Lecture-5 Intro to Sustainability

TREN 1F90 Introduction to Sustainability

TREN 1F90Introduction to SustainabilityDefinitionsenvironmentpolicyscalejurisdictionDefining Sustainable DevelopmentAbout Interdisciplinarity

Definitions, tools and frameworks

environment in-'vI-r&(n)-m&nt, -'vI(-&)r(n)-[n] 1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded2 a : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival b : the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community.- Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2004

environment[n] the totality of surrounding conditions.

environmentaleffectsare felt, and modified, in 3 main ways - through the flows of:MATERIALSENERGYINFORMATION-> fundamental spheres of influence for sustainability

policya course or general plan of action to be adopted by a government, party, person, etc. - Concise Oxford Dictionary

policya selected, planned line of conduct in the light of which individual decisions are made and coordination achieved - Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary

ENVI conceptual tools

scale

- an ordered series of graduated quantities, values, degrees, etc.

- relative magnitude - Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary

scalemay be:- physical / geographicalranking based upon size, dimension, geographical subunit, etc.- ecologicalindividual, deme, community, population- jurisdictionallocal, municipal, regional, federal, global

scale earthcontinentcountryprovinceregionmunicipalityneighbourhoodhouseholdindividual

United Nations..governments..ngos / community groups. individualsGLOBAL / MACRO

LOCAL / MICROspatial jurisdictional / decision making

jurisdiction- the legal power to administer and enforce the law- the exercising of this power- the region within which this power is valid or in which a person has authority- authority - Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary

Defining SustainableDevelopment

Sustainable development:meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Our Common Future

Elements of sustainabilityEnvironment EconomySociety- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

the sustainable development triangle

Elements of sustainabilityEnvironment EconomySociety- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

Elements of sustainabilityEnvironment - World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987biodiversitymaterialsenergybiophysical interactions

Elements of sustainabilityEconomy- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987money and capitalemploymenttechnological growthinvestmentmarket forces

Elements of sustainabilitySociety- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)equity (dependence / independence)quality of lifeinstitutional structures and organizationpolitical structures

The 3 Es Model EcologyEconomyEquity

The Healthy Community Model

Sustainability: PROBLEMSDepletion of finite resourcesfuels, soil, minerals, speciesOver-use of renewable resourcesforests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public fundsPollutionair, water, soilInequityeconomic, political, social, genderSpecies lossendangered species and spaces- WCED, 1987

Sustainability: SOLUTIONSCyclical material useemulate natural cycles; 3 RsSafe reliable energyconservation, renewable energy, substitution, interim measuresLife-based interestshealth, creativity, communication, coordination, appreciation, learning, intellectual and spiritual development

Two key sustainable development concepts: EQUITY

LIMITS TO GROWTH -WCED 1987

Two key sustainable development concepts:

the concept of needs, particularly the essential needs of the worlds poor EQUITY

-WCED 1987


EQUITY the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality something that is fair and just.

-dictionary.com

Contrast with:

EQUALITY the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability. uniform character, as of motion or surface. -dictionary.com


the idea of limitations (ecological, technological, and social) which affect the environments ability to meet present and future needs LIMITS TO GROWTH -WCED 1987


LIMITS TO GROWTH- quantitative and qualitative limits- living within the regenerative and assimilative capacities of the planet -WCED 1987

Sustainable development...implies limitsNot predefined absolute limits, but limitations imposed by:the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activitiesadaptability of human social and political organizationtechnology

Sustainable development and economic growthEconomic growth must be made:less material intensive (dematerialization of the economy)less energy intensivemore equitable in its impacts Economic growth may be reduced or curtailed to meet limitations imposed by environment, technology, or society

Institutional gaps impeding sustainable development2 major gaps:fragmented decision makingnarrow mandates, jurisdictional rigidity, lack of communication and coordinationlack of accountabiityfailure to make the bodies whose policy actions degrade the environment responsible for their actions

materials and energy

Obsolescent frontier civilization:ENERGYCONVENTIONALURBAN SYSTEMMATERIALSHEATWASTE &TOXINSOne-way flow of materials and energyCONSUMERSOCIETYNON-RENEWABLEand RENEWABLEHIGHTHROUGHPUT

CONSERVERSOCIETYSustainable civilization:Cyclical flows of materials Appropriate energy usageEnergy EfficiencyRENEWABLE Waste MinimizationToxics controlLOWTHROUGHPUTENERGYMATERIALSLow-qualityHeat EnergyLow-volumeNontoxic Waste Materials

informationand decision making

Sustainable development...considers future and present needs when making decisions about:resource and energy usetechnological developmentdirection of investmentssocial, political & institutional change...etc. etc. etc.

