2009 The Natural Step

Accelerating Change towards

Sustainable Development Barcelona June 2009

Stanley Nyoni The Natural Step Internationalwww.thenaturalstep.org

2009 The Natural Step

Agenda

1.Introduction2.Sustainability overview3.Framework for Startegic Sustainable Development 4.Case studies5.Discussion•How does all this relate to the spanish context•What next ? Potential areas for collaboration

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Total Systems Thinking

VVVV: Value is created by satisfying human needs (improving genuine quality of life), in an economically

viable way for designers, producers and customers in the supply chainIIII: Ecological impacts derive from wastes and emissions entering the bio-sphere and physical

degradation of eco-systems

The strategic ‘single bottom line’ objective is to greatly increase V/IV/IV/IV/I (by ‘Factor X’)

Resources Needs

Eart

h’s

Cru

st

Bio

-S

ph

ere

Uti

lisati

on

“Permanent” Capture

ResourceProcessing Manufacturing

Goods &Service Delivery

FarmingFishing

Mining

Wastes and Emissions

Recycling

VVVV

IIII

Materials& Energy

ProductsService

Platforms

Genuine quality of life has material

foundations

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Strategy & Sustainable Development

Vision and Strategy Development

Prototyping – Concrete Projects

Capacity building

- Communication

- Learning programs

- Engagement processes

- Measurement and evaluation

Create an overarching Framework for SD, vision and strategies, supporting social well-being.

Move forward with projects on the ground in a coordinated and focused way; create a process/culture where new initiatives can grow.

Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

2009 The Natural Step

The Natural Step Organization

International NGOScientific consensusTNS FrameworkLeadership and Role models

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Core purpose

To develop a genuine commitment to,

and competence in,

sustainable development throughout society.

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1.Scientific research

2. Capacity building

3. Effective communication

Our strategic objectives

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Our Approach

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1. Research – Real Change

…Trans-disciplinary, Cross-sector and Cross-culturalResearch and Implementation for Strategic Sustainable Development…

…All possible due to common Core Concepts for SSD (CORE)

…Funded by 5 five leading Swedish Research funding agencies…

CORECORECORECORE SPIRITSPIRITSPIRITSPIRIT

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Swedish Eco-municipalities

City of Madision, WI

2. Role Models

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3. Movement for Change

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Sustainability Overview

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The Biosphere / the earthSystem

Success

Strategy

Action

Tools

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Slow geological cycles (vulcano eruptions and weathering)

Slow geological cycles (sedimentation and mineralization)

Open system for energy

Sustainability is about the ability of these cycles to run indefinitely

Cycles of Nature

Closed system for matter1)Nothing disappears2)Everything disperse

«Photosytesis provides new structure »

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How do we destroy the system?

Persistent compounds foreign to nature

Physically inhibit nature’s ability to run cycles

Large flows of materials from the Earth’s crust

Barriers to people meeting their basic needs worldwide

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Natural and Human wealth

Two real sources of wealth

• wealth that flows from our use of the earth’s life support systems = natural capital

• wealth that flows from the use of our hands, brains and spirits = human capital

All else - money, machines, institutions - is derived from these two primary sources of wealth.

2009 The Natural Step

Total Systems Thinking

VVVV: Value is created by satisfying human needs (improving genuine quality of life), in an economically

viable way for designers, producers and customers in the supply chainIIII: Ecological impacts derive from wastes and emissions entering the bio-sphere and physical

degradation of eco-systems

The strategic ‘single bottom line’ objective is to greatly increase V/IV/IV/IV/I (by ‘Factor X’)

Resources Needs

Eart

h’s

Cru

st

Bio

-S

ph

ere

Uti

lisati

on

“Permanent” Capture

ResourceProcessing Manufacturing

Goods &Service Delivery

FarmingFishing

Mining

Wastes and Emissions

Recycling

VVVV

IIII

Materials& Energy

ProductsService

Platforms

Genuine quality of life has material

foundations

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Well-being

• Basic needs

• Interdependence

• Diversity

• Self-organization

Key characteristics of successful societies

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What are our human needs?

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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

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Human needs

Subsis-

tence Idleness

Partici-

pation

Protection AffectionUnder-

standing

Creation Identity Freedom

Manfred Max-Neef et al

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• Definable

• Same in all cultures (but different satisfiers)

• Not interchangeable

• Possible to satisfy globally within ecological constraints

• Difference between needs and wants

Human Needs

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Satisfaction of needs

need Satisfier« First objective solution»

Side

effects

-

Inhibiting Satisfiers

while satisfying one need, may well

hinder its satisfaction in the future

and/or impede another need from

being met at the same time.

+

Synergic satisfier

While satisfying one need, allows for its satisfaction in the future and/or of other needs at the same time

Dynamic of

change towards

Sustainable

Societies

-

Creating

global

value

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Classification of needs

• Destroyers

• Pseudo-Satisfiers

• Inhibitors

• Singular Satisfiers

• Synergic Satisfiers

2009 The Natural StepSource: International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme

NOAA

U.S

. Bu

reau

of th

e C

en

su

s

Ma

cken

zie

et a

l (2002)

Ric

ha

rds (1

991

), WR

I (1990

)

FAO

• Global-scale changes that affect

functioning of Earth System

• Much more than climate change

• Socio-economic as well as biophysical

What is Global Change?

