yokohari, Murakami, and Terada, introduces mixed patterns of
land use by a case study of Tokyo. The authors argue that this mixed land use
enhances the quality of living environment as well as resilience of cities by contributing to food security, especially at the time of natural disasters such as earthquakes. ‘Value of grey’ is the concept they use to describe such mixed pattern of
land use in urban planning developed in Japan. Such strategy in land use has been
developed in Japan in order to incorporate the particular condition of the country:
frequent occurrence of natural disasters. This chapter argues that basic theories of
modern urban planning initiated in Western Europe, where almost no threat of natural disasters is predicted, are not always applicable to Asian cities where natural
disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, and tropical typhoon disasters often cause
serious damages.
Chapter 5 by Kudo discusses the meaning of rural sustainability in an aging and
shrinking society. The chapter firstly reviews literature on past transition patterns of
rural regions based on the multifunctionality discourse in rural studies. Then, the
concept of placemaking, accompanied by a case study of Monogatari workshop
conducted by the author, is introduced. This case study provides community-based
perspectives about how a group of local youths collectively envision the future of
their town. The chapter serves as an empirical study of framing at the communal
scale. One framing tool that applies a retrospective view when envisioning the
future state based on the present and the past of the town is introduced.
Chapter 6 by Onuki presents a case of Minamata disease, one of the most serious
water-related pollution diseases that Japanese society has ever experienced. Because
of its seriousness and its scientific as well as social complexity, multiple explanations on the cause of the incident were proposed by experts in environment-related
disciplines. Unfortunately, it was these very multiple framings to the issue themselves that prevented prompt reactions to the possible causes of the disease and
hindered relief measures to the affected people in the area. The case of Minamata
disease provides an important lesson on the balance between the actions to the
ongoing problems and the degree of emphasis on scientific investigation on the
problems.
9 Linking Framing to Actions for Sustanability
particular theoretical and methodological perspectives. The presented typology
serves as a thinking tool for framing and reframing sustainability research.
Chapter 3 by Ness introduces four general approaches to frame sustainability
challenges, which are DPSIR, causal look diagrams, multi-scale and multi-level
perspective in transitions, and socio-ecological system framework. The chapter
describes how these frameworks are taught at the international master’s program in
sustainability at Lund University (LUMES). The chapter provides reflections from
teaching various framework approaches in sustainability science. The author suggests that multiple occasions to learn the approaches to frame complex sustainability challenges must be provided both within and outside of an educational program
for students in order to obtain the key competencies required for becoming sustainability experts.
Chapter 4 by, Yokohari, Murakami, and Terada, introduces mixed patterns of
land use by a case study of Tokyo. The authors argue that this mixed land use
enhances the quality of living environment as well as resilience of cities by contributing to food security, especially at the time of natural disasters such as earthquakes. ‘Value of grey’ is the concept they use to describe such mixed pattern of
land use in urban planning developed in Japan. Such strategy in land use has been
developed in Japan in order to incorporate the particular condition of the country:
frequent occurrence of natural disasters. This chapter argues that basic theories of
modern urban planning initiated in Western Europe, where almost no threat of natural disasters is predicted, are not always applicable to Asian cities where natural
disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, and tropical typhoon disasters often cause
serious damages.
Chapter 5 by Kudo discusses the meaning of rural sustainability in an aging and
shrinking society. The chapter firstly reviews literature on past transition patterns of
rural regions based on the multifunctionality discourse in rural studies. Then, the
concept of placemaking, accompanied by a case study of Monogatari workshop
conducted by the author, is introduced. This case study provides community-based
perspectives about how a group of local youths collectively envision the future of
their town. The chapter serves as an empirical study of framing at the communal
scale. One framing tool that applies a retrospective view when envisioning the
future state based on the present and the past of the town is introduced.
Chapter 6 by Onuki presents a case of Minamata disease, one of the most serious
water-related pollution diseases that Japanese society has ever experienced. Because
of its seriousness and its scientific as well as social complexity, multiple explanations on the cause of the incident were proposed by experts in environment-related
disciplines. Unfortunately, it was these very multiple framings to the issue themselves that prevented prompt reactions to the possible causes of the disease and
hindered relief measures to the affected people in the area. The case of Minamata
disease provides an important lesson on the balance between the actions to the
ongoing problems and the degree of emphasis on scientific investigation on the
problems.
9 Linking Framing to Actions for Sustanability