Int. J. System of Systems Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 4, 2011 329 Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Assessing the human-environment relationship: a complex-systems methodology to modelling climate change Catherine M. Banks* and John A. Sokolowski Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC), Old Dominion University, 1030 University Boulevard, Suffolk, Virginia 23425, USA E-mail: cmbanks@odu.edu E-mail: jsokolow@odu.edu *Corresponding author Abstract: Climate change is at the forefront of scientific investigation and socio-political decision-making. The world community of scientists concur with the fact that human activities are both contributing to and affected by changes in the environment that influence the overall well-being of the world population. Importantly, these changes do not discriminate as to region or inhabitants. The body of research has measured climate change via modelling that incorporates the laws of physics and climate data. Neglected in these models is a significant factor: the global human population is increasing at an unprecedented rate that will further stress these geological and ecological variations. This research proffers a complex-systems modelling methodology for climate change to assess current and future concerns, intricately linked facets or pieces, of the human-environment relationship. It requires an interdisciplinary approach to research and model development that combines expertise from the social sciences and disciplines. Keywords: circular interdependencies; holistic representation; internally displaced persons; population dynamics; social network modelling; global citizens; food security; mapping; change indices. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Banks, C.M. and Sokolowski, J.A. (2011) ‘Assessing the human-environment relationship: a complex-systems methodology to modelling climate change’, Int. J. System of Systems Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp.329–346. Biographical notes: Catherine M. Banks is a Research Associate Professor at Old Dominion University’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, Master of English in Applied Linguistics, and PhD in International Studies. Her research interests include modelling states and their varied histories of revolution and insurgency, political economy and state volatility, global warming and population dynamics. John A. Sokolowski is a Research Professor and Executive Director of Old Dominion University’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Purdue University, Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University (ODU), and PhD in Engineering with a concentration in the modelling and simulation from ODU. His research interests include human behaviour modelling, multi-agent system simulation, and simulation techniques for representing social systems.