sustainabledevelopment. sustainable development: u meeting the needs of the present without...

SustainableSustainabledevelopmentdevelopment

Sustainable development:Sustainable development:

meeting the needs of the meeting the needs of the present without compromising present without compromising the ability of future generations the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.to meet their own needs.

– World Commission on Environment and World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Development (1987): Our Common FutureOur Common Future

Elements of sustainabilityElements of sustainability

Environment

Economy Society

- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

the sustainable the sustainable development triangledevelopment triangle


Environment

Economy Society



Environment


•biodiversitybiodiversity•materialsmaterials

•energyenergy•biophysical interactionsbiophysical interactions


Economy


•money and capitalmoney and capital•employmentemployment

•technological growthtechnological growth•investmentinvestment

•market forcesmarket forces


Society


•human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)•equity (dependence / independence)equity (dependence / independence)

•quality of lifequality of life•institutional structures and organizationinstitutional structures and organization

•political structurespolitical structures

The ‘The ‘3 Es3 Es’ Model ’ Model

Ecology

Economy Equity

The Healthy Community Model The Healthy Community Model

SOCIETYSOCIETY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

ECONOMYECONOMY

HEALTHHEALTH

Sustainability: PROBLEMSSustainability: PROBLEMS Depletion of finite resourcesDepletion of finite resources

– fuels, soil, minerals, speciesfuels, soil, minerals, species Over-use of renewable resourcesOver-use of renewable resources

– forests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public fundsforests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public funds PollutionPollution

– air, water, soilair, water, soil InequityInequity

– economic, political, social, gendereconomic, political, social, gender Species lossSpecies loss

– endangered species and spacesendangered species and spaces

- WCED, 1987- WCED, 1987

Sustainability: SOLUTIONSSustainability: SOLUTIONS Cyclical material useCyclical material use

– emulate natural cycles; 3 R’semulate natural cycles; 3 R’s Safe reliable energySafe reliable energy

– conservation, renewable energy, conservation, renewable energy, substitution, interim measuressubstitution, interim measures

Life-based interestsLife-based interests– health, creativity, communication, health, creativity, communication,

coordination, appreciation, learning, coordination, appreciation, learning, intellectual and spiritual developmentintellectual and spiritual development

Two key sustainable development concepts:Two key sustainable development concepts:

EQUITYEQUITY

LIMITS TO GROWTHLIMITS TO GROWTH

-WCED 1987-WCED 1987


the concept of the concept of needsneeds, particularly the essential , particularly the essential needs of the world’s poorneeds of the world’s poor

EQUITYEQUITY



EQUITYEQUITY• the quality of being fair or impartial;the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality fairness; impartiality

• something that is fair and just.something that is fair and just.

-dictionary.com-dictionary.com

Contrast with:Contrast with:

EQUALITYEQUALITY• the state or quality of being equal;the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability. value, rank, or ability.

• uniform character, as of motion or uniform character, as of motion or surface. surface.

-dictionary.com-dictionary.com


the idea of the idea of limitationslimitations (ecological, technological, (ecological, technological, and social) which affect the environment’s and social) which affect the environment’s ability to meet present and future needsability to meet present and future needs

LIMITS TO GROWTH LIMITS TO GROWTH



LIMITS TO GROWTHLIMITS TO GROWTH- - quantitative quantitative andand qualitative limits qualitative limits- living within the regenerative and- living within the regenerative and

assimilative capacities of the assimilative capacities of the planetplanet


Sustainable development...Sustainable development...

implies limitsimplies limits Not predefined absolute limits, but Not predefined absolute limits, but

limitations imposed by:limitations imposed by:– the ability of the biosphere to absorb the the ability of the biosphere to absorb the

effects of human activitieseffects of human activities– adaptability of human social and political adaptability of human social and political

organizationorganization– technologytechnology

Sustainable development Sustainable development and economic growthand economic growth

Economic growth must be made:Economic growth must be made:– less material intensive (‘dematerialization of less material intensive (‘dematerialization of

the economy’)the economy’)– less energy intensiveless energy intensive– more equitable in its impactsmore equitable in its impacts

Economic growth may be reduced or Economic growth may be reduced or curtailed to meet limitations imposed by curtailed to meet limitations imposed by environment, technology, or societyenvironment, technology, or society

Institutional gaps impeding Institutional gaps impeding sustainable developmentsustainable development

2 major gaps:2 major gaps: fragmented decision makingfragmented decision making

– narrow mandates, jurisdictional rigidity, narrow mandates, jurisdictional rigidity, lack of communication and coordinationlack of communication and coordination

lack of accountabilitylack of accountability– failure to make the bodies whose policy failure to make the bodies whose policy

actions degrade the environment actions degrade the environment responsible for their actions responsible for their actions

materials and materials and energyenergy

Obsolescent “frontier” civilization:Obsolescent “frontier” civilization:

