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Extension Education for Sustainable Communities

Extension Education for Sustainable Communities. North Central CRD Program Leaders Meeting September 8-9, 2008. JERRY HEMBD State Specialist Community and Economic Development University of Wisconsin-Extension Associate Professor of Economics Department of Business and Economics

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Extension Education for Sustainable Communities

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  1. Extension Education for Sustainable Communities North Central CRD Program Leaders Meeting September 8-9, 2008

  2. JERRY HEMBD State Specialist Community and Economic Development University of Wisconsin-Extension Associate Professor of Economics Department of Business and Economics University of Wisconsin-Superior

  3. Overview • Context • Community Economic Development • Systems View • UWEX Sustainability Team • Evolution • Current Priorities • Challenges . . . Looking Ahead

  4. Personal Context • State specialist (Wisconsin, starting year twelve) • Program leader (Iowa, three years) • UWEX Sustainability Team co-leader (third year) • Foundations of Practice (Community Sustainability) • NNSLE (ANREP) • Sustainable Management Degree (On-line, adult students) • Local/applied commitments • Coalition for Eco-Industrial Development (industrial ecology) • Sustainable Twin Ports/Early Adopter Project (The Natural Step) • Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board (green jobs) • Wisconsin Arts Board (creative economy) • Past editor, Journal of the Community Development Society

  5. Four Challenges Posed by the Transition to Sustainability • We need more accurate models, metaphors, and measures to describe the human enterprise relative to the biosphere. • It will require a marked improvement and creativity in the arts of citizenship and governance. • The public’s discretion will need to be informed through greatly improved education. • It will require learning how to recognize and solve divergent problems, which is to say a higher level of spiritual awareness. Source: David Orr. The Last Refuge: Patriotism, Politics, and the Environment in an Age of Terror. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.

  6. The Three Waves of Community Economic Development Plus One Three Waves Portion Derived from: Blakely, Edward J., and Bradshaw, Ted K. Planning Local Economic Development: Theory and Practice. 3d ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002. Drabenstott, Mark. “Rethinking Federal Policy for Regional Economic Development.” Economic Review, Vol. 91, No. 1 (First Quarter 2006). Eberts, Randall W. “Overview of State and Local Economic Development Policies and Practice in the United States.” In Local Governance for Promoting Employment—Comparing the Performance of Japan and Seven Countries, pp. 87-102. Edited by Sylvain Giguere, Yoshio Higuchi, and the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training. Tokyo, Japan: The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, 2005. Shaffer, Ron; Deller, Steve; and Marcouiller, Dave. “Rethinking Community Economic Development.” Economic Development Quarterly, February 2006.

  7. Driver Export base Goal Attract outside firms Strategies Financial incentives Industrial parks Keys to success Government funds for subsidies and tax breaks Industrial infrastructure First WaveIndustrial Recruiting1950s to early 1980s

  8. Driver Efficiency and scale economies Goal Retention and expansion of existing firms Strategies Reduce taxes Deregulation Industry consolidation and cost cutting Keys to success Health of existing firms Training programs Social and physical resources Second WaveCost CompetitionEarly 1980s to early 1990s

  9. Driver Innovation and entrepreneurship Goal Enhance regional resources to promote industrial clusters Strategies Entrepreneurship Clusters Building regional collaboration Keys to success Distinct regional assets such as Human capital Higher education Amenities Creative economy Leadership and development of quality environment Bridging economic and community development Third WaveRegional CompetitivenessEarly 1990s to present

  10. The Fork in the Path • Current trajectory • Technical tinkering • Incremental adjustment • Paradigm change • Sustainability revolution • Radical overhaul

  11. Drivers Sustainable development and systems thinking Goal Sustainability Emerging Strategies Eco-municipality movement (The Natural Step) Localization Valuing ecosystem services Precautionary principle Local food systems Sustainable (eco) tourism Triple bottom line business Industrial ecology Alternative and renewable energy sources Fourth or “New” WaveSustainability Revolution and Paradigm ChangeEarly 1980s and still evolving

  12. The Five Characteristics of the Sustainability Revolution • Remarkable similarities among sustainability groups in overall intentions and objectives • A large and diverse number of such groups • A wide range of issues addressed by such groups • Leadership by a group of decentralizedvisionaries rather than a single charismatic figurehead • Varying modes of action: oppositional and alternative Source: Edwards, Andres. The Sustainability Revolution. New Society Publishers, 2005.

