Sustainable development in a dynamic world

1. Sustainable development in a dynamic world

2. Introduction & definition « progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs » (Brundtland Commission 1987)

3. Historical evolution • Since World War II : more intensive agriculture (usage of pesticides) -> effect on biodiversity • Crisis 1970 : - Club of Rome (1972) : ‘Limits to growth” (correlation between economic growth and consequences for environment) - Oil crisis (high oil prices with consequences on social level e.g. unemployment, social problems, …) - Debt crisis : developing countries couldn’t pay their loans and debt : N-S - unbalanced

4. Historical evolution (2) Brundtlandcommission : • UN made 3 commissions to solve mundial problems • 1 commission was led by GroHarlem Brundtland(1st minister of Norway) • TARGET : integrating ecology in economical development strategy • World commisssion on environment and development • Rapport “Our common Future” (1987)

5. Historical evolution (3) • United Nations Conference on Environment and development (UNCED) – Rio de Janeiro 1992 (Earth Summit) Biodiversity Convention UN Climate Change Convention Statement on forest principles Local Agenda 21 (agenda for the 21st century) • 1997 Kyoto-protocol • 2000 – 2015 : UN Millenium Development Goals • 2002 World Summit on Sustainable development – Johannesburg • 2005-2014 Decade of Education for Sustainable Development • 2009 Copenhagen – Climate Change Conference

6. Past/Future Events !! • Convention on Biological Diversity 18-29/10/2010 www.cbd.int • United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 Rio + 20 www.uncsd2012.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wujIKzFXMc&amp

7. Challenges !! • Social and environmental challenges

8. Social - environmental changes 1. Poverty 2. Inequality 3. Conflict 4. Air pollution http://www.worldmapper.org/images/largepng/295.png 5. Fresh water http://www.worldmapper.org/images/largepng/327.png 6. Soil 7. Forest 8. Biodiversity 9. Fisheries 10. Climate change 11. Migration

9. The content … what is it about ? Balance Ecology – Economy – Social • Population growth

10. Economic evolution BRIC- countries (Brazil, Russia, India China) Strong economic growth • Brazil (190 million), 7 % GDP Growth • Russia (140 million ) , 5 % • India (1,18 billion), 8,5 % • China (1,3 billion), 9-10 % USA (300 million), 1,7 %

11. Economic evolution • Moving economic powers • Unpossibilityof reaching the same living standards (limited resources) • Link with shortage on food, water, …. • World overshoot day : 21/08 (2010), 23/09 (2008), 9/10 (2006)

12. Results? • Poverty and inequality • Diseases • Conflicts • Food shortage • Water crisis • In combination with climate change => migrations • Etc..

13. Solutions? • Moving towards a more sustainable world • Need of behavioral change • Ethical debate “who are we to tell others what to do?” • Future thinking ? e.g. The 19th century calculations on horse manure • Inherent behavior … Newtons law ? Once moving we want to keep on moving • Hard to change society, or not ?? (e.g. smoking law)

14. From linear thinking to complexity “We can not solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them (Albert Einstein)” • Our Western society is dominated by linear thinking (cf. Descartes) • Sustainability ≠ linear • Need for a new way of thinking ! We are blind, resistance for change.. • Newton’s law: a moving object wants to keep on moving Multidisciplinary, multilevel, holistic … based on community values and ethical principles.

15. Simple,complicated and complex

16. Complexity thinking • Many agents • Follows simple rules • Everything is interaction • No leader • Dynamic environment • Very difficult to predict • Self-organizing !! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tEFRAI9WSE&tracker=False

17. Causal loop thinking • Way of thinking and being • The system and interaction between different parts of the system is important (~holistic) • Dynamics are more important then just “now” • (~longitudinal) • a way to improve dialogue and knowledge • Perfect tool to make decisions that solve the problem • Not based on just eliminating symptoms • A natural way of thinking

18. System thinking is giving us insight on how complex relations are, multidisciplinary scope.. • Using a holistic way of looking at things expects a multidisciplinary approach • We need to combine different sciences (but difference thinking for e.g. engineers and sociologists) • The most innovative ideas are born on the crossroads of very different disciplines • Not only multidisciplinary but also multilevel !!

19. Using tools to transform a complex system to simple understanding • Young people aspire for a simpler and slower life (less stress and pressure (Visions for change , UNEP 2011) • Globalisationcauses ‘global’ stress • Over-consumption and extreme material comfort is a factor of complexity and can generate anxiety • Simplicity means a smaller and more predictable world • Cf. your grandparents life

20. Multilevel • Our society is very complex with multiple levels of organisations • Having complexity tools is not enough ! • Modifying human behaviour : importance of interrelationships of these levels, identifying opportunities and obstacles • Similarity with human body : • Cells , organs, functional systems (hormonal, digestive, …), body, depending to external environment, serving as a functional unit in social and economic systems Human society is structured in hierarchical levels (individual, family, community, city, region , ….) cross-layered with culture, ethnic, religious, ….

