Sustain ability

Priscila Mendoza | Applied Theories in Sustainability, SUST 704 | Prof. Boylston | Spring 2014 | SCAD

Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY 5

Is this the best time to be alive on earth?

source: eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/

SUSTAINABILITY4

Index

What do we mean by sustainability?

Introduction

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Globalchallenges

Two models of development

Sustainable approaches

Achieving Change

SustainableEveryday

Design’s Role

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pag. 12

pag. 18

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pag. 36

SUSTAINABILITY 7

LIVING THE ERA OF PARADOXES

A zoomed out view of

the Taj Mahal show us

the paradoxical reality

of our times

T echnological development is allowing us to live a comfortable

and exciting life. Today, controlling the temperature and ambiance of our houses is just a click away, and our smart devices assist us in our diverse activities so we can focus on other things. We can have almost every-thing from everywhere delivered to our door, or travel to far-away places in just hours. Today, we can even go to the moon! Life expectancy has also expanded, and we are living more than ever before. Science is making exponential progress to understand and enhance human life. We are also more connected and informed of what is happening in the world and can communicate within seconds with people from all countries and cultures; this is the best time to be alive, or isn’t it?

While development and progress might be seen as increasing in the world, there is a reality we are often unaware of—or refuse to believe— and that cannot longer be ignored or neglected: our natural world is on the threshold of collapse. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (April, 2014) the climate change is impact-ing our world, and it is going to do it even more, “…[I]ce caps are melting, sea ice in the Artic is collapsing, wa-ter supplies are coming under stress,

heat waves and heavy rains are intensifying, coral reefs are dying, and fish and many other creatures are migrating towards the poles or in some cases going extinct.”1 This report also states that the world’s food supply is at an endangered po-sition, and that there is an increase in social consequences derived by the environment’s deterioration like social inequality, poverty, hunger, and political tension just to mention a few. If we consider this panorama, it might seem this is the worst time to be alive, or isn’t it?

This time is not just the best and the worst time to be alive, IT IS the time in which we are living, and even if our first reaction towards this mat-ter is overwhelm and despair, there are things that we can do, as demon-strated by many initiatives, organiza-tions and people working towards a different reality.

The purpose of this document is to inform and communicate the meaning and implications of sus-tainability and the different ways in which we can take action, inspire others, and create movements for change. Relative to this intention we are going to revise some of the causes that led into the current en-vironmental situation and explore alternative approaches for making positive change in the world.

SUSTAINABILITY6

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SUSTAINABILITY 9

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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The image of polar bears

on distress have been used

to show the consequences

of the environmental

degradation, although

most of us empathize

with these creatures,

sometimes the reality they

are showing seems too far

away from our daily lives.

Therefore, it is necessary

to communicate the

environmental situation

from a perspective that all

can relate.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dic-tionary, sustainable refers to being used without being completely used up or destroyed.2 In a more specialized defi-nition resulting from the report of The World Commission on Environment and Development called Our Common Future, in 1987, “sustainable development is de-velopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.3 These definitions emphasize using natural resources in a way that can ensure the appropriate existence of fu-ture generations. In other words, sustain-ability is allowing our children and grand-children the opportunity to enjoy a world that is better than ours. To this point humanity has been treating the world’s natural resources as if they were infinite, but unfortunately they are finite.

Furthermore, sustainability is phi-losophy and action that focuses on bal-ancing society, the environment, and the economy. This integration of domains is commonly represented in the model of the triple bottom line, where society (people),

environment (planet), and economy (profit) are equally valued to provide a perspec-tive that integrates these diverse forces in life. This model is also used as a guideline to evaluate more accurately the level of welfare, health and progress in compa-nies, organizations, and governments. Achieving sustainability is an enterprise that entails quality of life and economic prosperity for people, organizations and countries; and industrial activities that are in balance with natural ecosystems. Therefore, the stakeholders for sustain-ability are found at the levels of individu-als, organizations, societies, governments and countries.

Sustainability is not about setting constraints (as some might see it), but on the contrary, it is about unleashing creativity to generate innovative modes to relate with our world while prolonging its future life.

Now that we have a better under-standing of sustainability’s meaning, it is important to identify the different events and actions towards a real prog-ress in sustainable development.

SocietyPeople

Planet ProfitEnvironment Economy

Bearable Equitable

Viable

Sustainable

sustainability resource model

triple bottom line sustainability model

ResourcesUse Preservation

Presentneeds

Futureneeds

“Sustainable development meets the

needs of the present without compromising

the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs.”-Our common future

SUSTAINABILITY8

What do we mean by sustainability?

1

source:// www.cityofartesia.us/images/pages/N158/recycle.jpg

Nowadays terms like sustainability, green, and socially responsible have become very popular among society, since products and companies make considerable efforts to promote their sustainable and socially responsible efforts, but what are we z talking about when we say sustainability?

Generally, when we hear sustainability the ideas that come to our mind are associated with environmental responsibility; we might think of actions like taking care of our forests, and protecting endangered fauna, unfortunately sometimes this notion of sustainability seems too distant from our daily lives and therefore out of our reach to make an impact. Even though we all have heard about the benefits of recycling, using less water and buying organic products, in some cases it is not clear how much of an impact we are capable of having within our daily lives. The intent of this document is to provide an approach to sustainability to which we can all relate.

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1986 – Chernobyl nuclear station accident1987 – Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer1987 – Our Common Future, a report by the World Commission on Environment and De-

velopment, links social, economic, cultural and environmental issues and global solutions. This report popularizes the term “sustainable development”

1988 – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is established to assess research in the field

1989 – Exxon Valdez tanker runs aground, dumpling 11 million gallons f oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound 1990 – International Institute for Sustainable Develop-ment (IISD) is established in Canada

1991 – Hundreds of oil fire burn in Kuwait after the Persian Gulf War1992 – Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This meeting reunited world leaders to discuss

environmental and development issues and one of its results was the “Decla-ration of Environment and Development” and the document know as Agenda 21, “which sought to establish a concerted effort to educate people about the state of both environment and development, and to assist them to make deci-sions that lead to sustainability.” 8

1994 – China’s Agenda 211996 – ISO 14001 is formally adopted as a voluntary international standard for corpo-

rate environmental management 1995 – World Summit for Social Development is held in Copenhagen

1998 – Controversy over genetically modified (GM) organism 1999 – Launch of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

