Applying Sustainability Science Ian Lowe

Applying SustainabilityScienceIan Lowe

“Our present course is unsustainable - postponing action is no longer an option”- GEO 2000 [UNEP 1999]

Sustainability problems • Resource depletion • Environmental problems • Equity and social stability • Cultural / spiritual vacuum • “pressure of increasing expectations of a growing population in a globalising, human - dominated world”

S O C I E TY E N V I R T E C O N O M Y

S O C I E T Y E C O N O M Y E C O L O G Y

IGBP [2004] “In terms of some key environmental parameters, the Earth system has moved well outside the range of natural variability exhibited over the last half million years at least. The nature of changes now occurring simultaneously in the Earth System, their magnitudes and rates of change are unprecedented.”

IGBP [continued] • Human activities are affecting global systems in complex, interactive and apparently accelerating ways • Earth dynamics characterised by critical thresholds and abrupt changes • We can now alter natural systems in ways that threaten the very processes and components on which we depend • We could trigger catastrophic changes W. Steffen et al, Earth systems change, Springer-Verlag 2004

The Knowledge Base • Much damage done by applying narrow knowledge to part of the system • Develop a much better understanding of complex natural systems, including links between local and global processes • Use this improved understanding to reduce the impacts of human activities on the natural world

Sustainability Science • Explicitly recognises our ignorance of complex self-organising systems • Works at multiple scales of organisation • Knowledge provisional, subjective • Includes social, ecological characteristics of place or region • Requires new styles of organisation • Promotes social learning

Example 1: Great Barrier Reef • World’s largest connected reef system • Basis of large tourist industry • Threats: run-off, fishing and trawling, climate change, effects of tourism • Environmental levy on reef tourism • One-third closed to fishing / trawling • New codes of practice for tourism • Strategies to reduce run-off

2: Brisbane’s natural assets • City of 1.2 million, growing rapidly • Pressure to provide land • Residents nominated outstanding assets • Consultants reviewed nominations • About 1000 included in Conservation Atlas, integrated into city plan • Diverted development pressures

3. Brisbane greenhouse target • Recognised climate change as serious • Inventory of emissions, year 2000 • Projections of existing trends: 65% above 1990 by 2012 • Identification of realistic responses • Proposal: return to 1997 level by 2012 • “no regrets” + reduced expenditure • BCC target: back to 2000 level

4. Murray - Darling basin • Australia’s largest river system • Drains ~ one – sixth of continent • Approved extraction ~ 80% median flow • Ecological + social problems • Wentworth Group: 1500 Gl/yr reduction • New regime, water rights + trading + incentives for improved water use • Political deal: 500 Gl, further study…

5. Australian Climate Group • Scientists, WWF, insurance industry • “Solutions for Australia” • REDUCE: 60% cut by 2050 • TRADE: emissions trading regime • ACT: responsibility for reductions • ADAPT: minimise expected impacts • INNOVATE: new approaches • LEAD: role in Asia – Pacific region

Some general lessons • Integrated approaches to complex issues • Change always involves trade-off • Need agreement about the problem • Different interest groups involved • Process management crucial • Recognise uncertainties • Values explicit: RAC approach

Conclusion • Researchers and users must work together to identify problems, collect data and develop new solutions • Responses are always provisional • So policies are experiments • Structures to promote social learning • Challenge to our institutions

Applying Sustainability Science Ian Lowe