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Sustainable development

Sustainable development. Sustainable development:. meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Our Common Future. Elements of sustainability. Environment. Economy.

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Sustainable development

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  1. Sustainable development

  2. Sustainable development: • meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. • World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Our Common Future

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

  4. the sustainable development triangle

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

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

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

  8. 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

  9. The ‘3 Es’ Model Ecology Economy Equity

  10. SOCIETY ECONOMY • HEALTH ENVIRONMENT The Healthy Community Model

  11. Sustainability: PROBLEMS • Depletion of finite resources • fuels, soil, minerals, species • Over-use of renewable resources • forests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public funds • Pollution • air, water, soil • Inequity • economic, political, social, gender • Species loss • endangered species and spaces - WCED, 1987

  12. Sustainability: SOLUTIONS • 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

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

  14. Two key sustainable development concepts: • the concept of needs, particularly the essential needs of the world’s poor • EQUITY -WCED 1987

  15. Two key sustainable development concepts: • EQUITY • the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality • something that is fair and just. -dictionary.com

  16. Contrast with: • EQUALITY • the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability. • uniform character, as of motion or surface. -dictionary.com

  17. Two key sustainable development concepts: • the idea of limitations (ecological, technological, and social) which affect the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs • LIMITS TO GROWTH -WCED 1987

  18. Two key sustainable development concepts: • LIMITS TO GROWTH • - quantitative and qualitative limits • - living within the regenerative and assimilative capacities of the planet -WCED 1987

  19. Sustainable development... • implies limits • Not predefined absolute limits, but limitations imposed by: • the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities • adaptability of human social and political organization • technology

  20. Sustainable development and economic growth Economic growth must be made: • less material intensive (‘dematerialization of the economy’) • less energy intensive • more equitable in its impacts • Economic growth may be reduced or curtailed to meet limitations imposed by environment, technology, or society

  21. Institutional gaps impeding sustainable development 2 major gaps: • fragmented decision making • narrow mandates, jurisdictional rigidity, lack of communication and coordination • lack of accountability • failure to make the bodies whose policy actions degrade the environment responsible for their actions

  22. materials and energy

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

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

  25. informationand decision making

  26. Sustainable development... • considers future and present needs when making decisions about: • resource and energy use • technological development • direction of investments • social, political & institutional change...etc. etc. etc. Applied POLICY

  27. ECONOMY ENV’T SOCIETY TRADITIONAL DECISION MAKING

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

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

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

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

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

  33. decision making • reactive

  34. decision making • reactive • (‘end of pipe’)

  35. decision making • anticipatory • reactive

  36. decision making • anticipatory • (planning for • change) • reactive

  37. decision making • radical • anticipatory • reactive

  38. decision making • radical • (fundamental; • root causes) • anticipatory • reactive

  39. radical • anticipatory • reactive decision making

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

  41. TOURISM EXAMPLE: Hotel sheet and towel policy Originally: • Hotel sheets & towels changed every day • Leads to eutrophication / water pollution

  42. TOURISM EXAMPLE: Hotel sheet and towel policy Response: • Guests given choice • Most keep same sheets and towels • Fewer towels and sheets are laundered each day

  43. TOURISM EXAMPLE: Hotel sheet and towel policy Result: • Reduced environmental impact • Hotel saves money, increases profits and (...?) keeps rates down • Guests feel like they are making a positive environmental contribution

  44. EARLYEXAMPLE: Northern Telecom • based in Canada • 42 plants in various countries • manufacturer of electronic components (telecommunications) • 1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year • 1992: 0 tonnes of CFCs used per year

  45. Original Process 1) raw components and grease 2) manufacturing and assembly process 3) clean off grease with CFCs 4) finished product

  46. Revised process 1) raw components, no grease 2) manufacturing and assembly process 3) no need to clean off grease with CFCs 4) finished product

  47. Environment AND Economy • $1 million to develop new process • $4 million savings in first year (no CFCs) • $50 million savings to year 2000 • international environmental prize -> great publicity • contract with Mexico for industrial innovation (very lucrative)

  48. radical • anticipatory • reactive

  49. Industry • radical • anticipatory • reactive

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

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