The Sustainable Twin Ports Early Adopters Project

1. The Sustainable Twin PortsEarly Adopters Project Presentation at Focus the Nation University of Wisconsin-Superior January 31, 2008

2. Introduction • The Natural Step framework • Eco-municipalities in Wisconsin • Early Adopters Project

3. The Natural Step The Natural Step is an international non-profit research, education and advisory organization that uses ascience-based, systems frameworkto help organizations, individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward sustainability.

4. City of Madison, WI Who uses it? Swedish Eco-municipalities

5. The Natural Step Framework • A shared science- and systems-based definition for sustainability • A decision-making framework and process to help organizations and communities plan for sustainability • A compass to help us know if we’re moving in the right direction

6. Find fundamental principles of indisputable relevance, and thereafter ask the advice of others on how to apply them. Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt

7. Understanding the Sustainability Challenge The Funnel as a Metaphor

8. The Sustainability Challenge

9. Open System with respect to energy Slow geological cycles - materials from the Earth’s crust Sustainability – a Systems Perspective Closed System with respect to matter 1) Nothing disappears Photosynthesis is the primary producer 2) Everything disperses Humans are inherently part of this system Sustainability is about the ability of these cycles to run forever.

10. 3 4 3. A systematic physical deterioration 4. Barriers to people meeting their needs worldwide 1 2 1. A systematic increase in concentration of matter from the Earth’s crust 2. A systematic increase in concentration of substances produced by society Sustainability – Mechanisms for Un-sustainability

11. 1 2 3 4 Basic 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… people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

12. 1 2 3 4 Basic Ways in Which We Are Un-Sustainable we dig stuff (like heavy metals and fossil fuels) out of the Earth’s crust and allow it to build up faster than nature can cope with it we create man-made compounds and chemicals (like pesticides and fire retardants in carpets, etc.) and allow them to build up faster than nature can cope with them we continuously damage natural systems and the free services they provide (including climate regulation and water filtration) by physical means (for example, overharvesting and paving wetlands) And . . . we live in and create societies in which many people cannot meet their basic needs (for example, to find affordable housing)

13. Protection Affection Subsistence Understanding FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS Freedom Participation Identity Idleness Creation Global Human Needs

14. Sustainability Objective 1 Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the buildup of materials taken from the Earth’s crust. This includes fossil fuels and their associated wastes. Inefficient use Efficient use Dissipative use Tight technical cycles Scarce metals Abundant metals Fossil fuels Renewables

15. Efficient use Inefficient use Abundant and breakdown easily Persistent and unnatural Dissipative use Tight technical cycles Sustainability Objective 2 Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the buildup of synthetic substances produced by society.

16. Efficient use of resources and land Inefficient use of resources and land Resources from poorly managed ecosystems Resources from well-managed ecosystems use Sustainability Objective 3 Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the ongoing physical degradation of Nature.

17. Safe working and living environments Unsafe working and living environments Sufficient resources for livelihood Economic barriers Political oppression Political freedom Sustainability Objective 4 Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to conditions that undermine people’s ability to meet their basic needs.

18. A growing movement Community stories

19. Swedish Eco-municipalities An eco-municipality aspires to develop an ecologically, economically, and socially healthy community for the long term, using The Natural Step Framework for sustainability as a guide, and a democratic, highly participative development process as the method.

20. What’s Happening in Our Area? Wisconsin Eco-Municipalities City of Washburn City of Ashland City of Madison City of Bayfield Town of Bayfield Douglas County Johnson Creek City of Marshfield City of Manitowoc City of Neenah City of Menasha Town of Cottage Grove La Crosse La Crosse County City Beloit City of Baraboo _________________________ Duluth, MN

21. Early Adopters for Sustainability • Model rooted in the theory of innovation diffusion – from innovators, to early adopters, to early majority, to critical mass • Recent applications as part of Natural Step program in Canadian communities of Whistler and Canmore • Green Team Network in Chequamegon Bay • Twin Ports Early Adopters Project coming in the spring/summer

22. Sustainable Twin Ports Early Adopters Project • Partnership  Sustainable Twin Ports • Sustainable Duluth • We Mean Green (Knight Creative Communities Initiative) • “Eco-resolutions” • City of Duluth • Douglas County • Project has been funded by local foundations • Zeppa Foundation • Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

23. The Basics • Twelve to fifteen early adopter organizations • Two to five participants per organization • Ten days of training over one year • Baseline evaluations • Developing a vision of a sustainable organization • Action planning and implementation • Documentation, peer learning, and sharing with broader community

24. Key Strengths • Creation of local role models and success stories that inspire rest of community about sustainability • Development of a shared understanding of and language for sustainability among leading organizations in the community or area

25. Recruitment Criteria • Candidate organizations are recognized community leaders; • they have an interest in sustainability; and • they collectively represent the breadth of the community or area.

26. For Additional Information Sustainable Twin Ports Contacts • Jan Karon – 218-722-7200; skaron@chartermi.net • Jerry Hembd – 715-394-8208; jhembd@uwsuper.edu

27. Thank You