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We may finally be on the verge of a tipping point wherein mainstream attention to identifying and mitigating a company’s carbon impact will become a core strategic priority for all businesses. But what comes next? The reality is, global warming is just one of the detrimental impacts of unchecked business activity. During this time of seismic shift in awareness of the interconnectedness of things, the opportunity is to take a longer, more systemic view of the many ways our activities impact the world around us. By doing so, we will begin to anticipate and respond more quickly to both the needs and the enormous world of possibility in front of us to innovate for a whole, healed world. Be inspired by this thought leader who is working with leaders around the globe to help us all understand and ultimately align our activities with the basic carrying capacity of the earth.
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BEYOND CARBON:Carrying Capacity and the Ecological Footprint of Business
Mathis Wackernagel
BEYOND CARBON: Carrying Capacity and the Ecological Footprint of Business
Mathis Wackernagel, PhD Sustainable Brands, June 1, 2009
We are entering a new era…
Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors
Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors
The Ecological Footprint
CARBON footprint
www.footprintnetwork.org/atlas
PIONEER COUNTRIES SO FAR Switzerland Japan United Arab Emirates Belgium Ecuador Luxembourg Finland EU
My life (1962 – onwards)
Annual Deficit adds up to a global Ecological Debt
UN’s Most Moderate Scenario My life
From nicety to necessity…
15
Sustainability Wedges and an End to Overshoot (WBCSD)
20b
Impact: The Eco-Footprint of a General Retailer (vintage poster facsimile)
Energy company (reduce impact) Waste management (increase value) Cement production (compare to competition) Finance (analyze investments) Food (demonstrate commitment) Construction (track performance) Packaging (compare to competition) Electronics (drive innovation)
Ecological Footprint thinking:
• You can pinpoint the challenge: a complex, ecologically constrained world
• You can more easily communicate benefits of aggressive sustainability efforts
• You can identify business risks & opportunities