2000 – UN Millennium Development Goals2001 – 9/11 Terrorist attack the World Trade Center and Pentagon 2002 – World Sum-

mit on Sustainable Development2002 – Global Reporting Initiative, presents guidelines for reporting on the economic,

environmental and social dimensions of business activities2004 – HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa 2005 – Kyoto Protocol enters into

force2005 – Walmart institutes global sustainability strategy 2006 – NASA reports that the

ozone layer is recovering2006 – Stern Review, resents that the costs of inaction on climate change will be up to

20 times greater that measures applied in prevention today2007 – Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer 2007 – An In-

convenient Truth, by U.S. Vice President Al Gore and IPCC 2008 – Green econo-my ideas enter the mainstream

2008 – Oceans’ acidification correlated with increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide 2009 – G20 Pittsburgh Summit

2009 – Copenhagen climate negotiations2009 – Scientists introduce the concept of “planetary boundaries 2010 – The rise of

wind power2010 – BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion leaks 5 million barrels of crude oil into

the Gulf of Mexico 2011 2011 – The world population reaches 7 billion 2011 – Japan earthquake and tsunami2011 – China begins shift to a “green economy”2012 – One of the first of the Millennium Development Goal targets is achieved: the

percentage of the world’s people without access to safe drinking water is cut in half

2012 – Rio + 20, the global community reconvenes in an effort to secure agreement on greening world economies

Chernobyl Reactor

NASA’s Terra Satellites Sees Spill on

May 24 2010

Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro

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The beginning of the actions related to create awareness and understanding of the interrelationships between the environment, the economy and social welfare can be tracked down to the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962. After this event a great amount of people, organizations, and countries have been working towards a real progress in sustainable development. Heather Creech, Di-rector, Global Connectivity and associates, prepared most of the information in this time line. It covers some of the mayor events in sustainability from 1962 to 2012. 4

1962 – Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, links the use of pesticides with damage to animals and humans 1967 – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is formed to pursue legal solutions to environmental damage

1968 – Biosphere. Intergovernmental Conference for Rational Use and Conservation of the Biosphere (UNESCO)

1968 – The Population Bomb, by Paul Ehrlich, presents the connection between human population and natural resources exploitation

1969 – Friends of the Earth, environmental advocacy organization1969 –Partners in Development and IDRC. Report of the Commission on International Development;

this is the first of the international commissions to consider a new approach to development.1969 – National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of this document was to “foster and

promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.”5

1970 – First Earth Day1971 – Greenpeace starts in Canada1971 – Only One Earth, by René Dubos and Barbara Ward1972 – United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference). After this

conference the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) was established with the aim to promote the idea of environmentally sound development. 6

1972 – Limits to Growth, by Club of Rome, presents forecasting on the consequences if current trends in population growth and consumption are not slowed.

1973 – OPEC oil crisis1973 – Chipko movement is born in India, to protest for deforestation and environmental degradation1974 – Rowland and Molina release work on chorofluorocarbons (CFCs), stating the relationship be-

tween CFCs and the ozone layer depletion1975 – The UNEP launched the International Environmental Education Program (IEEP) 1975 – World-

watch Institute1976 – Habitat, the UN Conference on Human Settlements 1978 – Amoco Cadiz oil spills, in the coast

of Brittany1979 – Three Mile Island nuclear accident, in Pennsylvania 1980 – The UNEP launched the World Con-

servation Strategy1980 – Global 2000 report, recognizes biodiversity as critical to the proper functioning of the plane-

tary ecosystem 1982 – International debt crisis, threatens the world financial system, especial-ly for developing regions

1983 –The United Nations created the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), led by Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland. This Commission had the mission of “to re-examine critical environmental and development problems around the world and formulate realistic proposals to address them.” 7

1983 – Grameen Bank, provide credit to the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh, 1984 – Bhopal toxic chemical leak, in Bhopal, India

1985 – Climate Change, UNEP and the International Council of Scientific Unions reports on the buildup of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases”, predicting global warming

SUSTAINABILITY TIMELINE

Images of the first

earth day

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SUSTAINABILITY 13

The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued on April 2014, presents an overview of the condition of earth’s health that demands action. Among the multiple issues presented in the report we can highlight the following:• Ice caps melting• Water supplies under stress• Heat waves and heavy rains

intensifying• Coral reefs dying• Fish and other creatures migrating

or going extinct• Oceans becoming acidic due to

carbon dioxide• Greenhouse gases generating

further warming.9

The causes of climate change are “almost certainly”10 attributed to human activity and the inefficiencies in the management of natural resources.“Throughout the 21st century, climate-change impacts are projected to slow down economic growth, make poverty reduction more difficult, further erode food security, and prolong existing and create new poverty traps, the latter particularly in urban areas and emerging hot spots of hunger.”11

According to scientists, the consequences of these changes are going to be felt by all countries without exception, generating risks for social instability, massive migrations, and conflicts caused by disputes of access to natural resources.

This is not new information since data pointing out the environment’s degradation has been available since the decade of the 1970s with documents like Limits to Growth (1972), Our Common Future (1987) and Agenda 21 (1992); nonetheless, today, the scientific community that is reporting these issues is growing in numbers along with the evidence that supports climate change.

Realizing that the environmental degradation is affecting the world at a global scale is the first step for moving into a more sustainable world.

Society, corporations and governments, need to be aware that climate change is not about catastrophes happening in remote places -like the Arctic-, it is about everyone and everywhere, and that prolonging our journey on earth is going to take a global and unified effort.

Effects of Climate Change

Muir Glacier, Alaska, 1882

and 2005.

1882 photo taken by G.D.

Hazard; 2005 photo taken

by Bruce F. Molnia.

1882 2005

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“We borrow environmental capital

from future generations with no intention or

prospect of repaying thembecause we can get away

with it…” -Our Common Future

“The limits to growth within this planet will be reach sometime within the next 100 years” -Limits to Growth

The Limits to Growth,

was published in 1972 by

commission of the Club

of Rome. It presents a

computer modeling of

exponential economic

and population growth

with finite resource

supplies.

Our Common Future,

a report by the

World Commission

on Environment

and Development in

1987. It links social,

economic, cultural and

environmental issues

and global solutions.

