Abstract for: A Systems Thinking Approach to Climate Change and Resource Scarcity: An Integrated Framework for Urban Sustainability

A systems thinking approach is essential to understanding the intricate relationships between climate change, land degradation, and resource constraints, providing a more comprehensive foundation for sustainable urban development. This study employs a systems thinking framework to examine the interdependencies among climate change, land degradation, and resource management. A mixed-method approach combining network analysis, policy mapping, and scenario modeling is used to assess the systemic interactions and feedback loops affecting urban sustainability. The analysis includes a qualitative review of sustainability policies and a quantitative assessment of resource consumption patterns, enabling a multidimensional evaluation of urban resilience. Findings reveal that land degradation, inefficient resource allocation, and fragmented governance exacerbate the sustainability crisis in urban areas. The lack of cross-sectoral coordination between environmental policies and resource management strategies further amplifies the risks associated with climate change. However, integrated sustainability models demonstrate that incorporating adaptive policy frameworks and technological interventions can enhance urban resilience and mitigate the cascading effects of environmental stressors. This study has demonstrated that achieving urban sustainability requires a fundamental shift from fragmented policy structures to integrated, systems-thinking approaches. The WEF Nexus model offers a comprehensive governance framework that aligns water, energy, and food management with climate adaptation, technological innovation, and global sustainability commitments. The study findings confirm that cities that fail to adopt holistic sustainability strategies will face increasing vulnerability to resource shortages, climate risks, and governance inefficiencies.