Sustainable Communities and The Natural Step

Introduction to Sustainable Communities and The Natural Step

Art LerschUW-Extension, Lincoln CountyMerrill, WI October 26, 2010

Learning ObjectivesBetter understanding of what sustainable means when talking about communities in general and Merrill.

Better understanding of why becoming more sustainable may be necessary.

Basic knowledge of The Natural Step.

Learning about sustainability initiatives in Wisconsin.2How many of you have heard of sustainable communities?

Please describe in your own words what you think the term means.Turn to your neighbor and talk about this. Take a few examples from the audience.3Sustainable CommunitiesDevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Brundtland Report (1987)

Report completed in 1987. (UN driven). 4

I also like this definition the best. Kelly Cain presentation; This implies the support, growth and development of locally owned businesses to supply these goods/services. Isnt this still a good idea, no matter what the condition of nature, oil etc.?5CompanySalesProductionResearch & DesignPeopleEquipmentProcessesSystems ApproachSource: SystemsThinking Basics, Anderson &JohnsonMuch of sustainable community theory is based on the systems approach. Interconnectedness and cause and effect. One component changes, all the other components change. Suggests that what one part of the system does (subsystem) affects many if not all other parts. Sustainable communities presumes that people, institutions, etc. within a community are intertwined. If they work together to make things work for many if not all, then the entire system is strengthened. Interdependent systems within Interdependent Systems. Interdependency.6Budget for Engineering DepartmentSystems and Causationbudget cuts lead toAdministrative Lay-offswhich increasesEngineers Workloadswhich damagesMoralewhich leads toEngineers Leavingwhich adds more toSource: SystemsThinking Basics, Anderson &Johnson

Lets look at a negative example. (Or, this could be a positive, depending how it is looked at.) A change in one part often affects changes in all the other parts.7

This is a causal loop illustrated in photo format. The Car Culture system (outcomes); Continued physical growth becomes counterproductive. That development begins to eat up more than it produces, or eat up its host. The Natural Step Story, page 11.8Can you provide a ripple effect systems example from your work or home life?Small group discussion. Than debrief by taking an example or two.9Evolving Views of the CommunityUnconnected or silos viewInterconnected or linkages viewInterdependent, nested, or systems view EnvironmentEconomy Society EnvironmentEconomy Society

EnvironmentSocietyEconomySystems thinking applied to sustainability, another illustration. Building Sustainable Communities Jerry Hembd. Independent to interconnected to interdependent.10Sustainability Assumes an Interdependent Community

EnvironmentEconomySocietyEvolving viewsof the communityThree primary prongs. Systems thinking applied to sustainability. Again, you do one thing to one of the elements, and all the other elements are affected.11Sustainable Community GuidelinesAre derived from the general laws of thermodynamics, meaning that they are principle and science based.12Four Scientific Conditions Nature is not subject to systematically increasing substances extracted from the Earths crust

Fossil fuels (coal, Peak Oil, Peak Water)BP SpillMetals and minerals that cannot breakdown any furtherJames and Lahti, The Natural Step for Communities(Many communities striving to become more sustainable are making these types of assumptions)They are also basing their plans on these assumptions. Resources are finite!. Laws of thermodynamics.13Nature is not subject to systematically increasing concentration of substances produced by society.

Manufacturing of chemical substances faster than they can be broken downReduce dependence is the language commonly used in many of the eco-municipality resolutions.14Nature is not subject to systematically increasing degradation by physical means.