INTERLOCKING CRISES

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Globalchallenges

2

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Natural events and recent scientific research about

the world’s situation indicates that we are facing times

of global challenges. This is evidenced by a series of

interdependent crises like social inequality, climate

change, and economic debacles. Probably the most

known consequence of the lack of equilibrium between

natural and human forces is the series of ecological

matters known as Climate Change, although this

concept has been heavily exposed in the media, the

real implications of what is happening, and what could

happen are not as well understood.

Economiccrisis

Energycrisis

Socialcrisis

Environmentalcrisis

SUSTAINABILITY 15

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their extraction disrupts ecology’s equilibrium. One of the factors that have cover-up the real situation of non-renewable sources is the constant decrease in its prices. The average cost of the 86 most used metal and minerals have had a .9% annual decline from 1900 to 2010. This market trend made people believe that if resources were cheaper it was because there should be plenty of them; none-theless, this situ-ation is changing given the fact that metals and minerals are now scarce.

“The drop in prices during the last century were largely the result of productivity gains that outpaced the rise in extractions costs. “But these costs have recently risen as metals and minerals have become

more difficult to get to and as their quality has declined.” 14

The combination of population growth, with the increase in con-sumption habits, ineffective man-ufacture systems, and a limited source of natural elements, have caused the environmental decline that also undermines the economic

development of countries. All those factors together are be-coming a source for political un-rest and tension.

Beyond spe-cific actions, what determines the course of a society is the dominant ideolo-gy at the time, as

follows we will analyze the ideolo-gy known as the expansion model and its implications for the current state of the world.

non-renewable energy consumption

“The Earth’s carrying capacity—the ability of biological systems to provide resources

for human needs —is eroding.”

-The Global 2000 Report

limits to growth forecast

It seems almost incredible that despite the scientific evidence that supports the reasons and realities of climate change, there are people that still refuse to believe that it is a real thing, for example, Donald Trump.12

SKEPTICISM’S VOICES

Although, getting public acceptance on the threats of climate change is important, that should not influence the decisions taken when making policies and planning for actions. The fact that some people do not believe on it, does not mean that it is not happening, and in the debate we should listen for facts, not just for opinions or personal perceptions. An example of this contradictory situation is cleverly portrayed by John Oliver in one of the episodes of Last Week Tonight.

Watch it here

“With the coldest winter ever recorded, with snow setting record levels up and down the coast, the Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from Al Gore”

-Donald Trump

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SUSTAINABILITY14

The current world condition is the result of a series of events and cir-cumstances that, when mixed to-gether, create the wicked problem* that we are experiencing now; among the causes for this situation are the advent of the industrial revolution, the colossal increase in human popu-lation, the use of fossil fuels as main source of energy, industrial activity interrupting natural cycles, wasteful manufacturing, and the social con-struct of a product-base wellbeing. In other words, the wickedness of our world is closely related to our frenetic expansion in the world, our modes of production, and our pat-terns of consumption.

The Industrial Revolution and its assembly-line manufacturing brought cheaper products that al-lowed people to own more things. This new affordability of items, along with the association of materi-alism with wellbeing contributed to the establishment of a culture based on conspicuous consumerism and disposal.

Furthermore, these features affect-ed the ecosystem because to satisfy the increasing needs of the devel-oped societies, it was necessary to extract natural resources at a ver-tiginous pace. In addition, the expo-nential growth in world population going from 3 billion in the 1960s to 7 billion in 2012 stressed the need for more and more natural resources.

Energy production deserves a special attention, because of its huge implications for the environ-ment, society and the economy. In this document we will highlight the reliance in non-renewable energy sources, the decrease in prices of metals and minerals, and the eminent scarcity or non-renewable resources.

Currently in the United States 92% of the energy consumed is from non-renewable sources while only the remaining 8% cor-responds to renewable energy. 13 Relaying that much in fossil fuels raise concern because fossil fuels are non- renewable resources and

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

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n“Poverty and environmental degradation are closely related but the major cause of continual deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production in industrialized countries.” -Agenda 21

exponential population growth

resource scarcity

SUSTAINABILITY 17

THE EXPANSION MODEL

Victor Margolin in his article Expansion or Sustainability: Two Models of De-velopment, refers to Expansion Model to viewing the world as consisting of markets in which products function first and foremost as tokens of economic exchange.15 This perspective encourages the predominance of economic growth over social and environmental wellbeing, and animates countries to get in the race towards market power with the aims of acquiring more political presence.

Unfortunately, in the race towards market predominance some countries are depleting their resources and los-ing part of their natural abundance. These dynamics also has created the huge divide among industrialized and developing countries, with 20% of the world population consuming 80% of the resources, and where more than 50% of GNP of developing countries comes from exporting natural resources to the industrialized world. These are the con-ditions of a doomed cycle of consumers and suppliers, and where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. As we have seen it is not surprise that the results of this modus operandi are catastrophic, since we cannot treat the dimensions of the economy, the ecol-ogy and society as independent forces because they are all part of one system. We cannot focus only on the economy because without ecology, there is noth-ing else, and we cannot forget about the peoples of the world because we all live in the same planet.

SUSTAINABILITY MODEL

Contrary to the expansion model, the sustainability model is a global practice that integrates and balances social, en-vironmental, and economic forces. As we already explained, sustainability strives for restoring and maintaining the natural in our world, balancing the conditions of industrialized and developing countries, and ensuring economic prosperity for all. The sustainability model is also about so-cial justice, intergenerational justice, and respect for life. In other words, the ex-pansion model favors the artificial, while the sustainability model chooses life.The history of the world is a story of changes and evolution, what means that

it is a story of adaptation. We have been in a evolutionary road that has taken us to great places, as some of the human achievements can prove, but our activity also has generated great damages. Now is the time to take a different path, a new road, it is time for change. We have to learn to live better and consume fewer environmental resources while improving the quality of our living context. Moving out from the expansion model towards sustainable models will require transfor-mations at all levels: individuals, corpo-rations, nations, and global.

“We came to see that a new development

path was required, one that sustained human

progress not just in a few pieces for a few years,

but for the entire planet into distant futures”

-Our Common Future,

Some of the changes required by the sustainability model:

1. Adopting life-styles within the planet ecological means

2. Harmonize population size and growth with the productive potential of the ecosystem

3. Planning for the global and long term de-velopment

4. Approach from a systems thinking to solve world poverty and inequality

5. Intergenerational justice6. Orientation of technology7. Institutional change

The history of the world is a story of changes, evolution and creative adaptation.

