Building a Healthy Economy

October, 2009

APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Building Economy, Community & Environment

Before any development, we should first ask ourselves three questions:

What is already here?

What does nature allow us to do here?

What does nature help us to do here?

Wendell Berry

“Warming of the climate system is now unequivocal. Global atmospheric

concentrations GHG’s have increased

markedly as a result of human activities and

now far exceed pre-industrial levels”

2007 report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change

Carbon Emissions: Food vs. Household

Declining Land Base

Worldwide, available productive land has decreased from 14 acres per person to

3.7 acres per person over the past century

Global Ecological Footprint

Shipping increased 10 times from 1950 – 2000.

Average bite of food in the United States travels 1,500 miles

We’ve embarked on the beginning of the last days

of the age of oil.

Mike BowlinChairman and CEO, ARCO (1999)

Sources & Sinks

Essential ecosystem functions can be thought of as “sources & sinks”.

Sources, both renewable and non-renewable

provide the materials and energy needed for our livelihoods and economy.

Sinks assimilate our wastes and bi-products.

Sources & Sinks

Sources & Sinks = NATURAL CAPITAL

Natural Capital = Rural Wealth

Natural Capital and the Economy

Historically, natural capital has been

overused and undervalued,leading to high rates of

degradation and low wealth accumulation in

rural communities.

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1910 1930 1950 1970 1990

Input Farming Marketing

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Sustainable development is locally rooted

• Sustainable development fits within the ecosystem

• Sustainable development adds value to raw materials and shortens the distance between producers and consumers

• Sustainable development builds self-reliance and cooperation

• Sustainable development lasts indefinitely

GREEN JOB CATEGORIES

• Restoration and Mitigation

• Efficiency and Waste Reduction

• Renewable Energy

• Health, Self Reliance and Localization

Restoration and Mitigation

• Conversion of brown fields

• Building adaptation and restoration

• Soil, forest and habitat restoration

• Pollution prevention technologies

• Sustainable forestry, farming and fisheries

Efficiency & Waste Reduction

• Recycling, reuse, remanufacturing

• Public transit, fuel efficient cars, trucks, tractors and equipment

• Green building, LEED

• Heating and cooling, LED lighting

• Waste and water conservation systems

Renewable Energy

• Solar – photovoltaic, solar water heaters

• Wind

• Geothermal

• Waste to fuel, biomass

Health, Self-reliance & Localization

• Organic, sustainable foods and farming

• Food preservation, seed saving

• “Re-skilling” services and materials

• Downtown revitalization

• Healthy eating, wellness, prevention

What is the Economic Potential?

UN study (2008) projected doubling in market for “environmental products and services” by 2020; 20 million jobs in sustainable energy alone

Duke University study (2008) cited strong job growth in multiple green collar sectors

*Importance of “value chains”

Farmers Markets in the United States, 1970 - 2000

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1970 1980 1990 2000

Survey – Key findings

• Estimated 1,617 customers on that day, 898 “active shoppers”

• Increase of 750 customers over 2007 (partly due to time of year)

• Estimated 10 – 25% growth over last year

Virginian’s Spend $14.8 Billion on food each year

$8.9 Billion is purchased from out of state

If Virginia Consumers bought just 15% of their food directly from local

farms, farmers would earn $2.2 Billion of new income each year.

“Small Marts” – small firms, household businesses, non-profits and local

government services – account for 58% of the U.S. unlikely to move overseas.

Michael Shuman

State and local payments to large firms now total $50 Billion per year.

Peters and Fisher

Study of an Illinois community: Local vs Chain Restaurant – 25% more economic impact retail

– 63%; services 90%