Introduction to Sustainability physical geographical ecological jurisdictional GLOBAL

Introduction to Sustainability

physical / geographical ecological jurisdictional

GLOBAL / MACRO LOCAL / MICRO spatial United Nations. . governments. . ngos / community groups. individuals jurisdictional / decision making

Defining Sustainable Development

Elements of sustainability Environment Economy Society - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

Elements of sustainability Environment Economy Society - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

Elements of sustainability Environment • biodiversity • materials • energy • biophysical interactions - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

Elements of sustainability • money and capital • employment • technological growth • investment • market forces Economy - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

Elements of sustainability • human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic) • equity (dependence / independence) • quality of life • institutional structures and organization • political structures Society - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

The ‘ 3 Es’ Model Ecology Economy Equity

The Healthy Community Model Social equitable bearable sustainable Environmental viable Economic

- WCED, 1987

Sustainability: SOLUTIONS u u u Cyclical material use – emulate natural cycles; 3 R’s Safe reliable energy – conservation, renewable energy, substitution, interim measures Life-based interests – health, creativity, communication, coordination, appreciation, learning, intellectual and spiritual development

Two key sustainable development concepts: EQUITY LIMITS TO GROWTH -WCED 1987

• implies limits Not predefined absolute limits, but limitations imposed by:

Economic growth must be made: • Economic growth may be reduced or curtailed to meet limitations imposed by environment, technology, or society

• fragmented decision making • lack of accountability

materials and energy

Obsolescent “frontier” civilization: ENERGY NON-RENEWABLE CONSUMER and RENEWABLE CONVENTIONAL SOCIETY URBAN SYSTEM MATERIALS HEAT HIGH THROUGHPUT WASTE & TOXINS One-way flow of materials and energy

Sustainable civilization: Energy Efficiency ENERGY LOW THROUGHPUT RENEWABLE MATERIALS Low-quality Heat Energy CONSERVER SOCIETY Waste Minimization Toxics control Low-volume Nontoxic Waste Materials • Cyclical flows of materials • Appropriate energy usage

information and decision making

• considers future and present needs when making decisions about:

ECONOMY ENV’T SOCIETY TRADITIONAL DECISION MAKING

ECONOMY ENV’T • NON-PARTICIPATORY SOCIETY • FRAGMENTED TRADITIONAL DECISION MAKING

ECONOMY ENV’T SOCIETY TRADITIONAL DECISION MAKING ‘ECO- ECONOMY SYSTEM HEALTH’ ENVIRONMENT ECOSYSTEM-BASED DECISION MAKING

SOCIETY • PARTICIPATORY ‘ECO- ECONOMY SYSTEM HEALTH’ ENVIRONMENT • INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM-BASED DECISION MAKING

Fragmented decision-making private other interests community groups public ISSUE municipal regional federal / national provincial / state - after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

Integrated decision-making private other interests community groups public ISSUE municipal federal/ federal national provincial/ state regional - after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

• reactive

• reactive (‘end of pipe’)

• anticipatory • reactive

• anticipatory (planning for change) • reactive

• radical • anticipatory • reactive

• radical (fundamental; root causes) • anticipatory • reactive

• radical • anticipatory • reactive

Industry • radical • anticipatory • reactive • change in demand - less consumption - alternative consumption • environment and economy and society • change in process - clean technology - elimination of toxics • environment and economy • sewage treatment plant - ‘end of pipe’ solution • environment or economy

Historical example: • based in Canada • 42 plants in various countries • manufacturer of electronic components (telecommunications) • 1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year

• radical • anticipatory • reactive

Industry • radical • anticipatory • reactive

Industry • radical • anticipatory • reactive • change in demand for product • change in industrial process • sewage treatment plant for wastes

Industry • radical • anticipatory • reactive Biodiversity • change in • demand for product • apply landscape ecology principles to human activity • change in • industrial process • establish national parks (12%) to protect habitats • sewage • treatment • plant for wastes • zoo / seed bank for endangered species Transportation

Industry • radical • anticipatory • reactive Biodiversity Transportation • change in demand for product • apply landscape ecology principles to human activity • complete redesign of our cities • change in industrial process • establish national parks (12%) to protect habitats • alternative fuels for cars • sewage treatment plant for wastes • zoo / seed bank for endangered species • catalytic converters

How do we move from rhetoric to reality?

principles

principles policy

principles policy practice

radical transformative change positive incremental change