The Mickey Mouse model

Economy

SocietyEnvironment

SocietyPeople

Planet ProfitEnvironment Economy

Bearable Equitable

Viable

Sustainable

expansion model

sustainability model

SUSTAINABILITY16

Twomodels of development

3

The two agendas for social development that are

central to the sustainability model and the expansion

model are not only in conflict, they are on collision

course that has already led to considerable fallout.

This is evident in the widening gaps between rich and

poor in both global and local terms, the development

of an information infrastructure that privileges

some and excludes others, and an array of precarious

environmental situations that are beginning to

permanently damage the planet.

-Victor Margolin

source:www.unescap.org/events/apfsd/images/photo-2.jpg

SUSTAINABILITY 19

Sustainable approaches

Behavior change

Production change

Systems thinking approach• Understanding system

dynamics, systems traps and leverage points

• Adding balancing loops to restore the equilibrium of the system

Redefining priorities• There is no economy and

no society without an environment

• Reframing measurements standards from GNP to GPI

• Keeping nature cycle and industry cycle separated, or in a collaborative mode

• Making industrial cycles closed loops

• consumption towards sustainability

• Acquiring awareness about world state and communicating it

• Demanding governments and industry a shift in the production paradigm

• Evolving from an opportunistic and exploiter specie to a regenerative specie

• Giving back to nature

Approaches

New ParadigmGovernments

Consumers

Manufactures

• Biomimicry• Natural Capitalism• The Natural Step• Cradle to Cradle• Total Beauty

• Life Cycle Analysis• Sustainability Helix• Social Return on

Investment

The us and them, here and there, now and tomorrow model

From To

The us,here, and now model

New Paradigm

SUSTAINABILITY MODEL

PARADIGM CHANGE

BEHAVIOR CHANGE

PRODUCTION CHANGE

CONSUMPTION CHANGE

SUSTAINABILITY18

The expansion modelIndustrial Revolution

• A global practice that encourages economic growth over social and environmental wellbeing

• Taking advantage of abundant resources

Wasteful productionLoose ends in industrial cycles

• Wasteful production• High energy requirements• Processes that generates pollution• Manufacturing cycles incompatible with

nature cycles• Lack of product life-cycle management • Promoters of conspicuous consumption

The race to political and market powerWorld divide: developed & developing countries

• Exploitation of natural resources• Economy over environment• Consumer countries and suppliers countries

Approach

Governments

Consumers

Manufactures

Materialistic Wellbeing and wasteful lifestyles

• Product-base wellbeing• Lack of awareness on

current environment state• Unsustainable growth• Treating no renewable fi-

nite resources like renew-able and infinite

The mechanisms behind current crises

An exponential population

growth

Materialistic wellbeing

Deficiency on world

development and in

management of human

environment

+++

+

Dependency on nonrenewable

sources of energy

Increasing gap between

rich and poor nations

Resource depletion

Inefficient energy

managementand wasteful consumption

Market power equals political

power

Water, food, energy, & resources, needs

Finite resources &infinite demand

Pollution and resource

depletion

Developing countries

exploiting their resources

2014= 7 billion 2050= 9 billion

95 % of materials flowing through the US industrial economy are nonrenewable

Wellbeing related to access to products.

20% of population con-sumes 80% of resources

+ 50% of the developing world’s GNP is from the exporting of natural resources to the industrial world

65% of energy is wasted at the site of production

Economiccrisis

Energycrisis

Socialcrisis

Environmentalcrisis

Interlocking Crises = Wicked problem

THE EXPANSION MODEL

SUSTAINABILITY 21

There are many examples of people, com-panies and governments working together to make of sustainability a reality, and they are developing processes and princi-ples that can help and inspire us. In the fol-lowing pages we are going to review some philosophies, methodologies and exam-ples that testify the relevance of adopting sustainable practices and demonstrate that the benefits are more than just good ecological karma. Sustainability is good for the planet, for the people and for the pocket!

As we have seen, the journey towards a sustainable word can be summarized in the following transformations: changing the processes of production and chang-ing human consumption behavior. But in order to be able to do those changes we first need to revolutionize the principles that we use to guide our practices in regard to production and consumption. That means changing the ideology or changing the paradigm. We will present approaches that promotes sustainabil-ity from different perspectives, some establishes principles and philosophies, others are focused towards new manu-facturing processes, and others provide guidance towards behavioral change; some include the three categories while others have a very specific scope.

CHANGING THE PHILOSOPHY

In order to accomplish the transformation towards the sustainable model we need

to change our ideologies and paradigms. Among the change in paradigms that we are going to explore we can highlight the following changes.

• From treating finite resources like they were infinity to a measured re-source exploitation that allows nature regeneration

• From pursuing the artificial to follow principles and solutions found in nature

• From a capitalism grounded exclu-sively on economics to a natural capi-talism that also contemplates nature as capital

• From inefficient production to maxi-mizing resource productivity

• From generating waste in manufac-ture to close cycles where everything is used (waste is also a resource)

• From an uprooted relationship with earth to a close connection with our environment

• From seeking expansion and repro-duction to pursuing efficiency and productivity

There are several approaches to sustain-ability, but in the scope of this document we will explore with more detail two of them: The Natural Step and Biomimicry because they present a very compre-hensive perspective. Nonetheless we will briefly review other approaches like: Cradle to Cradle, Natural Capitalism, and Industrial Ecology.

Approach

Governments

Consumers

Manufactures

New Paradigm

In order to accomplish the transformation towards the sustainable model we need to change our ideologies and paradigms

changing paradigms

“In the end, it seems that mastery has less

to do with pushing leverage points than it

does with strategically, profoundly, madly,

letting go and dancing with the system.”

-Donella H. Meadows

SUSTAINABILITY20

Sustainable approaches

4

Adopting sustainable approaches to our

everyday life, to our businesses and to our

countries is going to allow us to adapt to the

ongoing changes that are coming towards us,

there is no way we can undo the past, but there

are many ways in which we can stop the current

direction and adapt positively. Sustainability is

also an innovation facilitator since it teaches us

to look at life differently and to find new ways

to engage with the world.