Depletion and destruction of natural systems faster than they can renew themselvesPeople are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

The first three system conditions will not be met unless people around the world can meet their basic human needsThis one also speaks specifically to generational issues.16The Science (In Brief)Conditions based on the Laws of Thermodynamics. 17Global Fossil Fuel Emissions

Boden, T.A., G. Marland, and R.J. Andres. 2010. Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn., U.S.A. doi 10.3334/CDIAC/00001_V2010; Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center websiteSince 1751 approximately 337 billion tons of carbon have been released to the atmosphere from the consumption of fossil fuels and cement production. Half of these emissions have occurred since the mid 1970s. The 2007 global fossil-fuel carbon emission estimate, 8365 million metric tons of carbon, represents an all-time high and a 1.7% increase from 2006.Globally, liquid and solid fuels accounted for 76.3% of the emissions from fossil-fuel burning and cement production in 2007. Combustion of gas fuels (e.g., natural gas) accounted for 18.5% (1551 million metric tons of carbon) of the total emissions from fossil fuels in 2007 and reflects a gradually increasing global utilization of natural gas. Emissions from cement production (377 million metric tons of carbon in 2007) have more than doubled since the mid 1970s and now represent 4.5% of global CO2 releases from fossil-fuel burning and cement production. Gas flaring, which accounted for roughly 2% of global emissions during the 1970s, now accounts for less than 1% of global fossil-fuel releases.(From CADIAC/Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center)18 The year-round average air temperature in the United States has already risen by more than 2 degrees [Fahrenheit] over the past 50 years and is projected to increase further in the future.Source: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, Karl, Thomas R., Melillo, Jerry M., Peterson, Thomas C. (eds.). Cambridge UniversityPress (2009).

Mongabay.comWhat do you notice here? Global warming; For all these, well over 30,000 peer reviewed scholarly papers supporting . US is currently right around 5.5 to 6 billion metric tons per year20

Page 2, http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/cmb/bams-sotc/2009/bams-sotc-2009-brochure-hi-rez.pdf Simple illustration that is very effective. One can argue, however, that these climate changes are part of the Earths regular cycle of cooling and warming.21Peak Oil?

M. King Hubbert, geologist I believe from Texas. These are supposed to be actual figures. New technologies that find and extract oil from difficult areas could help to reverse the peak oil trend. However, whether there is enough oil or not is not really the primary concern. If there is enough, we need to even more seriously look at the effects of burning it, no matter whether that usage is supplemented by using alternative supplemental energy sources or not!22About one-third of the worlds population lives incountries with moderate-to-high water stress, defined by the United Nations to bewater consumption that exceeds 10 percent of renewable freshwater resources.Peak Water, Chapter 1 in The Worlds Water, 2008-2009.

What do you think the Great Lakes Compact is all about? Protecting fresh water resources for the midwest. We are likely to see more of this protection (i.e. some would call in hoarding) in the near future. Wars will likely be fought over water. 23Population & ConsumptionEcosystemsForestsWaterWildlifeSoilClosing marginfor actionThis is what most of the science seems to be saying. But again, whether you believe it or not, is striving for local sustainability a good thing? In some ways, we are already doing this! If we institute local sustainability practices, that funnel could potentially widen.24Even if none of the assertions or projections about global warming, peak oil, peak water, etc. are true, which some have argued, why might it still be a good idea to strive for a sustainable community?

Key slide. Small group discussion. Can you think of any reasons?? Please discuss this at your tables. Is it a good idea? If so, why? Is it not a good idea, if not, why not? What are the downfalls of continuing to consume at our current very high levels, even if it turns out that there is enough for us to consume? What are the benefits of consuming less, and perhaps at the same time increasing quality of life. I would argue that the vision is worth obtaining even if the science that is used to argue that it is worthwhile is incorrect. Yes, the cost of making the conversion will be high. But, what is the long-term cost of continuing on the same track? If you think that it is going to be more, than there is no reasonable argument that can be made not to strive toward sustainability. We can argue until we are blue in the face about the science, but one thing we cant argue about is whether it is the right thing to have a vision of leaving this planet in better condition than we found it. It is also right to do it because it is correct to bolster local operations as much as possible. The are arguments that Extension must use in advocating for sustainability rather than the ones based on scientific studies. We can debate the science, or argue that it is fact, until we are blue in the face. What good does that do?25Whether you believe the science or not (Why do this?)Could save substantial money (transportation costs, just in time inventory, less travel for products reduces damage , the trend today; quicker turn around for special orders; home energy savings)

Bolsters local businesses (business to business exchange; helps create interdependent business districts where everyone feeds off of on another )

Multiplier effect (money that stays in the community is spent several times over, increasing positive economic impacts)

Fosters community collaboration/spirit (local tastes are catered to and met helping to create a sense of place)

The vision is very worthwhile (preserving things for future generations cant be all bad!)

