A dynamic description of Global Change on an intermediate functional scale on the basis of approximately independent sub-models is elaborated. Sixteen of these sub-models are primarily identified as Hazardous Functional Patterns (HFPs) generating nonsustainable trajectories (Syndromes) of the civilisation/nature system. After an ‘‘idealistic deduction’’ of the main concepts an iterative procedure – formally based on Qualitative Differential Equations – is introduced which allows the systematic generalisation of case study based knowledge to obtain consistent HFPs on a coarser functional scale. The method is illustrated with the Sahel HFP