ENERGYENERGY

CONVENTIONALCONVENTIONALURBAN SYSTEMURBAN SYSTEM

MATERIALSMATERIALS

HEATHEAT

WASTE &WASTE &TOXINSTOXINS

One-way flow of materials and energyOne-way flow of materials and energy

CONSUMERCONSUMERSOCIETYSOCIETY

NON-RENEWABLENON-RENEWABLEand RENEWABLEand RENEWABLE

HIGHHIGHTHROUGHPUTTHROUGHPUT

CONSERVERCONSERVERSOCIETYSOCIETY

Sustainable civilization:Sustainable civilization:

•Cyclical flows of materials Cyclical flows of materials •Appropriate energy usageAppropriate energy usage

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

RENEWABLERENEWABLE

Waste MinimizationWaste MinimizationToxics controlToxics control

LOWLOWTHROUGHPUTTHROUGHPUT

ENERGYENERGY

MATERIALSMATERIALS

Low-qualityLow-qualityHeat EnergyHeat Energy

Low-volumeLow-volumeNontoxic Nontoxic Waste Waste MaterialsMaterials

informationinformationand decision and decision

makingmaking

Sustainable development...Sustainable development...

considers future and present needs considers future and present needs when when making decisionsmaking decisions about: about:– resource and energy useresource and energy use

– technological developmenttechnological development

– direction of investmentsdirection of investments

– social, political & institutional social, political & institutional change...etc. etc. etc.change...etc. etc. etc.

Applied POLICY

ECONOMYECONOMY

ENV’TENV’T

SOCIETYSOCIETY

TRADITIONALDECISION MAKING

ECONOMYECONOMY

ENV’TENV’T

SOCIETYSOCIETY


• NON-PARTICIPATORYNON-PARTICIPATORY

•FRAGMENTEDFRAGMENTED

SOCIETYSOCIETY


ECONOMYECONOMY

ECONOMYECONOMY

ENV’TENV’T

SOCIETYSOCIETY


ECOSYSTEM-BASEDDECISION MAKING

‘‘ECO-ECO-

SYSTEMSYSTEM

HEALTH’HEALTH’

SOCIETYSOCIETY


ECONOMYECONOMY

ECOSYSTEM-BASEDDECISION MAKING

• PARTICIPATORYPARTICIPATORY

• INTEGRATEDINTEGRATED

‘‘ECO-ECO-

SYSTEMSYSTEM

HEALTH’HEALTH’

Fragmented decision-makingFragmented decision-making

ISSUE ISSUE federal /federal /

nationalnational

municipalmunicipal

publicpublic

privateprivate

provincial /provincial /

statestateregionalregional

otherother

interestsinterests

communitycommunity

groupsgroups

- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

Integrated decision-makingIntegrated decision-making

regionalregional

provincial/provincial/

statestatemunicipalmunicipalmunicipal

privateprivateprivate

communitycommunitycommunity

groupsgroupsgroups

publicpublicpublicother other

interestsinterests

federal/federalfederal/

nationalnationalnationalISSUEISSUEISSUE

- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

decision makingdecision making

• reactivereactive


• reactivereactive (‘end of pipe’)(‘end of pipe’)


• anticipatoryanticipatory



• anticipatoryanticipatory(planning for (planning for change)change)



• radicalradical




• radicalradical(fundamental; (fundamental; root causes)root causes)




• radicalradical



• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change in demandchange in demand - - less consumptionless consumption - alternative consumption- alternative consumption

• change in processchange in process - - clean technologyclean technology - elimination of toxics- elimination of toxics

• sewage treatment plantsewage treatment plant- - ‘end of pipe’ solution‘end of pipe’ solution

• environmentenvironment andand

economyeconomy andand

societysociety

• environmentenvironmentandand

economyeconomy

• environmentenvironmentoror

economyeconomy

Originally:Originally:Hotel sheets & towels changed every dayHotel sheets & towels changed every dayLeads to eutrophication / water pollutionLeads to eutrophication / water pollution

TOURISM EXAMPLE:TOURISM EXAMPLE:

Hotel sheet and towel policyHotel sheet and towel policy

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/53/94/79/cute-hotel-towels.jpg

Response:Response:Guests given choiceGuests given choiceMost keep same sheets Most keep same sheets and towelsand towelsFewer towels and Fewer towels and sheets are laundered sheets are laundered each dayeach day



Result:Result:Reduced environmental Reduced environmental impactimpactHotel saves money, Hotel saves money, increases profits and (...?) increases profits and (...?) keeps rates downkeeps rates downGuests feel like they are Guests feel like they are making a positive making a positive environmental contribution environmental contribution



Northern Northern TelecomTelecom

based in Canadabased in Canada 42 plants in various countries42 plants in various countries manufacturer of electronic components manufacturer of electronic components