Reid

& M

iller

(1989)

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We are in a funnel

DecliningDecliningDecliningDecliningresources and ecosystem services

IncreasingIncreasingIncreasingIncreasingdemand for resources and ecosystem services

Time

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Social issues and Environment

Global foot print network

The Link.

Healthy productive ecosystems are

the source of the materials that satisfy

human needs.

Residents of countries with severe bio-capacity

constraints are often among the countries with

the largest human development challenges.

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Climate change Impact

The Link.

IPCC: Impacts

The poorest of the poor in the world – and this

includes poor people in prosperous societies –

are going to be the worst hit. People who are

poor are least able to adapt to climate change.”

(Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC)

In some African countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 20% by 2020.

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Sustainability Development

Global foot print network

The challenge.

How, given the current situation, do we manage

and allocate, today, the Earth’s resources for the

survival of a projected global population of 9 to

10 billion people in 2050 – and for their offspring

indefinitely?

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Sustainable development

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Waves of innovationSource: The Natural Edge Project (2005)

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System

Success

Strategy

Action

Tools

2. Success

Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

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Interaction with the System

Persistent compounds foreign to nature

Physically inhibit nature’s ability to run cycles

Large flows of materials from the Earth’s crust

Barriers to people meeting their basic needs worldwide

Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

2009 The Natural Step

...concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust,

...concentrations of substances produced by society,

...degradation by physical means,

...people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing...

and, in that society...

System

Success

Strategy

Action

Tools

2. Success

Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

2009 The Natural Step

Strategic Plannig Process

Awareness

Baseline

Creative Solutions

Decide on Priorities

Present

Future

Is it a step in the right direction?Is it a flexible platform?Is it a good return on investment?

Copyright © 2007 The Natural Step

2009 The Natural Step

Cases

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Rohm and Haas

Case Study

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Sustainability Evaluation of PVC using TNS

Framework

• Addressed by a leading environmental authority in the UK and

chaired by J Porritt of the PVC Coordination Group

• Forum for the Future – licensee of TNS in the UK

• What would it take to make PVC fully sustainable?

• 2020 Vision Exercise

– Involving 36 stakeholders at Tesco headquarters, UK which

included representatives from ECVM,ECPI, ESPA, and Hydro

Polymers and EVC.

• Report Produced in July 2000

– Based on TNS methodology

– Interviews with Industry and Greenpeace

– Identifies 5 key sustainability challenges

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1. No more carbon to atmosphere

2. Controlled-loop recycling

3. No accumulation from emissions

4. Sustainable additives

5. Engaging the whole value chain

5 Key PVC Sustainability Challenges

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Co-creation of distance learning- throughout value chain -

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Distance learning, 10 credits

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Vision and Strategy Development

Prototyping – on the ground in business

Capacity building

• Communication

• Learning programmes

• Engagement processes

• Measurement and evaluation

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Vision and Strategy Development

SustainabilityProject team

Ver. 1Final

version

Leadership team

Leadership Review

Ver. 2Ver. 1Review

Prototyping initiatives

Workshops with regions, businesses and functions

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Vision & Strategy

MINED MATERIALS

MAN-MADE SUBSTANCES

PHYSICAL DEGRADATION

SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES

AS CONSTRAINTS

HUMAN NEEDS

Compelling Vision

CoreValues

Big Goals

20XX

Compelling Vision:

• What will be the role and responsibility for your industry and company in a sustainable future?• What human needs will your company enable in a

sustainable society? • How will your company be unique and differentiated?

Core Values:

• What characterizes your company – identity, personality? • What values will guide you in a sustainable future?

Big Goals 20XX

• What do we want to achieve by 20XX to movetowards fulfilling the system conditions?

• What would visionary and restorative goals look like?

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Prototyping: Sustainability at a Product Level

• Awareness • Assessment• Communication

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Sustainability Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA)

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Leadershi

p

Management

Level

All levels

Operations

levels

All levels

Management level

Capacity building

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Communications & Employee Engagement

BLOG

SD WEBSITE

EMPLOYEE BOOK CLUB

2009 The Natural Step

Learning Programme: SD Champion Network

PURPOSE: To develop in-house sustainability expertise that supports the company

sustainability journey from the bottom up.

You will:

• Be the voice for the Company’s sustainable development efforts – at home & around the world.

• Be an enabler, helping to integrate sustainability throughout the organization.

• Be an educator, contributing to the development of your colleagues’ understanding and ability to

incorporate sustainability into their day-to-day work.

• Be a critical resource within the company, acting as an in-house sustainability specialist.

…how will we do this…?!

2009 The Natural Step

PresentPresentPresentPresent

FutureFutureFutureFuture

1. Begin with the end in mind1. Begin with the end in mind1. Begin with the end in mind1. Begin with the end in mind

2009 The Natural Step

Contact

Stanley.nyoni@thenaturalstep.org

spain@thenaturalstep.org