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SUSTAINABILITY 23

PRESERVE

This company is recycling plastics #5 and creating products that are also esthetically pleasant. This is an example of a sustainable initiative because is helping to avoid the increase in substances produced by society in nature. And they are doing this not by just recycling they are bringing new value with the power of design.

www.preserveproducts.com

FREITAG

This company is an example on recycling materials and giving them new value through design, these bags are made of the covers of trucks in Europe and transform into bags, wallets and other accessories.

www.freitag.ch

SUSTAINABILITY22

The natural step is a non-profit organi-zation founded by Karl-Henrik Robèrt in 1989 in Sweden. Back in the 1980s Robèrt was treating his cancer patients and have the idea of comparing the conditions required for healthy cells to the system conditions required for the continuation of human life. After several iterations with the scientific community they de-veloped a document that contained the system conditions for sustainability and the framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. Generally the ideas of the Natural Step are presented through two metaphors: the tunnel and the tree.

System Conditions or Principles16

1. Substances from the Earth’s crust must not systematically increase in the biosphere.

2. Fossil fuels, metals, and other minerals must not be extracted at a faster rate than their redeposit and regeneration in the Earth’s crust.

3. Substances produced by society must not systematically increase in nature.

4. Substances must not be produced faster than they can be broken down and be reintegrated into the cycles of nature or be deposited in the Earth’s crust

5. The physical basis for the produc-tivity and diversity of nature must not systematically deteriorate. Productive surfaces of nature must not be diminished in quality or quantity, and we must not har-vest more from nature that can be recreated or renewed

6. There needs to be a fair and effi-cient use of resources with respect to meeting human needs.

7. Basic human needs must be met with the most resource efficient methods possible, including equi-table resource distribution.

THE NATURAL STEP METAPHORS

The treeThis metaphor is used to explain the dif-ferent levels of actions towards sustain-ability using a tree as example. It starts from the leaves: Very specific actions, this refers to initiatives done by companies, organizations and even individuals; to a branches: Actions done by expertise mem-ber like scientists, teachers, leaders etc. These can also include the efforts in policy makingTrunk: First order principles, this refers to a higher levels of leverage, is changing the philosophy and the paradigm.

The Funnel

This metaphor is used to present the case for sustainability from a business perspective. This framework positions the company into a funnel that narrows as a result of two forces: the increase in demand, and the decrease in resource availability. According to this model the company’s performance in the future will depend on the actions taken today. Only the companies that adapt and change their strategy now, will be successful in the future. This is a model that helps companies to make proper strategy for the future. This model distinguishes four types of companies: the proactive, the anticipatory, the reactive, and the inac-tive. According to this model only pro-active companies will be in a favorable position in the future.

Back casting

This is the technique use to set the strategy for the future. Firstly the com-pany needs to determine their vision (where do they want to be in the future) and from that, decide what needs to be done in order to achieve it. This tech-nique implies a reverse thinking to help companies establish their short-term and long-term strategies.

THE NATURAL STEP

Karl-Henrik Robèrt founder of

The Natural Step

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VISIONING

Does it move us in the right direction?Is it a flexible platform?Is it a good return on investment?

http://www.formfollowsworldview.com/

The Natural Step, lecture by Scott Boylston

SUSTAINABILITY 25

Mercedes-Benz concept car based on the shape of a boxfish. This fish is aerodynam-ically superb and the resulting concept car has one of the most efficient shapes for a car of its size.

The swimming center for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 is based on the structure of soap bubbles. The bub-bles, trap hot air from the sun that’s then circulated to heat the pools. And also has an auto-clean feature.

A team of University of Massachusetts, Am-herst, researchers has developed Geckskin, an adhesive that mimics Gecko’s grip by em-ulating the microscopic hairs on the bottom of their toes.

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EXPERIMENTAL FISH CAR

WATER CUBE

GECKO FEET ADHESIVES

Examples from bloomberg.com

SUSTAINABILITY24

The Word Biomimicry comes from the Greek bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning imitation. Biomimicry is a phi-losophy that looks a nature as the source of inspiration for finding solutions to our complex problems. Janine M. Benyus in her book Biomimcry, innovation inspired by nature presents the three ways in which we can engage with nature to find better alternatives to our problems: nature as model, nature as a measure, and nature as mentor. This worldview considers that nature has already found all the answers to our problems, we just need to spend enough time observing nature to find them. Biomimicry’s principal statement is that life creates conditions conducive to life, so we should emulate that capability in our processes and activities.As a guidance Janine present these three questions to find inspiration in nature:1. How does life make things?2. How does life make the most of

things?3. How does life make things disappear

into systems?

Surviving in place

The Biomimicry approach also presents an analogy of human evolution with the ecological succession and the three types of organisms presented in nature. Type 1 systems take advantage of abundant resources. They are also known as oppor-tunists and pioneers since their primary objective is to explore new territories and reproduce as fast as possible, without considering the long term. Rapid growth is a key characteristic. Type 2 systems do not dedicate all the energy in rapid re-production, instead they invest energy in developing roots to ensure a longer stay. These types of organisms develop a stron-ger connection with their place. Type 3 systems are organized for endurance, they are very effective at the use of energy and

preserve the equilibrium with their sur-roundings. Type 3 possess a strong sense of belonging and loyalty to place. Accord-ing with this analogy, humans have behave in the fashion of Type 1 systems. We are taking from nature all that we need, and we have been more concerned with expansion and growth, and not that much with devel-oping loyalty to our place. However, this analogy help us to understand the next step for us, we should move towards the behavior of Type 2 systems and ultimately towards the Type 3.

In order to evolve from a Type 1 system to a Type 3, Janine Benyus presents the following strategies for surviving in place:

1. Use waste as a resource2. Diversify and cooperate to fully

use the habitat3. Gather and use energy efficiently4. Optimize rather that maximize5. Use materials sparingly6. Don’t foul their nests7. Don’t draw down resources8. Remain in balance with the bio-

sphere9. Run on information10. Shop locally

Biomimicry 3.8 has an extensive list of resources to look up for inspiration and also case studies where mimicking nature has result in great projects.http://biomimicry.net/

BIOMIMICRY

“These days, when we’ve gone everywhere there is to go, we have to find a different kind of plenty, not by jumping off to another planet but by closing the loops here on this one.”

