Transcript Natural Step Framework - UW

The Natural Step
Framework
Presentation at Living Green Conference
Duluth, Minnesota
February 2, 2008
Introduction
• The Natural Step framework
• Eco-municipalities
• Early Adopters Project
The Natural Step
The Natural Step is an
international non-profit
research, education and
advisory organization that
uses a science-based,
systems framework to help
organizations, individuals
and communities take
meaningful steps toward
sustainability.
Who uses it?
Swedish Ecomunicipalities
City of Madision, WI
The Natural Step Framework
1. A shared science- and
systems-based definition
for sustainability
2. A decision-making
framework and process to
help organizations and
communities plan for
sustainability
3. A compass to help us know
if we’re moving in the right
direction
Find fundamental principles of
indisputable relevance, and
thereafter ask the advice of
others on how to apply them.
Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt
Why are we
talking about
sustainability
?
Our planet is in trouble
Growing Awareness
Understanding
the Sustainability Challenge
The Funnel as a Metaphor
The Sustainability Challenge
*Resources
*Ecosystem services
declining
increasing
Environmental?
Economic?
Social?
Cultural?
*Global population
*Demand for resources
*Demand for ecosystem
services
Time
Ecosystem Services
Some examples:
• Purification of water and air
• Regulation of chemical composition of atmosphere/oceans
• Decomposition of wastes
• Natural pest & disease control by birds, insects, bats &
other organisms
• Formation of topsoil & soil fertility
• Protection against harmful cosmic radiation
• Regulation of local and global climate
• Pollination
• Primary producers of basic necessities – food, fiber, water
The Sustainability Challenge
Dimensions of Sustainability
Society
Economy Environment
society
economy
environment
Conventional Thinking
Traditionally, we try to
understand complex
systems by reducing the
whole and studying the
individual parts.
This is called
reductionist thinking.
Systems Thinking
But…
We know that the properties
of systems depend on the
relationships between the
parts as much as the parts
themselves.
When you dissect the
system, you destroy the
pattern of relationships.
Systems Thinking
We must
look at
the whole ...
… and not
get stuck
on details
A Systems Perspective
The Earth as a system
Sustainability – a Systems
Perspective
Open System
with respect to
energy
Closed System
with respect to
matter
1) Nothing disappears
2) Everything disperses
Photosynthesis is the
primary producer
Slow geological
cycles materials from
the Earth’s
crust
Humans are
inherently part
of this system
Sustainability is
about the ability of
these cycles to run
forever.
Sustainability – Mechanisms for
Un-sustainability
3
4
4. Barriers to
people meeting
their needs
worldwide
3. A systematic
physical
deterioration
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
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
3
and, in that society…
4
2
1
people are not subject to conditions that
systematically undermine their capacity to
meet their needs.
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
3
4
2
1
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)
Global Human Needs
Protection
Affection
Subsistence
Understanding
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN
NEEDS
Freedom
Participation
Identity
Idleness
Creation
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
Sustainability Objective 2
Reduce and eventually
eliminate our contribution to
the buildup of synthetic
substances produced by
society.
Inefficient use
Efficient use
Persistent and
unnatural
Abundant and
breakdown easily
Dissipative use
Tight technical cycles
Sustainability Objective 3
Reduce and eventually
eliminate our contribution to
the ongoing physical
degradation of Nature.
Inefficient use of
resources and land
Resources from poorly
managed ecosystems
Efficient use
of resources and land
Resources from well-managed
ecosystems use
Sustainability Objective 4
Reduce and eventually
eliminate our contribution
to conditions that
undermine people’s
ability to meet their basic
needs.
Unsafe working and
living environments
Safe working and living
environments
Economic barriers
Sufficient resources for
livelihood
Political oppression
Political freedom
“Knowing where we
want to go will help us
get there”
Key Concepts
Backcasting from Principles
and the
ABCD Methodology
Backcasting
current
reality
...looking ’back’ to the
present and designing
strategic, step-wise
actions...
time
Backcasting from
Sustainability Principles
current
reality
...looking ’back’ to the
present and designing
strategic, step-wise
solutions...
time
Generic Planning Framework
“D” Step
Right direction?
Flexible Platform?
Return on
investment?
time
Review - Key Concepts
Principles of
Sustainability
The Funnel
Backcasting
A growing movement
Community
stories
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
For Additional Information
Sustainable Twin Ports Contacts
• Jan Karon – 218-722-7200;
[email protected]
• Jerry Hembd – 715-394-8208;
[email protected]
Thank You