Lets think about this for a minute. The vision; meaning leaving a more desirable world for our children, etc. (A. Dane/Zack Polson Presentation: Buying local allows for: Decreased transportation costsCarrying less inventoryReducing damage to productsFair compensationFlexibility for customizationBusiness to business trade exchangeConsumers are increasingly conscious of where they spend their money and the importance of buying localLocal products/food are fresherEnsures choice and diversity among productsLocal tastes and preferences are servedSource of community pride: The trend today means that it is becoming increasingly fashionable to buy local.

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Does a self sustaining community promote that communitys isolation and lead it to ignore globalization? (or even what is going on immediately around it)

Small group discussion. Debrief by taking a couple comments on this. If you think it does, is that good or bad?27

Science basedWork in progress (several iterations)Similar to strategic planning, but inserting the sustainability guidelines (baseline for planning)Applicable to for profits and non profits

Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert (1989; scientist)

Community planning based on the four conditions. Robert saw this as being a scientific way to plan based on the systems conditions.28

Many regular planning efforts go like this. You can still do sustainable community planning like this, but it may not be as effective. This is a true visionary process but often is not based in reality.29

Starting with the vision, and identifying strategies and actions based on current reality that will lead toward achieving that vision.30Population & ConsumptionEcosystemsForestsWaterWildlifeSoilClosing marginfor action(Do you remember this slide?)31

Eliminate communityscontribution to fossilfuel dependence and towasteful use of scarcemetals and minerals.

Eliminate communityscontribution to depen-dence on persistent chemicals and wastefuluse of synthetic sub-stances.

Eliminate communityscontribution to encroach-ment upon nature.

Meet human needs fairlyand efficiently.James and Lahti, The Natural Step for Communities, pgs. 9 + 10Add sustainability guidelinesThe Natural Step could help communities open the funnel and reverse trends. Remember that we had similar diagrams under the Context area. In order to move meaningfully toward sustainability, progress must be made in all four of these guideline areas. But, the community must do what it can, meaning if it can only move toward one at a time meaningfully, that is also significant. And, usually by moving forward in one area, progress will likely be made in others. The guidelines are interconnected because they are part of a system. Here, strategies and actions are related to these goal type statements. 32

ABCD process diagram. Begin with the vision. Create strategies and actions that are based in the present but are meant to help achieve the vision. Backcasting refers to having the vision always in mind while taking into consideration present realities.A= Raising awareness about the four systems conditions of sustainability.B= Baseline of present conditions. What is going on today that for example prevents or advances a sustainable community? Frame the discussion based on the four conditions (e.g. In what ways does this community increasing wasteful dependence on fossil fuels, scarce metals, etc.C= Brainstorm and select strategies that will help get us to the four conditions, to the positive vision. What should our community look like in a sustainable society? (Can be run as a brainstorming session).D= Create action plan with measurable objectives evaluation should go along with it. Begin with easy, achievable things that can make a difference (low hanging fruit) to build momentum.

33Action Plan: AskDoes the action go in the direction of all four systems conditions (i.e. sustainability guidelines) simultaneously?