-Janine Benyus

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SUSTAINABILITY 27

1961-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-2010

1

27

4

37

12

20

5

16

2

13

23

1115

1418

2610

17

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Fertilizer Industry

Fish Farms

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Waste Water Treatment

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Novozymes

Cement Industry

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1 Surface Water 19612 Gas 19723 Surface Water 19734 Biomass/NovoGro 19765 Fly Ash 1979

6 Heat 1980/897 Heat 19818 Steam 19829 Steam 198210 Surface Water 198711 Cooling Water 198712 Yeast Slurry 1989

13 Sulfur Fertilizer 1990/200114 Tech. Water 199115 Gas 199216 Gypsum 199317 Waste Water 199518 Drain Water 199519 Sludge 199820 Fly Ash 1999

21 Deionized Water 200222 Water 200423 Waste 2004 24 Sea Water 200725 Steam 200926 Condensate 200927 Straw 200928 Bioethanol 201029 Lignin 201030 C5/C6 sugars 2010

Kalundborg SymbiosisDiagram 1961-2010

Pig Farms

Pig Farms

Pig Farms

Waste Water Treatment

Kalundborg Forsyning

Kalundborg Forsyning

Kalundborg Forsyning

“Industrial ecology is the study of the physical, chemical, and biological interactions and interrelationships both within and between industrial and ecologicalsystems” 18

The first industrial ecology was implemented in Kalundborg Denmark. This Eco-industrial Park is a project that has been on going for more than 40 years.

http://www.symbiosis.dk/

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KALUNDBORG SYMBIOSIS

SUSTAINABILITY26

Cradle to Cradle also known as C2C, or eco-effectiveness, is an approach that focuses on the efficiency of manufactur-ing processes by the elimination of waste, toxic chemicals, by implementing clean energies, and the capability for upcycling materials. The term Cradle to Cradle was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. This approach is also based on biomimetic and places special emphasis on separating technological materials and cycles from natural resources and cycles; this means that human activity should not interfere with natural processes, and that technical products should be safe and durable.

CRADLE TO CRADLE

Industrial ecology Natural Capitalism

“If everything can be made into food for some other process, then recycling can be completely rethought.”

-Cradle to Cradle.

Industrial ecology is an approach that looks to the integration of the energy flows, outputs and inputs on manu-facturing processes from a systems perspective. It is also concerned with the generation of waste and its further use in other activities. Industrial Ecology also highlights the importance of keep-ing closed cycles in the manufacturing process.

Industrial Ecology goals are the sus-tainable use of resources, ecological and human health, and environmental equity.

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The sustainability approach of Natural Capitalism considers a more integral view of economy encompassing four types of capital: Human capital, financial capital, manufactured capital, and nat-ural capital. This approach focuses on making efficiency a priority, since pol-lution is inefficiency at work. To behave in accordance with the integration of these four types of capital Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L.Hunter Lovins pres-ent the strategies showed in the right.

1. Radical resource productivity. Looking for alternatives in usage and design to obtaining the same or better results from a specific process while using less material and energy. This principle looks for efficiency. This is similar in this regard to Cradle to Cradle.

2. Biommicry. Imitating nature to im-prove productivity, eliminate waste, and hazardous ingredients from manufacturing processes.

3. Service and flow economy. Sell-ing results rather than products, therefore improving the quality and life-cycle of products and fostering recycling.

4. Investing in natural capital. Chang-ing our relationship to resources and acknowledging their finite nature to advance their usage and extraction.

natural capitalism strategies

SUSTAINABILITY 29

Once again we look at this through lev-els: the first level is about addressing social-environmental problems from a systems perspective. For that purpose we will do an overview of Donella Meadows’s book Thinking in Systems. Further, we will look up to society change by analyzing successful social changes from the past, and the different steps they encompass. For this purpose we will review Bill Moyer’s Movement Action Plan.

THINKING IN SYSTEMS

Donella Meadows defines a system as “an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something19. A system is made of three components: elements, intercon-nections, and a function or purpose. We all encounter systems in life, some of them are simple while others are complex. The concept that embodies a system is the in-terconnectedness that holds the elements together. To study these relationships we should recognize that a system is more that the sum of the parts, that the quality of the information flows will determine its quality, and that the system purpose is the most important element for understand-ing systems’ behavior.

In addition, systems are influenced by the states of three concepts: Stocks, flows, and loops. Stocks are the elements of the system that you can see, fell, count

or measure. Flow refers to the change in the state that stocks experience over time, and finally the balancing and reinforcing feedback loops are the mechanisms that control and influence the different flows by balancing the stocks in the system. Reinforcing feedback loops function to amplify, reinforce, and self multiply. Bal-ancing feedback loops serve as source of stability and resistance to change; a balancing loop react to new information by compensating it, since its purpose is to keep the stocks within a desire state.

Intervening a system

Understanding the dynamics of systems is important because they give us an en-dowment of the elements in place, but when looking to implement change, it is also very important to recognize where to apply efforts in order to succeed. The different strategic points for applying effort are known as points of leverage, or as points of power. Meadows states that to intervene a system there are twelve lever-age points. They are classified according with their effectiveness to initiate change -from lower to the higher-. The key point at studying these leverage points consists on identifying which leverage points we can pursue, and what kind of impact can we expect from our actions.

“The groundwork for macro transformation and for great systemic

change is laid by micro transformations and

by local systemic discontinuities.”

Ezio Manzini

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basics of systems thinking

1. Elements + interactions + function

2. Stocks + flows3. Balancing + reinforcing

feedback loops

deeper understanding

1. Traps2. Leverage points

SUSTAINABILITY28

Achieving Change

5

The previous tactics were focused on changing

the way we do business, products, and also in

the way we look for answers to our problems.

But when talking about social, environmental,

and everyday situations, how do we accomplish

change at a large scale? How do we inspire

others to do things differently? And how do

we maintain change? The answers to those

questions are not an easy undertaking, however,

there are several theories that help us to

understand the nature of change helping us to

strategize our plan.

source://donaldloch.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/030.jpg

SUSTAINABILITY 31

MOVEMENT ACTION PLAN (MAP)

Bill Moyer developed the Movement Action Plan in the late 1970’s as a result of his study about successful social movements. In his model, Moyer identifies some dynamics of social change ex-pressed in the eight stages for social movements, eight principles to guide the transformation, and the four roles that people can take. This model strives to help activist to identify their position in the process, and assist them to move forward.

MAP eight StagesMoyer identifies that social movements can be constituted by eight stages.20

1. Normal times2. Proving the failure or limitations of existing institutions3. Ripening conditions4. Take off5. Perceptions of failure6. Building majority public support7. Success8. Continuing the struggle

Four RolesParticipants in social movements can engage in different roles, each one of them bringing value in different stages. 21

1. Citizen. Stands for widely accepted values.2. Rebel. Protest injustice, often through nonviolent direct

actions, and call public attention, stimulate public dialog, and confronting recalcitrant power holders

3. Social change agent. Movement organizers. Focus on pub-lic education, nurture future leaders, and organize new segments of the community.

