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WELCOME TO THE

WELCOME TO THE. Hosted by: Mark Stewart, Senior Project Manager, Office of Sustainability Jen Shaffer, Assistant Professor, Anthropology. Sustainability: Easy Concept, Hard Conversation. Mark Stewart Senior Project Manager Office of Sustainability. Easy Concept….

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WELCOME TO THE

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  1. WELCOME TO THE Hosted by: Mark Stewart, Senior Project Manager, Office of Sustainability Jen Shaffer, Assistant Professor, Anthropology

  2. Sustainability:Easy Concept, Hard Conversation Mark Stewart Senior Project Manager Office of Sustainability

  3. Easy Concept… What does sustainability mean to you?

  4. The most commonly referenced definition of Sustainability / Sustainable Development: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” -Brundtland Commission, 1987

  5. “Sustainability is equity over time. As a value, it refers to giving equal weight in your decisions to the future as well as the present. You might think of it as extending the Golden Rule through time, so that you do unto future generations as you would have them do unto you.” -Robert Gilman, Director, Context Institute “A transition to sustainability involves moving from linear to cyclical processes and technologies. The only processes we can rely on indefinitely are cyclical; all linear processes must eventually come to an end.” -Dr. Karl Henrik-Robert, MD, founder of The Natural Step, Sweden “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” -Aldo Leopold

  6. Sustainability is about harmony. It is a process that exists at the delicate balance between environmental health,social justice, and economic development.

  7. For the Ecologically Literate: For the Economically Literate: Eco-nomics Debt Ecological Footprint Withdraws 1.5 $50T. 1997 USD Ecosystem Services Interest 1 $33T. 1997 USD Nature Savings

  8. Ecological Footprint Withdraws For the Ecologically Literate: For the Economically Literate: If everyone consumed as much as the average American 5 $165T. 1997 USD Huge Debt! Ecosystem Services Interest 1 $33T. 1997 USD Nature Savings

  9. For the Ecologically Literate: For the Economically Literate: Eco-nomics Sustainability? Ecological Footprint Withdraws 1 $33T. 1997 USD Ecosystem Services Interest 1 $33T. 1997 USD Nature Savings

  10. Sustainability is inevitable (we can’t live beyond our means forever),but we have much control over how and when we get there!(And sooner is definitely better than later!) ~1987

  11. Live within the biological productivity of Earth. i.e. Decrease gross consumption ~ 33% from 2010 levels The Greatest Challenge of the 21st Century: Greatly decrease per capita consumption Share resources equitably Increase per capita consumption?

  12. Hard Conversation… How do we achieve sustainability? What are some barriers? What are some solutions?

  13. Signs of Progress!US per capita emissions at lowest level in 50 years! ~ Half from economic slowdown ~ Half from cleaner energy sources!

  14. Signs of Progress!Bike commuting increased 47% in US (and 171% in DC) between 2000 and 2011!

  15. Signs of Progress!Approximately 50 million US households grow some of their own food!

  16. Signs of Progress!We are on the verge of a Sharing Revolution!

  17. “If you look at the science about what is happening on Earth and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t understand data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this Earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse.” -Paul Hawken

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