Introducing a Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development in

Introducing a Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (in River Delta’s) Kirsten Kuipers & Dorri te Boekhorst Building on the work of prof. dr. Karl-Henrik Robert (BIT Karlskrona) December 3 rd 2009

Outline of today and tomorrow TODAY, December 3 rd 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Starting up with personal views of and connections to sustainable development Introducing systems thinking and the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (known as The Natural Step Approach) Looking at three cases as examples in applying the FSSD/TNS-model Exploring the FSSD in depth: e-learning in teams Group assignments: working on a case you choose yourselves; practice in applying the FSSD

Outline of today and tomorrow TOMORROW, December 4 th 1. Continue to work on your own case; preparing a presentation 2. Possibility for coaching / asking questions: Friday > 11. 00 a. m. 3. Friday 2. 45 p. m. : group presentations of the cases on which you applied the FSSD/TNSframework

Systems thinking Individuals Groups Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

• Forests • Agriculture • Fisheries • Ground water • Climate • Metals and Chemicals • Developing countries • Global justice • Interpersonal trust • ”Stories of meaning” TID Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Strategic opportunities… …for those who foresee change: • Resource costs • Waste management • Tax, insurance, legislation, loans • International agreements • New markets • Trust • Citizens/employees • Trade value Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

People are fantastic! So what’s the problem? Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

About drill-holes… Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

…and how to make use of drill-holes Structured overview Copyright © 2004 The Natural

Investing with success in mind… Backcasting Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Nobody can look into the future… Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

…but we can invent it! Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Finding a unifying theory Empirical Science Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step Theoretical science

Principals… Sustainable Vision - Necessary - Enough - General - Concrete - Distinct Time

Systems thinking “Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes, recognizing patterns and interrelationships, and learning how to structure those interrelationships in more effective, efficient ways. ” Peter Senge

International NGO Scientific consensus TNS Framework Leadership Strategic Investments

So what could we agree on? Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Level 1, System

Cycles of nature Open system with respect to energy Closed system with respect to matter 1) Nothing disappears « Photosynthesis pays the bill » Slow geological cycles (volcano eruptions and weathering) 2) Everything disperses Sustainability is about the ability of these cycles to run indefinitely Slow geological cycles (sedimentation and mineralization)

How we influence the cycles Physically inhibit nature’s ability to run cycles Barriers to people meeting their basic needs worldwide Introduce persistent compounds foreign to nature Relatively large flows of materials from the Earth’s crust

Cyanides Carbon dioxide Methane ammonia First plant cell approximately 3. 5 billion years ago First green plant cell approximately 1. 5 billion years ago First animal cell approximately 0. 7 -1 billion years ago 11: 59. 30 4. 5 Billion Years 11/40 th of a second before midnight: the Industrial Revolution 1/80 th of a second before midnight: we discover oil 1/200 th of a second before midnight, we discover how to split atoms. Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

Time? Evolution/Adaptation/Extinction? Which Species? Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

Level 2, Success System Success Strategy In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing. . . concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust, . . . concentrations of substances produced by society, . . . degradation by physical means, Action and, in that society. . . Tools . . . people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

Level 3, Strategy A B D C

The ABCD-method for Backcasting

Direction right? Flexible platform to full success? Good return on investment? Copyright ©

A principled definition of sustainable success If we want to win in a complex system, we need to be able to define what success would be. This can generally not be done at the level of detail, but needs a principled definition.

Maslows hierarchy of needs

Matrix of human needs Protection Affection Subsistence Understanding FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS Freedom Participation Identity Idleness Creation

Level 4, Action Organisation/Project Time Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

yright © 2004 The Natural Step IKEA Hydro Polymers Home Depot Starbucks coffee Electrolux

Agriculture Forestry Energy Traffic Materials … Time Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Many actors, same language - from ”fix” to innovative systems solutions - Copyright ©

ght © 2004 The Natural Step Time Övertorneå SEKO (70 local gov’s) Whistler Calgary FCM Seattle Portland APA EU Round Table Chequamegon Bay Madison W I Portsmouth NH Lawrence NJ Pittsburgh/Vandergrift RA Evanston IL Duluth MN Jefferson County WI Corvallis OR …

Strategic opportunities… • Resource potential huge • Step-by-step while ROI • Main strategy to

Level 5, Tools EM y c n 1 2 a d n ge AS Ha A A A nno LC ficie EEC 001 Pri ver f 4 n 1 cip oe c s ISO i les s y l E a n a y t i Tripl bil a n i a Miljömålen t s e bot Su tom l i n e Natural Renewables on Capitalism i s is Fak m Ecoliteracy tor R E S 4 ero C Ecol e l ogica Z c y l Foo C e f tprin Li lysis h t ting y t w a i o n il A gr b e l a b a n i a ta t RMA s s u u SCleaner S Factor 10 Production Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Pioneers of tools: ISO 14001 Indicators LCA Ecological footprints Factor 10 Zero Emission Natural Capitalism Cleaner Technology… Organization X Time

