Strategies for Coping with Systemic Risks

Since 2006 the funding programme Social-Ecological Research has been focusing on strategies for coping with systemic risks. Five projects selected by an expert committee deal with explosive issues such as overweight and obesity in teenagers, drinking water contamination through pharmaceuticals, or the co-existence of agriculture with and without genetically modified plants.

In terms of both an accelerated technological and societal development and an increasing global network of economy, communications, politics and culture, risks are beginning to be perceived less as limited and therefore easily predictable risks. Additionally, strategies which focus on a single cause usually trigger even more risks in surrounding systems as a consequence.

Systemic risks thus have an extremely high potential of danger. Risk sources, once estimated as harmless such as chemicals or mobile phone systems might unfold unimaginable damage over long distances or after a latency period thus putting at risk the operational capability of the affected systems (including the environmental and health systems, financial and job markets or societal structures) as well as the original system itself.

Another crucial issue is the fact that it is barely possible to prove any connection between cause and effect beyond the original source. Systemic risks are usually characterized by a high proportion of complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity.

To cope with systemic risks, the precautionary principle is of great importance as it is in sustainability research, the aim of which is to ensure today´ s living standards for future generations. There have already been efforts to translate the precautionary principle into practical measures. Though by now, there have only been suggestions on how to reduce health problems caused by a range of substances. From the social-ecological perspective a comprehensive approach is required integrating social, economic and ecological analysis.

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  GeneRisc - Ecological and Economic Analyses about Co-Existence of Agriculture with and without Genetically Modified Plants

  Risk analyses of GMPs have not given much attention to date to interaction at higher organizational levels. The project has set itself the task of analysing how agriculture, trade, industry and the environment are handling and dealing with GMPs.  more (URL: http://www.sozial-oekologische-forschung.org/en/692.php)
   
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  Cooperative Assessment and Communication of Systemic Risks of ubiquitous Information- and Communication Technologies

  Ziel des Projektes ist die beispielhafte Entwicklung einer Strategie zum Umgang mit Risiken, die durch die Durchdringung des Alltags mit Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien entstehen können. more (URL: http://www.sozial-oekologische-forschung.org/en/685.php)
   
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  Systemic Risks - Management Strategies for Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water

  The project studies both the dynamics of and the conditions under which a systematic risk for the drinking water supply caused by pharmaceuticals occurs. more (URL: http://www.sozial-oekologische-forschung.org/en/690.php)
   
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  Overweight and Obesity in Childhood, Youth and Young Adulthood as a Systemic Risk

  The aim of this project is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the problem and to develop effective options for preventing overweight and obesity. more (URL: http://www.sozial-oekologische-forschung.org/en/700.php)
   
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  Risk Controversies visualized - The Development of Internet based Argumentation Maps

  Das Ziel des Projekts ist es, eine internetbasierte Visualisierung von Risikodiskursen als Argumentationslandkarten, die anhand von Fallstudien zu Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln, Elektrosmog und Nanopartikeln erstellt werden, zu entwickeln. more (URL: http://www.sozial-oekologische-forschung.org/en/683.php)