This article considers the multiple dimensions of environmental issues and the failure to deal with them effectively since the 1970s. The authors highlight that the complexity of environmental issues is still not well understood. A holistic or systemic conceptual framework has rarely been applied to understand the interconnected and multiple relationships between environmental concerns and cultural, economic, social and political issues that cross conventional disciplinary and professional borders. The challenges of addressing this complexity include dealing with multiple geo-political scales and time frames. The authors also argue that current environmental issues should not be defined only as scientific subjects, or political objectives, because they are much broader societal challenges (wicked problems)that should be addressed by actors and institutions from both the private and public sectors. This means that transdisciplinary initiatives should replace conventional contributions solely based on scientific knowledge and/or professional expertise in order to generate public debate and integrate other kinds of knowledge and experiences in order to overcome the current deadlock.