Ecologism and sustainability discourses at campus: A comparative theoretical analysis

Abstract

There is a need to differentiate ecology from ecologism in universities. Ecology is the study of ecosystems. Only marginally was the traditional ecology concerned about sustainability. By contrast, the later comer ecologism consistently juxtaposes sustainability discourse, which adds a clear difference: it implies a movement for action and with action. We also note a general lack of theoretical engagement between the discourses of ecologism and sustainability and contrast this gap with the sustainability-related practices in universities. In order to create a practical understanding, we go on to define the specifics of ecologism and sustainability in higher education through illustrating the sustainable practices found at the Duke University (Duke) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU). While explaining the interconnected nature of ecologism and sustainability, we argue that ecological discourses are comparable between these two universities with different cultural and geopolitical backgrounds. The variation is in the sustainability practices on campuses, specifically in degrees of complexity, namely linear, complicated, and complex.