  13. Defining Sustainable Development “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Intergenerational equity Source: World Commission on Environment and Development. Our Common Future. The Brundtland Report. Oxford University Press, 1987, p. 43.

  14. Defining Sustainable Development “It contains two key concepts: the concept of “needs,” in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.” Intragenerational equity Limits Source: World Commission on Environment and Development. Our Common Future. The Brundtland Report. Oxford University Press, 1987, p. 43.

  15. Evolving Views of the Community Economy Environment Economy Environment Society Society Environment Society Economy Unconnected or silos view Interconnected or linkages view Interdependent, nested, or systems view

  16. Community Capitals Framework Financial Capital Built Capital NaturalCapital PoliticalCapital Healthy EcosystemVital EconomySocial Well-Being CulturalCapital Social Capital HumanCapital Source: Cornelia Butler Flora, North Central Regional Development Center, 2004

  17. The Five Capitals Framework Natural Capital Human Capital Manufactured Capital Economy Society Financial Capital Social Capital Natural Capital Source: Forum for the Future

  18. Empty World Full World Finite Global Ecosystem Natural Capital (Ecosystem) Source: Daly, Herman. Ecological Economics. Island Press, 2004 Manmade Capital (Economy)

  19. Eight Global-Scale Challenges Where Progress Has Been Lacking • Climate disruption • Losing the forests • Losing the land • Losing freshwater • Losing marine fisheries • Toxic pollutants • Losing biodiversity • Over-fertilizing with nitrogen Source: Speth, James Gustave. The Bridge at the Edge of the World. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2008.

  20. Conceptual Reform in Economics:Seven Big Ideas • Adjust economic scale • Shift from growth to development • Make prices tell the ecological truth • Account for nature’s contributions • Apply the precautionary principle • Revitalize commons management • Value women Source: Gardner, Gary, and Prugh, Thomas, Project Directors. State of the World 2008: Innovations for a Sustainable Economy. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008.

  21. Authors: Sherrie Gruder, UW-Extension, Madison, Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center Anna Haines, UW-Stevens Point, Center for Land Use Education Jerry Hembd, UW-Superior, Northern Center for Community and Economic Development Lisa MacKinnon, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Jane Silberstein, UW-Extension, Ashland County

  22. Impetus for Development of Toolkit • Finding Extension’s educational role • Maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing environment • Responding to questions from clientele and clientele groups that cut across program areas • Emerging “team” interest and community-level requests • Deciding to “do something”—take a first step—rather than “do it all” at once

  23. Intent and Content of Toolkit • Premise  Local government can lead by example • Focus on the internal workings of local government • Energy • Buildings • Procurement • Transportation • Human resources • Investment • Provide ideas and specific actions • Local government transformation • Models of sustainable practices

  24. Structure of Toolkit Chapters • Purpose • Strategy • Actions • Case Studies • Resources

  25. 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 City of Sheboygan Dunn County Village of Spring Green Duluth, MN

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

  27. UWEX Sustainability Team • Earlier effort in late 1980s • New effort initiated in late 2006 • State specialist and county faculty co-chairs • Twenty-nine members on roster • Thirteen county-based faculty • Ten state specialists • Six non-CNRED Extension • Five external members • Two-thirds active members • Handful of “lurkers”

  28. Evolution of Sustainability Team • Sustainability Toolkit • Rendezvous I – August 2006 – Organize • What is being done already, as far as we know, to advance the principles and concepts of sustainable community development? • What needs to be undertaken that is not already occurring? • What are the barriers and opportunities related to the identified needs? • Wrap-up and commitment to remain involved

  29. Evolution of Sustainability Team • Rendezvous Redux – November 2006 – Action Planning • Communication • Tools • Products • Team wellness • Team Protocols, Scoping Form, Plan • Engineering Sustainability in the Global Enterprise Forum – Nov/Dec 2006 • Peak oil, climate change, carbon constraints, liquid assets, ecodesign, life cycle analysis, Wall Street view of sustainability

  30. Evolution of Sustainability Team • Institutional Response – 2007 to 2008 • Team Retreat – June 2007 – Regrouping • Zoomerang survey results • Resources? (fact sheets, web, PowerPoints) • Growing eco-municipality movement and interest in The Natural Step • Eco-municipality Gathering and Sustainable Business Conference – April 2008  Extension identified as best partner for eco-municipality clearinghouse • Vision for Relevance White Paper – April 2008

