Planning problems have been described as inherently wicked, that are difficult to define, unpredictable, and defying standard principles of science and rational decision making. Sustainability science is a new area of science that focuses specifically on understanding the dynamic interactions of social-ecological systems, of which the city is a particularly significant example. Building on the literature of planning and sustainability science, this paper presents an argument in favour of sustainability science as a theoretical basis for a planning paradigm that can effectively engage with the wicked problems presented by cities and their sustainability. The paper acknowledges that this argument is in the early stages of development and presents it as a stimulus for broader discussion and further development by a larger community.
Reference:
Du Plessis. 2009. Urban sustainability science as a new paradigm for planning. Smart and Sustainable Built Environments (SASBE 09) Conference, Delft, The Netherlands, 14-19 June 2009, pp 8
Du Plessis, C. (2009). Urban sustainability science as a new paradigm for planning. Techne Press. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3894
Du Plessis, C. "Urban sustainability science as a new paradigm for planning." (2009): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3894
Du Plessis C, Urban sustainability science as a new paradigm for planning; Techne Press; 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3894 .