Existence of a Unifying Mathematical Model for Sustainability

Determine whether a unifying mathematical model exists that can encompass many aspects of sustainability-related problems across domains such as climate dynamics, ecosystem interactions, pollution transport, and energy systems optimization.

Background

The paper reflects on the development and teaching of a course bridging mathematics and sustainability, noting the field’s emergent and fragmented state compared to established areas like mathematical finance. The author argues that current research tends to be problem-specific, with models tailored to individual domains such as climate, ecosystems, pollution, and energy.

In the conclusion, the author explicitly raises uncertainty about whether a single, overarching mathematical framework could unify these diverse sustainability-related applications, highlighting the gap between domain-specific models and a potential general theory.