A holistic strategy for preserving the planet: Q&A with USC Price Dean Chris Boone

Throughout April, Trojan Family Magazine will showcase Trojans who have significantly contributed to sustainability at the University of Southern California.

During the day, Chris Boone heads the USC Price School of Public Policy as dean. In the evening, he captures the marvels of the universe through astrophotography. An authority in urban sustainability and environmental equity, Boone perceives cities similarly to how he views those celestial entities: expansive, intricate, and interconnected systems influenced by unseen dynamics.

Boone has dedicated his career to deciphering the elements that shape urban settings and their effects on both individuals and the environment. His enduring fascination with recognizing patterns — in both the night sky and urban expanses — has molded his perspective on sustainability.

This Earth Month, USC News conversed with Boone regarding how his strategy towards urban sustainability informs his initiatives in addressing the challenging issues that our cities and planet face.

What ignited your initial passion for urban sustainability?

I have always held a profound fascination for cities, thus I regard myself as an urbanist. Concurrently, I appreciate rural regions and natural landscapes. Spending time beneath unobstructed night skies is vital to me — not solely for stargazing and photography, but for immersing myself in varied environments.

That being said, I am constantly enthused by urban settings due to their vibrancy. They are lively, multifaceted, and full of energy. Perhaps it’s the thrill of solving puzzles, although I cannot precisely determine what specifically attracts me to them.

Throughout my entire professional journey, I have been captivated by the uneven effects and instigators of urbanization regarding environmental and societal outcomes. This keen interest traces back to a research paper I authored during my undergraduate studies, analyzing ethnic clustering in Kingston, Ontario, where I hail from. I discovered that cities function as intricate systems comprised of sub-components, such as neighborhoods, and pondered: Why do neighborhoods develop? And what implications does that have for urban life and the process of urbanization?

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In your personal view, how do you define sustainability?

I comprehend sustainability as enhancing well-being for both current and future generations while protecting ecosystems that all life relies upon.

A prevalent misunderstanding regarding sustainability is that it solely pertains to the environment. In my definition, sustainability must also prioritize human well-being. Over the course of my career, I have realized that environmental justice and sustainability are profoundly complementary; both are motivated by a joint commitment to equity, justice, and enhancing quality of life for all.

Your research focuses on sustainability across urban areas, economies, and social frameworks. What is one area you believe sustainability is often neglected that warrants increased focus?

A vital yet frequently neglected element of sustainability is that it encompasses not just the results — but also the approaches that yield them. These approaches must be equitable and just. It’s not solely about comprehending the interactions between people and planetary systems; it’s also about actively engaging in those systems to foster fairer conditions for both current and future generations.

When individuals overlook these normative aspects — when they dismiss the necessity for intervention — it ceases to be sustainability. It might resemble environmental studies, environmental science, or another domain, but it isn’t truly sustainability.

How does adopting a broader, interconnected perspective of sustainability — examining how society, the economy, and the environment affect each other — assist us in discovering better solutions?

This methodology, referred to as systems thinking, is essential. Primarily, comprehending the interconnectedness of socio-ecological and technical systems is extraordinarily intricate — no single discipline can tackle that independently. Therefore, we require a diverse array of expertise.

This intricacy poses challenges, yet it also enriches our comprehension in ways that a strictly disciplinary approach could never accomplish. When we progress into the intervention or normative phase — striving to construct a better present and future — engaging ethics, collaborative science, and stakeholder involvement becomes indispensable. Even the arts, such as dance and visual storytelling, play a significant role in communicating intricate concepts. Should we disregard these aspects, we risk failing to achieve our aims.

A systems-focused approach isn’t merely essential for grasping how humans relate to natural systems — it’s also crucial for designing, implementing, and assessing interventions that genuinely support our sustainability goals.

How do cultural principles and historical context influence sustainable solutions, particularly in urban settings?

In my methodology, both within a university context and beyond, I employ a core competency framework consisting of five essential elements. The first is systems thinking, which we have already examined. The second is futures thinking, or anticipatory thought, which entails envisioning potential future scenarios and recognizing how today’s choices influence long-term results.

The third is values thinking, or normative reasoning, emphasizing that sustainability involves not merely what could occur, but what ought to occur. It’s about contemplating the ethics of our choices and engaging with the values that motivate behavior. Sustainability necessitates negotiating across differing value systems to find common ground, honoring local initiatives while acknowledging their global implications.

The fourth competence is strategic proficiency — formulating effective strategies, whether economic, technological, behavioral, or political, tailored for each specific context. There is no universal solution.

The fifth is collaborative competence. No single person can fully comprehend the complexities of sustainability, let alone resolve its challenges independently. So how do we collaborate effectively? How do we negotiate, make compromises, and engage across cultures, time, and space?

Culture indeed matters — as it shapes our worldview and influences how we react to new concepts and strategies.

What inspires hope for the future in you? What developments or transformations are you most hopeful about?

I am naturally optimistic, but I am also hopeful because history is replete with instances of significant change. Consider the Civil Rights Movement or women’s suffrage — these transformative shifts once seemed improbable yet ultimately materialized.

We can reach our sustainability goals, and Los Angeles is an especially thrilling place to be. Here, individuals truly care and remain attentive, and because our actions here have ripple effects globally, they shape international discussions regarding urban growth. Furthermore, with major events like the upcoming Olympics and World Cup, attention will be focused on Los Angeles, creating a unique opportunity to showcase how a major metropolitan area can instigate global change.