21. So what drives us to responsible living? • Individual human being : fundamental unit for responsible living • Biological needs interacting with knowledge and values • Knowledge and values : first transmitted in the family, then by social interaction in the community and media • Role of formal and informal education to become independent identity and personal lifestyle • Lifestyle becomes more rigid with age, some moments of fluidity - unemployment, career change, “midlife crisis”, religious conversion, retirement, widowhood, … In the past : lifestyle change was rare (no mobility or access to information)

22. Now : globalisation undermined traditional certainties and increased choices of lifestyles and forms of behaviour • So enabling people to live more responsibly needs a supporting framework of concepts at all levels • Scientific information by itself is necessary but rarely sufficient to change behaviour !! • Responsibility is a question of values (or top down by using new technology concepts?) • Failure is not lack of understanding/information but motivation to change damaging behaviours • Values !! http://wevalue.org/ http://www.thevalueweb.org/

23. Individual level

24. Individual level (2) • All behaviour is related to the consumption of (non-)materialistic goods Some psychoanalysis - Discourstheory (Lacan) - between subjects, there’s always a lack (about the desire) • Between a subject and a object, there’s no lack (what I want is what iget/buy) • Instant consumerism … the false idea of 100 % fulfilment (http://degrowth.eu/ ) • A part of developing identity • Balancing between freedom and responsibility • Mind the gap ! (between attitudes and behaviour)

25. Individual level (3) • The role of the father figure in society (do’s and don’ts, wisdom) • Society has been orphaned 3 times - Religion - Politics - Money So what kind of father figure is left? Who tells us what to do ? (the internet, media, companies, advertisements, .. ?) Mindfulness, wellness… ? “The more we have, the more we have to worry about.” “Nãotenhotudoqueamo, mas amotudoquetenho.”

26. Community level Most important level ! Investment for the common betterment of families and neighbours Communities will be more heterogeneous, multiple origins (by climate change migrations,etc) Study-circles for adults, value-based content for kids, action-oriented activities for pre-adolescents, … Importance of spiritual and ethical principles http://www.sustainable-everyday.net/SEPhome/home.html#scenarios http://www.sustainableeverydayexplorations.net/

27. There is a great need for information on global challenges, the way they relate to lifestyles and individual actions. What is often missing is a holistic, compeling and pragmatic vision of what a sustainable society can be as well as how it can be translated at the local level. • For policies and messages on sustainble lifestyles to be well understood and efficient, people’s perceptions of sustainability, their values and expectations for the future must be taken into account. • Sustainability must be attractive and built on positive visions of progress for lifestyles and behaviors to evolve. (Visions for Change, UNEP 2011)

28. Obstacles ? Perception is not always reality • Small excercise on awareness… thinking out of the box http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo • “Once you start the way you look at things, the things you look at start to change”

29. National Level • Resistance for changing the curriculum ? • Political leadership ? • Coherence between community and national driven info at formal education • Media : no interest to encourage responsible consumer behaviour • Lot of contradictions : e.g. “green cars”, financial support for automobile industries, mobility policy and even C2C ? • Advertising plays on animal impulses and selfishness, .. • Lust, indolence, pride, violence… are values and ethical principles

30. International level • Individual, local and national efforts are not sufficient without transformation of the global economy • After financial crisis : business as usual ? • Stability of EURO ? • www.uncsd2012.org • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wujIKzFXMc&amp (How NGO’s can get involved in Rio+20 ?)

31. Global vision We do need a global vision to deal with the global problems - Millennium Development Goals - Decade of Education for Sustainable Development We need an allround (top –down, bottom –up), multidisciplinary, multi-sector systemic, holistic approach …

32. Some inspiring ideas …. For daily life • Think before you buy ! (Nãotenhotudo o queeuamo, mas amotudo o queeutenho) => Materialistic discours • You’re as clean in 10 min as in 30 min ! • You only need light in the dark. • Use your bike for short distances. • If you use your car, use the ecodrive principle. • Eat vegetables and fruit of the season (and local) ! • Reduce the amount of (household) waste. • … • Try www.youthxchange.net

33. Conclusions • Sustainability needs new tools such as causal-loop thinking from a multi-level perspective based on values and ethical principles • Knowledge is available and necessary but not enough • New technologies and innovative technics are arising on the crossroads of different disciplines, so need for transforming education, new jobs? • If we have the perception of limiting our freedom of choice, we stop changing.. • “You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need” (Vernon Howard)

34. Sources • http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res_publcorepubli.shtml?utm_source=OldRedirect&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=dsd&utm_campaign=OldRedirect • http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/world_footprint/ • http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_scpp/scpp_youtube.shtml • http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx • http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog?display=default