IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE

2. IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE 2.2

3. What do we need to do? • If there is little consensus on definitions of sustainability and sustainable development, there is even less about the path that should be taken to get there. • In a transition to a sustainable society, efforts will be required at both the individual and collective levels. • Different interpretations of living sustainably: • one extreme - renouncing all possessions and living in communes • or are we now committed to a high-technology future?) 2.3

4. “…some of the very products of our technology – plutonium, for instance, require of us that we maintain a very high degree of cultural continuity, economic and political stability, and technological capacity and sophistication, far into the future. To ensure our safety and the safety of all forms of life, we must always be able to store, clean up, and contain poisons like plutonium and persistent organic toxins. Eventually we must be able to eliminate them safely…In the case of certain creations, like nuclear materials and some artificially constructed or genetically modified organisms, our secure custodianship must be maintained for thousands of years”.(AtKisson, 2001) 2.4

5. The great tasks of our time? • to change energy systems • to phase out the use of certain chemicals and metals that nature cannot assimilate • to manage the life-supportive ecosystems in a sustainable way – fresh water flows, forest, fields and fishing waters • to heal the battered and broken cultures around the world (Robèrt, 2001) 2.5

6. Objectives and principles of ecologically sustainable development • Integration of economic and environmental goals in policies and activities • Intergenerational equity (that is, equity between one generation and the next) • Conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity • Recognising the global dimension • Dealing cautiously with risk and irreversibility (anticipatory and precautionary policy approach). ‘Anticipatory’ approach - to be cautious of actions that may have serious/irreversible environmental damage. ‘Precautionary’ approach - “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.” 2.6

7. Objectives and principles of ecologically sustainable development • Ensuring that environmental assets are properly valued • Constant natural capital and “sustainable income” • Social equity (intragenerational equity) • Limits on natural resource use • Qualitative development. Economic development that also develops the quality of life – cultural, social, ethical • Efficiency in use of resources • A resilient economy that has an increased capacity for environmental protection • International competitiveness in an environmentallysound manner; external trade balance in favour ofsustainable development • Community participation (continued) 2.7

8. Objectives and principles of ecologically sustainable development • International competitiveness in an environmentally sound manner; external trade balance in favour of sustainable development • Community participation • Harding, 1998, derived from the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development and the four largest environmental groups in Australia (continued) 2.8

9. The Natural Step System Conditions • 50 scientists, including ecologists, chemists, physicists and medical doctors wrote a consensus statement about the conditions that are essential to life as a basis for sound decision-making. • Agreed on four ‘system conditions’ for sustainability: • 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 and in that society… • human needs are met worldwide 2.9

10. The Natural Step System Conditions • eliminate our contribution to systematic increases in concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust • eliminate our contribution to systematic increases in concentrations of substances produced by society • eliminate our contribution to systematic physical degradation of nature through over-harvesting, depletion, foreign introductions and other forms of modification • contribute as much as we can to the goal of meeting human needs in our society and worldwide, going over and above all the substitution and dematerialization measures taken in meeting the first three objectives (continued) 2.10

11. The Hannover Principles • Developed by green architect William McDonough but apply equally to non-architectural work: • Insist on rights of humanity and nature to co-exist – in a healthy, supportive, diverse and sustainable condition • Recognize interdependence– the elements of human design interact with and depend upon the natural world, with broad and diverse implications at every scale. Expand design considerations to recognize even distant effects • Respect relationships between spirit and matter – consider all aspects of human settlement including community, dwelling, industry and trade in terms of existing and evolving connections between spiritual and material consciousness 2.11

12. The Hannover Principles • Accept responsibility for the consequences of design – decisions upon human well-being, the viability of natural systems and their right to co-exist • Create safe objects of long-term value – do not burden future generations with requirements for maintenance or vigilant administration of potential danger due to the careless creation of products, processes or standards • Eliminate the concept of waste – evaluate and optimise the full life-cycle of products and processes to approach the state of natural systems in which there is no waste • Rely on natural energy flows – human designs should, like the living world, derive their creative forces from perpetual solar income. Incorporate this energy efficiently and safely for responsible use (continued) 2.12

13. The Hannover Principles • Understand the limitations of design – no human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not as an inconvenience to be evaded or controlled • Seek constant improvement by the sharing of knowledge – encourage direct and open communication between colleagues, patrons, manufacturers and users to link long term sustainable considerations with ethical responsibility, and re-establish the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity (continued) 2.13

14. Guiding Steps • Develop an environment which supports human dignity through gender and racial equality and promotes intergenerational respect • Develop honesty and integrity in daily life • Encourage the fair distribution of wealth • Work to strengthen local communities and safeguard the health and safety of all • Commit to maintaining and enhancing the integrity and biodiversity of the natural environment • Use natural resources, such as water and land wisely and aim to reduce consumption • Refuse, reduce, reuse, repair and recycle 2.14

15. Guiding Steps (continued) • Where possible buy “green” products, locally produced with reduced packaging. • Understand the synergies between advances in technology and behavioural change to achieve sustainability. • Encourage ethical business practices • Develop business strategies which promote good corporate governance. • Encourage financial success through openness and transparency. (Source: the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne University of Technology) 2.15

16. In terms of a business, sustainability “…can be evaluated by a wide range of factors. Examples include: energy efficiency; community relations; eco design; materials efficiency; product recyclability; and employee relations. All relate back to the bottom line and to intangible asset management such as brand and reputation.” (Mays, 2003, p. 10) 2.16

17. Benefits of sustainable practice • improved environmental performance • reduced occupational health and safety risk • financial savings • market advantages • development of new product lines • enhanced reputation • better community relationships • more efficient processes • reduced liability and insurance premiums • improved working environment for staff 2.17

18. Barriers to sustainability • Vested interests in maintaining the status quo • Pressure upon people to consume more • Emphasis upon entertainment • Mental models - including “subconscious and unspoken assumptions that: • the Earth is infinite • that there is an “away” where you can throw things • materials from the Earth’s crust can be removed and re-emitted almost anywhere without a problem (e.g. metals, burnt fossil fuels, arsenic, asbestos etc) • the individual is powerless to effect change within large and complex systems” (Sharp, 2002) 2.18

19. Barriers to sustainability “…people are conditioned to conform to group perceptions and to doubt and withhold their individual perceptions if they are in conflict with the shared reality of those around them…has enormous significance when considering how people are currently responding to the demise of the planetary systems that support human life. The degree of inaction around this profoundly life threatening situation can perhaps best be explained by viewing our state as a massive “absurd consensus” that is the product of our social conditioning which has enforced our subservience to, and blind confidence in, shared societal constructs of reality.” (Sharp, 2002) (continued) 2.19