The systems thinking in sustainability

Running head: SYSTEMS THINKING IN SUSTAINABILITY
SYSTEMS THINKING IN SUSTAINABILITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

SYSTEMS THINKING IN SUSTAINABILITY1
Introduction
As discussed by Zokaei et al. (2017), sustainability mainly focuses on the ways by which
needs of present organizational operations can be met without compromising ability of the future
generations in order to meet their needs. Sustainability is thereby composed of the three major
pillars that include environmental, economic and the social aspects of the environment. The three
Ps of sustainability are also known as profits, people and planet. Sustainability also encourages
the business organizations to make decisions based on the number of years of their operations
rather than the levels of revenues that are gained in the industry (Adams et al. 2016, pp.180-205).
As discussed by Barile and Saviano (2018, pp. 39-63), sustainability goals are developed
by the organizations and they aim at working towards them. Systems thinking is considered to be
an approach of integration which is based on a belief that component parts of the system can act
differently when they isolated from environment of the system. Systems thinking can be used in
order to enhance the levels of sustainability within organizations and solving issues that are faced
by the organizations as well (Becker et al. 2015, pp.56-65). The essay will be based on the
analysis of the ways by which systems thinking can be integrated with the sustainability levels in
an organization. The political debate that is developed around the coal mines will be analyzed in
the essay in detail. The effect of systems thinking on decisions taken by the government will be
analyzed in the essay in detail.
Discussion based on sustainability and implementation of systems thinking
As discussed by Afr.com. (2019), the political debate that takes place around the coal
mines and benefits that are gained by the governments is considered to be an important aspect
related to the sustainable initiatives that have been implemented. The drive towards renewable

SYSTEMS THINKING IN SUSTAINABILITY2
energy has also been affected in a huge manner by the changes in coal prices in various
countries. The carbon prices are able to drive prices of electricity that is fired by coal. The profit
margins that are gained from coal mines have a major impact on the demand for electricity. The
investments that can be made in development of renewable energy are considered important
factors that influence the demands for electricity (Ben-Eli 2018, pp.1337-1343).
China has gained the topmost position in the world in the production and consumption of
coal. In the year 2015 the Chinese government had announced the moratorium on the
development of new coal mines and also shut down the coal mines that are inefficient in nature.
The exports of coal by Australian companies have been increased in order to improve the job
opportunities in the country. The employments in the existing coal mines have however been
pushed down due to this fact in the last few years (Bocken, Rana & Short 2015, pp.67-81).
According to Afr.com. (2019), the idea of development of new coal mines is considered
to be quite absurd for the fulfillment of the aim of increasing job security of the coal mine
workers. The creation of jobs in coal mines is not possible by the close down of old mines and
opening the new mines in different parts of Australia. The Australian government had made the
decision to subsidize the new cold mines in order to increase the security of the jobs of coal mine
workers. The coal exports of Australia have started falling in the last few years and this is
considered to be the worst time proposing massive and new coal mines (Clayton & Radcliffe
2018).
The automations that have been implemented in the operations of new coal mines are
considered to be major drawbacks that are related to the increase in job security of coal mine
workers. The lack of proper exports in Australian coal mines has been able to affect the jobs of