What if the problem changes depending on who is looking at it?
Imagine a city wants to reduce car traffic in its centre.
For environmental organisations, the problem might be emissions and air pollution. Local businesses may worry about accessibility for customers. Residents may want quieter streets and more public space. Commuters may be concerned about getting to work. The municipality has to consider infrastructure, costs and political feasibility.
Same situation. Different perspectives. And potentially very different definitions of the problem.
This is the idea behind Problem Framing, another competence in the GreenComp framework.
Sustainability challenges are complex, and the way we define a problem influences the solutions we consider possible. Problem framing therefore means exploring the context, looking at root causes, identifying stakeholders and being prepared to reframe a problem when another perspective reveals something we have overlooked.
In GATE, we are developing examples that help make this competence tangible for adult learners.
Because before asking:
“What is the solution?”
it can be worth asking:
“Have we understood the problem from enough perspectives?”