TRADITIONALDECISION MAKING

TRADITIONALDECISION MAKING NON-PARTICIPATORY

FRAGMENTED

SOCIETYENVIRONMENTECONOMYTRADITIONALDECISION MAKINGECOSYSTEM-BASEDDECISION MAKINGECO-SYSTEMHEALTH

SOCIETYENVIRONMENTECONOMYECOSYSTEM-BASEDDECISION MAKING PARTICIPATORY

INTEGRATEDECO-SYSTEMHEALTH

Fragmented decision-makingISSUE federal /nationalmunicipalpublicprivateprovincial /stateregionalotherinterestscommunitygroups- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

Integrated decision-making- after Barrett and Kidd, 1991

decision making

reactive

decision making

reactive (end of pipe)

decision making

anticipatory

reactive

decision making

anticipatory(planning for change) reactive

decision making radical

anticipatory

reactive

decision making radical(fundamental; root causes) anticipatory

reactive

decision making

radical

anticipatory

reactive Industry

change in demand - less consumption - alternative consumption

change in process- clean technology- elimination of toxics

sewage treatment plant- end of pipe solution

environmentandeconomyandsociety

environmentandeconomy

environmentoreconomy

Northern Telecombased in Canada42 plants in various countriesmanufacturer of electronic components (telecommunications)1988: 1000+ tonnes of CFCs per year1992: 0 tonnes of CFCs used per yearHistorical example:

Original Process1) raw components and grease2) manufacturing and assembly process3) clean off grease with CFCs4) finished product

Revised process1) raw components, no grease2) manufacturing and assembly process3) no need to clean off grease with CFCs4) finished product

Environment AND Economy$1 million to develop new process$4 million savings in first year (no CFCs)$50 million savings to year 2000international environmental prize -> great publicitycontract with Mexico for industrial innovation (very lucrative)

radical

anticipatory

reactive

radical

anticipatory

reactive Industry

radical

anticipatory

reactive Industry

change in demand for product

change in industrial process

sewage treatment plant for wastes

radical

anticipatory

reactive Industry



sewage treatment plant for wastes

Biodiversity

apply landscape ecology principles to human activity

establish national parks (12%) to protect habitats

zoo / seed bank for endangered species Transportation

radical

anticipatory

reactive Industry



sewage treatment plant for wastesBiodiversity

apply landscape ecology principles to human activity

establish national parks (12%) to protect habitats

zoo / seed bank for endangered species Transportation

complete redesign of our cities

alternative fuels for cars

catalytic converters

valuesideologystrategiesvalues, ideologies and strategies

interactions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral

interactions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesideologiesDefinable sets of values constituteindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moralShort form summary of basic values that eliminates the need to engage in deep philosophical investigations every time action is required

interactions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesideologiesDefinable sets of values constitute(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)

individual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral

interactions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesideologiesstrategiesDefinable sets of values constitute(e.g. Industrial Capitalism, Marxism, Christianity,Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism, Judaism)

which give rise topractical applications of ideologically consistent ideas, actions, policies and programsindividual, cultural, social, spiritual, moral

interactions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesideologystrategies

environmental valuesvaluesideologystrategies holistic perspective

everything is connected to everything else parts can only be understood in the context of the whole

nature as a living organism or system

(after Macdonald, D. 1991. The Politics of Pollution. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)

environmental valuesvaluesideologystrategies

humans living within nature -> inherent value of other organisms and inanimate objects

limits to growth(after Macdonald, D. 1991. The Politics of Pollution. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto: p.33)


appropriate technology

matching the scope and scale of technology to the task at hand principles of durability and efficiency recognition that new technology brings both benefits and problems


appropriate scale

appropriate sizes for institutions, social organizations, communities

accessible and accountable decision-making

in public and private sectors

environmental ideologiesvaluesideologystrategies technological optimism

sustainable development (Brundtland Commission)

social ecology (Murray Bookchin) deep ecology (Arne Naess)