Does the action create a flexible platform for future actions, or does it create a blind alley? (in other words, planning ahead)

Will the action give a good return on investment? (social and environmental as well as economic)James and Lahti, The Natural Step for CommunitiesSee page 192 of the Natural Step for Communities. Note: I disagree with the first question. I believe if the action moves toward addressing only one of the conditions, it is well worth taking. It is often too difficult to get communities to think of more than one big goal at a time. 34Elements of Successful PlanningFire SoulsEducation: Raising awarenessOfficial endorsement of sustainability operating principles (eco-municipality resolution)Involve the implementers (buy-in)Applying the Compass: Sustainability framework, inventory, vision, actionsWhole plan endorsement (plans that are not officially sanctioned may be of little use)Keeping it going (remains part of ongoing policy, administrative apparatus)

James and Lahti, The Natural Step for Communities, pgs. 203-221Education: Possibly link a current hot button local issue related to sustainable communities. 35ExerciseWhat might be the steps that you and others could take to achieve a more sustainable community in Merrill? Small group exercise36Wisconsin Eco-municipalities City of WashburnDane CountyCity of AshlandTown of GreenvilleCity of MadisonCity of ReedsburgCity of BayfieldVillage of SherwoodTown of BayfieldDouglas CountyVillage of Johnson CreekCity of MarshfieldCity of ManitowocCity of NeenahCity of MenashaTown of MenashaCity of Eau ClaireTown of Cottage GroveCity of La CrosseLa Crosse CountyCity of Stevens PointCity of WausauCity of BeloitCity of BarabooCity of SheboyganDunn CountyVillage of Spring GreenVillage of Colfax

3737Currently about 28. Refer to the eco-municipality resolutions. City of Washburn was the first designated eco-municipality in the United States. (July, 2005). Nearby Ashland was the second. All this also builds off of the states 25X25 proclamation (statewide using 25% renewable energy sources by 2025). Some dictate the planning process (Bayfield). Others (Ashland) outline the four conditions. All are based on the Natural Step, meaning that they outline the four conditions. 1. Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels and extractedunderground metals and minerals;

2. Reduce dependence on chemicals and othermanufactured substances that can accumulate inNature;

3. Reduce dependence on activities that harm life sustaining ecosystems; and

4. Meet the hierarchy of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently.

Points Commonly Made in ResolutionsThis language was developed by the American Planning Association.Eco-municipality resolutions. Town of Greenville; Dunn County; La Crosse; etc. Endorse The Natural Step as the planning process that should be used. But, most do not, meaning that they encourage a flexible way of doing things. Sometimes, but not often, timelines are placed within the resolutions (to achieve sustainability based on the four principles, etc.). Sometimes the phrase continually reduce is utilized.38Wisconsin ResourcesUWEX Sustainability Website (Capacity Center; http://www3.uwsuper.edu/sustainability/ )Wisconsin Office of Energy IndependenceUW-Extension, Madison, Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC; Sherrie Gruder)UW-Superior, Northern Center for Community and Economic Development (Jerry Hembd)UW Center for Land Use Education (CLUE; Lynn MarkhamSustain Dane (http://www.sustaindane.org/)Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wisconsin-Sustainable-Business-Council/169121573596) Just a few. Much of the information here comes from these sources. Slides also have further information.39Next StepsLearn more

Sustainability discussion group (study circles)

Advocate for eco-municipality designation

Go through a Natural Step processLearn more; things change everyday.40SourcesThe Natural Step for Communities; Sarah James, Torbjorn LahtiThe Natural Step Story; Karl Henrik RobertBuilding Sustainable Communities (Presentation); Jerry Hembd, UW-SuperiorUWEX Sustainability Website (Capacity Center; http://www3.uwsuper.edu/sustainability/ )Presentation slides from UWEX Sustainability WorkshopBrundtland Report (1987)The Worlds Water, 2008-2009Systems Thinking Basics; Virginia Anderson, Laura JohnsonGlobal Climate Change Impacts in the United States, Karl, Thomas R., Melillo, Jerry M., Peterson, Thomas C. (eds.). Cambridge University Press (2009).Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn., U.S.A. Boden, T.A., G. Marland, and R.J. Andres. 2010.

Thank you!

Contact:Arthur.lersch@ces.uwex.edu715-539-1075