Earth (Gaia) Systems as a System-of-Systems

This area is focusing on the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and Kate Raworth's Models found in Doughnut Economics. This investigation builds on the following authors:

• Peter Checkland (Classification System and Human Activity Systems)
• Kate Raworth (Doughnut Economics and the Embedded Economy)
• Fritjof Capra (The Systems View of Life)
• Jeremy Rifkin (The Third Industrial Revolution)
• Amory Lovins (Reinventing Fire)
• and many, many more.

This exploration is focused on understanding the Earth Systems including those created by human activity. The "embedded economy model" in the Chapter 2 "Big Picture" has been the basis for exploring the Earth Systems. This model is based upon the Ecological Economics model from the work of Herman Daly.

Each layer and element on this model have been explored to identify and understand the systems that are creating our systemic problems.

The following diagram highlights the relationship between the embedded economy and the doughnut. The systems in the embedded economy must change to restore planetary health.

The identification of the systems looked at three dimensions related to Human Activity on the Earth.

• Human Activity Systems

• Human Activity Infrastructure Service (HAIS)

• Natural System and Ecological System (Ecosystem)

The result is a multidimensional model showing the key systems that have been identified that are creating our systemic problems. These systems need to be understood to find the systemic solutions needed to address the problems.

See the following:

• Earth as a System of Systems

More will follow soon