We need system thinking because it helps us to understand how different parts of a system are connected and affect each other. This approach allows us to identify the causes of problems and find sustainable solutions.

The components of system thinking include:

• Feedback Loops: Understanding how actions in one part of the system can influence others.

• Interconnections: Explain the relationships and dependencies between the various elements of a system.

• Systems Structure: The arrangement and relations between the parts.

• Patterns of Behavior: Observing how systems behave over time and identifying trends and patterns.

System thinking is important in solving engineering problems because it ensures a better understanding of the complexities and interdependencies within systems. This approach helps engineers identify potential issues,  find more effective solutions, and innovate sustainably.

This is a causal loop diagram for human population relation: the population increases when birth increases. If death increases, the population decreases; if birth per person increases, then there is an overall increase in birth. If the population increases, then the resource per person decreases; if the resource per person increases, then the life span increases; if the life span increases, then the family size increases; if the lifespan increases, death decreases. This loop gives us an understanding of the factors influencing the population, explains the complexities and interdependencies of the system, and helps us find ways to control the human population.

Variables

1. Plastic production

2. Consumer demand

3. Use of single-use plastic 

4. Waste management infrastructure

5. Recycling rate

6. Public awareness of plastic pollution

7. Government policies on plastic use

8. Innovation in alternative to plastic

9. Environmental impact of plastic pollution

10. Cost of plastic pollution

This is a causal loop diagram that explains the process of plastic pollution. When the use of single-use plastic increases then plastic production increases, if consumer demand increases plastic production increase if use of single-use plastic increases this increases the waste management infrastructure to manage the increasing number of single-use plastic, if waste management infrastructure increases then recycling rate increases due to improved infrastructure , if recycling rate increases then environment impact of the plastic pollution decreases , as environmental  impact of plastic pollution increases then public awareness increases if public awareness increases then the consumer demand for plastic products decreases, if consumer demand increases the cost of the plastic product increases, if plastic production decreases then too cost of the plastic products increases, if government make policies to curb down plastic pollution  then plastic production decreases, because of the policies the innovation in alternate to plastic also increases , due to increase  in innovation, the use of single-use plastic decreases this are the explanation of the causal loop diagram