4. Reformer. Work closely with mainstream institutions ne-

gotiating for change by filing lawsuits, testifying at hear-ings, lobbying, participating in officials meetings. Provide research, training and consultation

Eight Principles 22

1. These principles are essential for understanding and replicating social movements.

2. Social movements have brought significant societal change, although even activists may be unaware of it.

3. The people hold ultimate power.4. Movement goals should be framed in terms of widely held

values.5. Power holders may profess to honor widely held values,

but their actions often conflict with those values.6. Every movement needs analysis, vision, and strategy.

Movement strategies must seek to awaken and mobilize the public. Building coalitions across communities is crit-ically important.

7. Change emerges from empowered people in motion, and they can become virtually unstoppable.

TRIGGEREVENT

RE-TRIGGEREVENT

RE-TRIGGEREVENT

1 :: NORMAL TIMES 2:: PROVE FAILURE of OFFICIAL INSTITUTIONS

CITIZENS REBELS CHANGE AGENTS REFORMERS

3 :: RIPENING CONDITIONS

4 :: TAKE-OFF 5 :: PERCEPTION of FAILURE

6 :: MAJORITY PUBLIC OPINION

7 :: SUCCESS 8 :: CONTINUING the STRUGGLE

Move on to otherissues or back totheir lives

Long-term activistsfor systemic change

Become part ofbureaucracy orprofessionaloppositionorganizations (POO)

Find other wrongsto fight & protest

steady state build-up of stress in the system seen as a general problem resolution…

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SUSTAINABILITY30

transcending paradigmsparadigmsgoalsself-organizationrulesinformation flowsreinforcing feedback loops

stock + flow structure

balancing feedback loopsdelays relative to the rate of change

buffersnumbers

LEVERAGE POINTS:PLACES TO INTERVENEIN A SYSTEM

Leverage points

12. Numbers –constants and parameters such as subsidies, taxes and standards

11. Buffers –the sizes of stabilizing stocks rela-tive to their flows

10. Stocks and Flow Structure –physical systems and their nodes of intersection

09. Delays –the lengths of time relative to the rates of system changes

08. Balancing feedback loops – the strength of the feedbacks relative to the impacts they are trying to correct

07. Reinforcing feedback loops –the strength of the gain of driving loops

06. Information flows –the structure of who does and does not have access to information

05. Rules –Incentives, punishments, constraints04. Self-organization –the power to add, change,

or evolve system structure03. Goals –the purpose or function of the system02. Paradigms – the mind-set out of which the

system- its goals, structure, rules, delays, parameters- arises

01. Transcending paradigms

Systems traps

Meadows’s system analysis also recognizes eight traps that avoid change in systems.

1. Policy resistance2. The tragedy of the commons3. Drift to Low performance4. Escalation5. Success to the successful6. Shifting the burden to the inventor7. Rule Beating8. Seeking the wrong goal

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SUSTAINABILITY 33

To this point, we have explored the cur-rent conditions of the environment, and understood the relationships with social and economical issues. In addition, we have identified our wasteful patterns of production and consumption as some of the causes for world’s deterioration. However, there are plenty of opportunities for change, especially within the realms of changing the process of manufacturing and human behavior towards consumption. These two areas are closely directed with design, since designers are involved in the process of production by planning the structures, by choosing the materials, and by designing the whole cycle of products and services. In addition, designers are also in charge of persuading by generat-ing the messages that shape the cultural discourse. Consequently, there is the opportunity for designers to change the process of production by making informed and responsible choices, and to change the discourse of consumption by using the powers of communications to initiate the shift towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Redefinition of design’s purpose

At the beginning of the XX century design was related to shaping commodities and

messages in the manufacture and com-munication fields. Under this time the purposes of design were linked to foster the consumer culture, and to promote a concept of well being that was based on product ownership. However, as society evolved design transformed its practices to a broader spectrum of competences. According to Richard Buchanan, design as a liberal art of technological culture, is a discipline that links and consolidates the-ories, methodologies, and practices from the arts and sciences with the purpose of addressing the complexity of contempo-rary problems.

In addition, design delivers its value through the incorporation of four place-ments: symbolic and visual communi-cations, material objects, activities and organized services, and complex systems or environments for living, working, playing, and learning. Under this vision, design is no longer concern just with the appearance of products, messages, and built environments, but with a profound understanding of all the encompassing activities required to understand a human situation, produce an intended solution, and make this solution available to its users. In this regard, design is about plan-ning, communicating, and constructing.

“Design is the activity that generates plans, projects, and products. It produces tangible results that can serve as demonstrations of or arguments for how we might live.”

-Victor Margolin

Sustainability InnovationDesign

Social Economic

Environmental

Communities

Individuals

Industry

Public Sector

Design is the interface

SUSTAINABILITY32

Design’s Role

6

“The understanding and application of

sustainability and innovation are expanding, as

is the extent of the interconnectivity between

the two. In both the private and public sector,

design is emerging as the interface between

sustainability and innovation as a tool that

can engage stakeholders and align economic,

social and environmental considerations.

Design can contribute to fostering a culture of

sustainability and innovation in communities,

industry, the public sector and policy-making

using creative and user-centred processes.”

-Levent Ozler / dexigner.com

source: www.knittingindustry.com/uploads/2188/Nike_Flyknit_Lunar_1plus_BrandImage_Small_16669.jpg

SUSTAINABILITY 35

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Nike is an example of products

designed to reduce the

environmental impact.

More on:

www.nikeresponsibility.com

Sharing services like zipcar

are examples of the new

dynamic of sharing instead

of ownership.

More on:

www.zipcar.com

Curitiba, Brazil is other

example of the value

of integrating design,

sustainability in a human

centered approach to

development.