Conclusions Many good tools and concepts Different strengths and gaps None can replace structured systems perspective Such increases the value of concepts and tools Don’t wait for tools – get going! Select and inform tools as needed Robèrt, K. -H. , Schmidt-Bleek, B. , Aloisi de Larderel, J. , Basile, G. , Jansen, L. , Ku Price Thomas, P. Suzuki, M. , Hawken, P. , and Wackernagel, M. 2001. Strateg sustainable development – selection, design and synergies off applied The Journal of Cleaner Production, 10 (2002) 197 -214. Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Objection 1 “We cannot afford sustainable development!” (Invalid; it is un-sustainability we cannot afford)

Objection 2 “We cannot afford sustainable development now! ” (Invalid; ROI step deals with

Objection 3 “We can’t afford to go all the way!” (Invalid; bankruptcy would only

Objection 4 “We cannot afford going all the way fast enough on our own!”

A C B D Examples: OK and alcohols Electrolux and batteries. Whistler Copyright ©

Resort Community of Whistler

Resort Community of Whistler • A world destination resort • 2. 5+ million visitors, $2 billion+ /year • Rapid growth • Winter Olympics 2010

An Unlikely Story. . . • ”Indulgence and Excess” • Cheap Hydro power • Plentiful fossil fuels • ”Expand production to meet growth. . . ”

WHISTLER 2020 Comprehensive Sustainability Plan www. whistler. ca

Backcasting from principles and Whistler 2020 Vision of Success (participatory) Sustainability Principles (science-based) Current reality 2005 Strategies, actions 2020 www. whistler. ca 2060 Time

Today’s decisions… … guided by strategic questions 1 Does this action move Whistler toward our shared Vision of Success? Does this action move Whistler toward our shared Sustainability Principles? 3 2 Is the action a good financial investment? 4 Does the action present a flexible platform for ’ d n i l further movement toward Success in the b ’ id s! o future? v a nt i. e. stme e inv

Comprehensive (16 strategies, 1000’s of actions) www. whistler. ca

Time Scales and Investments space 1000 x m Urban Design/ Re-design Infrastructure Projects, Community Development 100 x m Equipment (e. g. Automobiles) 10 x m ~10 ~50 years 100+ Adapted from Jaccard et. al 1997

An Example. . .

Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline. . . ~$42 Cdn. million; 50 km. , high pressure, capacity for doubled energy loads

Challenges… Towards Energy Sustainability vision? Towards Sustainability Principles? (incremental GHG improvement over propane) Flexible platform? Good ROI?

New Proposal • Capital cost ~$30 million (vs. previous $42 m. ) • New Whistler Energy Utility And. . . ** New ”Energy Services” business unit (for gas company)

e. g. Olympic Village Was: 100% Natural Gas Now: 100% Renewables

WHISTLER 2020 Moving Toward a Sustainable Future “Best Long Term Planning” 2005 Liv. Com Awards, La Caruna, Spain Strategic Comprehensive Participatory/decentralised www. whistler. ca

Case of Tualatin Valley Water District (USA)

The good thing is that it has been possible to… 1. 2. 3. …demonstrate a self-benefit of individual organizations to plan systematically towards sustainability, …produce a framework for planning and selection of tools, …growing the number of positive role models working like this, But the sad thing is that…

…many problems remain that slow the process: 1. Competitive advantage to not sharing knowledge. 2. Weak political leadership on Sustainability. 3. Mass medial focus on sensations rather than solutions. 4. Current economic framework dysfunctional (perverse subsidies, obsolete taxes). 5. …and Scientific community remains largely reductionist. Our hope relies on Local Governments!

Whealthy Rhine Regional cooperation for flood safety, spatial quality and economic development

Multi-stakeholder cooperation project Province of Gelderland, City region Arnhem Nijmegen, Region Rivierenland, 15 municipalities, Water board, Rijkswaterstaat, Radboud University, knowlegde institues, national fundings, advisories.

Method project Wealthy Rhine 1. Shared regional vision (umbrella for local projects): what is the problem, what are the outlines and preconditions of the solution? Time period: 2010 -2050 2. Dialogue with other municipalities, and other stakeholders: companies, NGO’s, inhabitants, land owners 3. Prepare a package of measures, find financial instruments (business partners)

9 project areas 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

, d r e a m s , � a n d Sharing local wishes, dreams, and knowledge

Vision: Inspiration Atlas

Find local solutions, within the vision Ubbergen

Getting started yourselves Apply the 4 system conditions to the Wealthy Rhine Case

Organization Toward a Sustainable Wealthy Rhine -Opdrachtgever aan RU -Sturing vanuit beleidskader -Bewaken samenhang en synergie Prv RU WWDuurzaam overkoepelend -Project coördinatie (financieel/inh. ) -Trainingen ondersteuners -Bijeenkomsten, verslaglegging -Knowledge gaps financiering, juridische belemmeringen -Inbreng “Best practices” -Nieuwsbrieven Prv Voorzitter Ondersteuners Ondersteuning Co. P’s (lijnen zijn illustratief)

Thank you! K. Kuipers@science. ru. nl