Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to briely outline a framework for sustainable communities and to introduce some of
the ways that this framework can contribute to an integrated view of sustainability, incorporating both natural and social
science perspectives. Several sustainability concepts derived from principles that govern the operation and organisation of
ecosystems have been integrated and synthesised to create this theoretical framework. These concepts are drawn from diverse
academic disciplines and practice-oriented endeavours, and they each address a different aspect of sustainability. Through
the synthesis of these concepts, the framework offers a bridge of common terms and metaphors between the physical and
social science perspectives on sustainability. Consequently, it can facilitate an approach that integrates the dimensions of
environmental, cultural, social and economic sustainability. To demonstrate the elements of the framework and its potential
to help overcome polarisation of the physical and social sciences, the framework is applied to two concepts that are fundamental
to sustainability: social justice and environmental pollution. Using the lessons learned from this theoretical exercise
and the authors experience to date of sharing the integrating framework with others, the possibilities and challenges of the
proposed framework are examined.