More on:

www.citiesforpeople.net/

cities/curitiba.html

Sustainable materials

Service Economy

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

SUSTAINABILITY34

Opportunity areas for design

1. Change wasteful consumption habits

2. Design new systems for healthcare

3. Environmentally safe public transportation

4. Alternatives to fossil fuels

5. Improve methods for recycling waste material

6. Designing for the whole life cycle of products

7. Collaborating with other disciplines to find

better solutions

8. Shifting from designing for people to design-

ing with people

9. Choosing natural, non-toxic, energy efficient

materials for production

10. Looking up to nature for inspiration and solu-

tions

11. Designing a new aesthetics for the sustainable

12. Reduce excessive product packaging

13. Promoting eco-tourism

14. Documenting and communicating stories of

success to inspire and motivate

• Promote a sustainable wellbeing• Communicate and inform on current consumption

consequences•

consumption, through education, awareness and advertising consequences

Promote positive attitude towards sustainable

• Sustainable design• Material selection, processes and packaging• Designing for close-loop products• Increase life span of products

• Designing to enable people to live as they like in a sustainable way

• Political mediation• Human-centered design• Systems Thinking

Visual communications

Material objects

Activities and services

Complex systems

“Design, in order to redefine its purpose and participate in tackling wicked problems has to move from product design to sustaining developing and integrating human beings into broader ecological and cultural environment.”

-Victor Margolin

Four placements of design and Sustainability

Redefining design’s role in society comes along with an ethic of responsibility for the design practice.

If in the past, design was involved with fostering a wellbeing based on products and possessions, nowadays, design can help people and organizations to achieve the necessary shift towards sustainability.

Co creation design

is a practice that

involves users in the

process, instead of

designing for them.

This way users are

empowered and can

own the project.

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SUSTAINABILITY36 SUSTAINABILITY 37

After going through this journey of understanding sustainability, we can see that it is not just about moral and ethical choices, since there are also business and productivity reasons for implementing it. That means that regardless from what perspective are you coming from, the shifting towards sustainability is a good way for ensuring survival. We are no lon-ger trying to survive from predators and wilderness, but from the conse-quences of our own actions, and the new order in the world.

There is evidence that organizations adopting sustainable paths in-crease their stock value, strengthen its brand image, and save money. 24

Furthermore, organizations considering sustainability implications now, are the ones that are going to be able to stay on business for the long haul. We fell in love with the artificial and neglected the natural, we put so much effort on conquering and dominating the world that we forgot that once, humans and nature, we were part of the same entity. In this docu-ment, we have explored different alternatives to initiate change, now it is on us to start it.

EIGHT SHIFTS TOWARDS A LIGHT ECONOMY, FROM SUSTAINABLE EVERYDAY. 23

Nanograms to MegatonsInstead of chasing nanograms of harmful substances emitted at the tail end, we have to look at the megatons of nature put in at the front end of production. Sustainability means making our system of wealth creation less depen-dent on resource use.

Ecology to JusticeEcology cannot be separated from equity, nor equity from ecology

Linear to Cyclical ProductionManagerial excellence will include the ability to design pro-duction systems which create value with ever less input of fossil-based resources

Hardware to ServicesThe focuses on ownership, impedes system-wide responsi-bility in the company for the entire life-cycle of its products Shifting the entrepreneurial focus from the sale of services through leasing or renting would make the full use of goods, including maintenance and recycling, profitable.

Taxing Labor to Taxing ResourcesIf natural resources are undervalued in relation to labour, there is the tendency to substitute the cheaper element for the more expensive one. Shifting the tax base from labour to natural resources could begin to rectify this imbalance.

High to Slower SpeedsThe assumption that higher speeds are always better than lover ones has prevailed to the present day. However, speed does not come without a price. The mobilization of space and time requires the mobilization of nature.

Long to Medium DistancesIt will therefore be important to recognize scale as an eco-logical issue. The economy should be conceived as evolving in several spaces -regional, continental, (and) international.

Well-having to Well-beingMaterial and non-material satisfaction cannot be maxi-mized simultaneously. Frugality is therefore an essential ingredient of wellbeing. Henry D Thoreau spoke wisely when he said, “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let be.”

Ezio Manzini & François Jegou

SustainableEveryday

7

Although we have been looking at sustainability from a

design perspective, we all are designers; we all plan, choose,

and modify our environment according to our planes and

desires. We can make an impact by aligning our actions

and ideologies with a more sustainable lifestyle, by doing

appropriate shopping choices, by increasing the efficiency

in our use of energy, by managing properly the waste

we generate, and by spreading the world and promote

sustainability.

By acknowledging the leverage that we have as humans,

as citizens, and as members of organizations, we can start

micro revolutions that will initiate an unstoppable change.

source: bleubirdblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/114.jpg

SUSTAINABILITY 39

REFERENCES

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/science/earth/climate.html

2. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable3. United Nations General Assembly (1987) Report of the World Commission

on Environment and Development: Our Common Future.4. http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2012/sd_timeline_2012.pdf5. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/oi.nsf/Sustainability/History6. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/oi.nsf/Sustainability/History7. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/oi.nsf/Sustainability/History8. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/oi.nsf/Sustainability/History9. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/science/earth/climate.html?_r=010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/ipcc-says-hu-

mans-cause-global-warming/2013/09/27/aae32880-275d-11e3-b3e9- d97fb087acd6_story.html

11. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/science/earth/climate.html?_r=012. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/photos/7-surpris-

ing-global-warming-deniers/donald-trump13. http://sites.uci.edu/energyobserver/page/2/14. Applied Theories in Sustainability, Lecture 2: Non-renewables and EROI.

Prof. Boylston, 201415. Expansion or Sustainability: Two Models of Development, Victor Margolin.

The Politics of the Artificial, 2002.16. Applied Theories in Sustainability, Lecture 4. The natural step.

Prof. Boylston, 201417. Biomimicry, Janine M. Benyus. 2002. p. 25118. http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/compendia/INDEpdfs/INDEin-

tro.pdf Natural Capitalism19. Thinking in systems. A primer. Donella H. Meadows 2008. p.1120. Applied Theories in Sustainability. Lecture on Movement Action Plan by

Scott Boylston based on Bill Moyer 21. Applied Theories in Sustainability. Lecture on Movement Action Plan by

Scott Boylston based on Bill Moyer 22. Lecture on Movement Action Plan by Scott Boylston based on Bill Moyer23 Sustainable Everyday. http://issuu.com/strategicdesignscenarios/docs/

download_sustainable_everyday_eng_xs24. http://www.natcapsolutions.org/businesscasereports.pdf

SUSTAINABILITY38

-American Hustle

“The art of survival is a story that never ends.”

Priscila Mendoza | Applied Theories in Sustainability, SUST 704 | Prof. Boylston | