Transcript Document

Measuring Success:
Indicators for Strategic
Approaches to Sustainable
Community Planning
September 30, 2008
CSIN Learning Event
Alaya Boisvert
Sarah Cheevers
Erin Romanchuk
Karen Stroebel
Agenda
• Why Indicators ?
• Introduction to the
Framework for Strategic
Sustainable Development
• Indicators research
design & results
• How our research relates
to you and your work
• Questions & Discussion
Why Indicators?
We measure what we
care about and we
care about what we
measure.
D. Meadows
The Framework for Strategic
Sustainable Development (FSSD)
1. A decision making framework
rooted in scientific consensus.
2. A process to help organizations
and communities to plan towards
sustainability.
Backcasting
Backcasting
Sustainability Principles
time
Our current situation: a
metaphor
life supporting
resources
declining
consumption of
life supporting
resources
increasing
The Debate on Details
Systems Perspective
Human beings in
Society in the
Biosphere on the
Earth
… uses a Systems …
Perspective
by
observing
observes natural cycles
Natural Cycles
… uses a Systems …
Perspective
by
observing
observes natural cycles
Natural Cycles
… uses a Systems …
Perspective
by
observing
observes natural cycles
Natural Cycles
Open System
with respect
to energy
“Photosynthesis
pays the bills”
Closed System
with respect to
matter
1) Nothing disappears
2) Everything disperses
… uses a Systems …
Perspective
by
observing
observes natural cycles
Natural Cycles
Open System
with respect
to energy
“Photosynthesis
pays the bills”
Slow
geological
cycles materials
from the
Earth’s crust
Closed System
with respect to
matter
1) Nothing disappears
2) Everything disperses
Sustainability is
about the ability of
these cycles to run
forever.
… observes natural cycles
… and how we influence Natural Cycles
… and how we influence Natural Cycles
… and how we influence Natural Cycles
1
Relatively large
flows of materials
from the Earth’s
crust
… and how we influence Natural Cycles
1
Relatively large
flows of materials
from the Earth’s
crust
2
Introduce
persistent
compounds
foreign to nature
… and how we influence Natural Cycles
3
Physically inhibit
ability of nature to
run cycles
1
Relatively large
flows of materials
from the Earth’s
crust
2
Introduce
persistent
compounds
foreign to nature
… and how we influence Natural Cycles
3
4
Physically inhibit
ability of nature to
run cycles
Barriers to
people meeting
their basic
needs
worldwide
1
Relatively large
flows of materials
from the Earth’s
crust
2
Introduce
persistent
compounds
foreign to nature
Sustainability Principles
In a Sustainable Society, we will reduce and
eliminate our contribution to the systematic:
4) …undermining of
people’s capacity
to meet their needs.
4
Sustainability Principles
In a Sustainable Society, we will reduce and
eliminate our contribution to the systematic:
3
4
4) …undermining of
people’s capacity to
meet their needs.
3) …increase in
physical degradation
of nature.
Sustainability Principles
In a Sustainable Society, we will reduce and
eliminate our contribution to the systematic:
3
4
2
4) …undermining
people’s capacity to
meet their needs.
3) …increase in physical
degradation of
nature.
2) …increase of
synthetic substances
created by society
Sustainability Principles
In a Sustainable Society, we will reduce and
eliminate our contribution to the systematic:
3
4
1
2
4) …undermining of
people’s capacity to
meet their needs.
3) …increase in physical
degradation of
nature.
2) …increase of
synthetic substances
created by society
1) …increase of
substances from the
earth’s crust
Backcasting
A method in which the
future desired state is
envisioned and steps
are then defined to
attain that state.
“ABCD”
Sustainability
Principles
Right direction?
Flexible Platform?
Return on investment?