(telecommunications)(telecommunications) 1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year 1992: 0 tonnes of CFCs used per year1992: 0 tonnes of CFCs used per year

EARLYEARLYEXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Original ProcessOriginal Process

1) raw components and grease1) raw components and grease

2) manufacturing and assembly process2) manufacturing and assembly process

3) clean off grease with CFCs3) clean off grease with CFCs

4) finished product4) finished product

Revised processRevised process

1) raw components, 1) raw components, nono grease grease

2) manufacturing and assembly process2) manufacturing and assembly process

3) no need to clean off grease with CFCs3) no need to clean off grease with CFCs

4) finished product4) finished product

Environment Environment ANDAND Economy Economy

$1 million to develop new process$1 million to develop new process $4 million savings in first year (no $4 million savings in first year (no

CFCs)CFCs) $50 million savings to year 2000$50 million savings to year 2000 international environmental prize -> international environmental prize ->

great publicitygreat publicity contract with Mexico for industrial contract with Mexico for industrial

innovation (very lucrative)innovation (very lucrative)

• radicalradical



• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change inchange in demand for demand for product product

• change inchange in industrialindustrial process process

• sewagesewage treatmenttreatment plant forplant for wastes wastes

• radicalradical



IndustryIndustry

• change inchange in demanddemand

• change inchange in industrialindustrial process process

• sewagesewage treatmenttreatment plant forplant for wastes wastes

BiodiversityBiodiversity

• apply apply landscape landscape ecologyecology principles principles to humanto human activity activity

• establish establish national national parks (12%)parks (12%) to protectto protect habitats habitats

• zoo / seed zoo / seed bank for bank for endangered endangered species species

TransportationTransportationTransportationTransportation

• better urbanbetter urban planningplanning

• alternativealternative energyenergy

• catalyticcatalytic convertersconverters

• radicalradical



Tourism: Tourism: HotelsHotels

• change inchange in tourist tourist expectations expectations for energy for energy use use

• fundamental fundamental redesign of redesign of hotels and hotels and resorts resorts

• compact compact fluorescent fluorescent bulbs and bulbs and keytag keytag interlocks interlocks

•

Tourism:Tourism:Cruise IndustryCruise Industry• replacementreplacement of cruise of cruise tourism with tourism with sustainable sustainable alternativealternative forms offorms of tourism tourism

• cleaner, cleaner, more efficient more efficient cruise ships; cruise ships; reduction of reduction of onboard onboard consumption consumption

• sewage sewage containment, containment, onshore onshore power feeds, power feeds, recycling recycling

Tourism:Tourism:Nature basedNature based

• inviolateinviolate ecosystems ecosystems

• eco-eco- tourism; tourism; matching matching traffic to traffic to capacity of capacity of habitats habitats

• fundingfunding conservation conservation of endangered of endangered wildlife wildlife

valuesvalues ideologyideology strategiesstrategies

values, ideologies values, ideologies and strategiesand strategies

interactions amongstinteractions amongst

values / ideologies / strategiesvalues / ideologies / strategies




valuesvaluesindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moralindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral



valuesvalues

ideologiesideologies

Definable sets of values constituteDefinable sets of values constitute

(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)

individual, cultural, social, spiritual, moralindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral



valuesvalues

ideologiesideologies

strategiesstrategies

Definable sets of values constituteDefinable sets of values constitute

(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)

……which give rise towhich give rise to

practical applications of ideologically consistent practical applications of ideologically consistent ideas, actions, policies and programsideas, actions, policies and programs

individual, cultural, social, spiritual, moralindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral

environmental valuesenvironmental values


• holistic perspectiveholistic perspective

• everything is connected to everything elseeverything is connected to everything else• parts can only be understood in the context parts can only be understood in the context of the wholeof the whole

• nature as a living organism or systemnature as a living organism or system

(after (after Macdonald, D. 1991. Macdonald, D. 1991. The Politics of PollutionThe Politics of Pollution. . McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)



• humans living within naturehumans living within nature -> inherent value of other organisms and-> inherent value of other organisms and inanimate objectsinanimate objects

• limits to growthlimits to growth

(after (after Macdonald, D. 1991. Macdonald, D. 1991. The Politics of PollutionThe Politics of Pollution. . McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)



• appropriate technologyappropriate technology

• matching the scope and scale of technologymatching the scope and scale of technology to the task at handto the task at hand

• principles of durability and efficiencyprinciples of durability and efficiency

• recognition that new technology brings bothrecognition that new technology brings both benefits benefits andand problems problems



•appropriate scaleappropriate scale

• appropriate sizes for institutions, socialappropriate sizes for institutions, social organizations, communitiesorganizations, communities

•accessible and accountable decision-makingaccessible and accountable decision-making

in public and private sectorsin public and private sectors

sustainabledevelopment. sustainable development: u meeting the needs of the present without...

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