  31. Evolution of Sustainability Team • Team Funding for Sustainability In-service – May 2008 (additional funding from Dean) • Face-to-face with Momentum – June 2008 – Focus on Commitment • In-service development • Capacity center/clearinghouse • Start with eco-municipality resources • Expand to support in-service and add other resources • Fact sheets/products/curriculum development • Building Community Series request – Focus on Sustainability • Evolving Partnership with Energy Independent Communities program

  32. Building Community Series 2008-2009Sustainability • Community Sustainability—Setting the Stage • Energy Efficiency • Renewable Energy • Comprehensive Community Planning and Sustainability • Sustainable Business Practices • Green Collar Jobs • Local Food Networks • Sustainability Indicators and Measures • Community Organizing for Sustainability

  33. Building Community Series on Sustainability Topic Preference Survey • Energy efficiency & renewable energy 69% • Sustainable business practices/strategies 59% • Community organizing for sustainability 59% • Local food networks 53% • Green collar jobs 53% • Ecological economics 53% • Sustainability indicators 47% • Full cost accounting & life cycle analysis 44% • Comprehensive planning and sustainability 41% • Ecological and carbon footprints 34% • Systems thinking 34% • Green building 31% • Science of rapid climate change 25% • Sustainable agriculture 22% • Sustainable forestry 19% • Industrial ecology 16% • Peak oil 12%

  34. How would you rate your knowledge of sustainability?

  35. Interest in Sustainability in Your County

  36. A Vision for Relevance • Question: Should Cooperative Extension galvanize and lead a public shift to sustainability in response to climate change? • Answer: The time is NOW for Extension to engage individuals and communities for environmental stewardship, through Sustainable Living Education. Source: A Vision for Relevance by Members of the National Network for Sustainable Living Education (an initiative of the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals) – February 14, 2008.

  37. Essential Steps to Engage with Sustainable Living Education • Educational programs must be multidisciplinary. • Educational programs must holistically address the total energy, water and carbon footprint of the lifestyle choices of our stakeholders. • Educational programs must take place now – with in-service and other professional trainings for our existing workforce. Source: A Vision for Relevance by Members of the National Network for Sustainable Living Education (an initiative of the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals) – February 14, 2008.

  38. Essential Steps to Engage with Sustainable Living Education • Educational programs must focus on how choices, decisions and behaviors affect natural resources, equity, and economic development at the local, regional, national and global scales. • Extension must be the model for others to emulate. We have to walk our talk. • With success at the personal and family level, and a constituency ready to effect community change, Extension can help communities rethink their municipal systems that constrain our options for living sustainably.

  39. Challenges • Disciplinary/programmatic silos versus organizational initiatives (and institutional inertia) • Reductionist versus systems thinking (holistic science) • Incremental versus radical changes (and opportunities for innovation) • Behavior change versus engaging at the level of values • Technological optimism versus precautionary principle • Community responses versus global problems

  40. Challenges • Short- versus long-term thinking/strategies • From carbon footprint to ecological footprint • Following versus leading • Predictable choices versus becoming agents of change • Technical tinkering versus radical overhaul • Dealing with effects versus underlying causes • Working within the system versus transformative change of the system • Weak versus strong sustainability

  41. Challenges • The world economy will double in size in fifteen years • Growth is the enemy of environment • The globalization of market failure • Moving beyond the “psychology of previous investment” • Delinking social welfare with output

  42. More Than There Is Time For • Sustainability science – focuses on the dynamic interactions between nature and society • Ecological economics – addresses the interdependencies between human economies and natural ecosystems • Systems thinking – component parts of a system can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems, rather than in isolation • Sustainability frameworks like The Natural Step and Natural Capitalism

  43. “First they laugh at you, then they ignore you, then they fight you, then you win.” Mahatma Gandhi

  44. Comments? Questions?

  45. Northern Center for Community and Economic Development Jerry Hembd, Director University of Wisconsin-SuperiorBelknap & Catlin, PO Box 2000Superior, Wisconsin 54880Phone: 715-394-8208 Fax: 715-394-8592E-mail: jhembd@uwsuper.eduWebsite: http://www.uwsuper.edu/ncced

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