ecofeminism (Franoise DEaubonne)

various green political parties

many variants: e.g., alliances with socialism, feminism, peace movement, etc. examples of

reform environmentalism (traditional bureacracies and political action)

direct action and intervention (e.g. Earth First!) single-issue lobbying / intervention groups (e.g., Save the Rouge Valley System)

permanent organizations (e.g., Greenpeace)

alliances and coalitions (e.g., Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain)

round tables, forums (e.g., National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy) environmental strategies and strategists

interactions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesideologystrategies feedback loop allows for reflection, re-evaluation, adaptive management

ideologyinteractions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesstrategies if no feedback loop: inflexible, unresponsive

ideologyinteractions amongstvalues / ideologies / strategiesvaluesstrategiesdogma

Sustainability: How do we move from rhetoric to reality?

principles

principlespolicy

principlespolicypractice

To be useful, principles of sustainability must:be easily understoodbe applicable in many contextsbe transferrable across scalestranslate well from fundamental values into applied policy and practical actionidentify possibilities for radical transformative change AND positive incremental change

SomePrinciples of Sustainability in the literature:Our Common Future (WCED 1987)Principles defining sustainable development (OSEM 1989)Defining a sustainable society (Robinson et al . 1990,1996)Agenda 21 (1992)Six principles of sustainable development (ORTEE 1992)Guideposts for a sustainable future (Nickerson 1993)Framework for Sustainable Development (CIDA 1994)The Natural Step (Robert et al . 1994)Sustainability Principles (ORTEE 1994), etc.

Recent compilation of Principles of Sustainability

http://iisd1.iisd.ca/sd/principle.asp

-IISD (Winnipeg)

Guideposts for Sustainability

(after Nickerson, 1993)

Activities are sustainable when they:

1.Use materials in continuous cycles.2.Use continuously reliable sources of energy.3.Encourage desirable human traits(equity; creativity; communication; coordination; appreciation; intellectual and spiritual development).One example:

Guideposts for SustainabilityActivities are not sustainable when they:

4.Require continual inputs of non-renewable resources.5.Use renewable resources faster than their rate of renewal. 6. Cause cumulative degradation of the environment.7. Require resources in quantities that could never be available for people everywhere.8. Lead to the extinction of other life forms.

About Interdisciplinarity

What do you answer if someone asks you, What is your major? What are your career goals? What is your ethnic origin?

career goalsacademic majorethnocultural identityNormative categories

doctorlawyerpolice officermechanicparamedic Normative categories

literaturepsychologymathematicsbiologysociology Normative categories disciplines

disciplinaryMultidisciplinaryInterdisciplinaryTransdisciplinary- what are the differences?Reference: Stefanovic, Ingrid. 1996. Interdisciplinarity and Wholeness: Lessons from Eco-Research. Environments 23(3): 74-94.

Disciplinary:

of or pertaining to a discrete branch of learning

knowledge within generally accepted boundaries

Disciplinary:

often associated with discipline-specific vocabularies, methods, and assumptions

Examples of disciplines: sociology, philosophy, biology, political science, chemistry, economics, geography, mathematics...

Multidisciplinary:

standard disciplinary approaches are applied to a common research question, problem or issue

insights achieved through an approach which is essentially additive rather than integrative

Multidisciplinary:

a spontaneous coalescence of these disparate approaches is anticipated

arguably the approach which produces the most substantive research results

Interdisciplinary:

the issue, problem, or concern defines the disciplinary expertise which is brought to bear

arguably the most effective policy-oriented problem-solving approach

Interdisciplinary:

a level of integration which involves more than an additive analysis of the disciplinary perspectives insights are achieved through an approach which is explicitly integrative -> an a priori attempt is made at synthesis across disciplinary boundaries

Transdisciplinary:

recognizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of reality and knowledge

Goal: distinctions amongst disciplines are eliminated completely

Transdisciplinary:

an attempt to transcend the dynamics of a dialectical synthesis to grasp the total dynamics of reality as a whole

Examples of transdisciplinary endeavour:general systems theoryphenomenology

******The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. *The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. *The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. *The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. *The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. *The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. *The three interlinked elements in the Bruntland Commissions sustainable development equation are environment, economy, and society. **********************************************

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Lecture-5 Intro to Sustainability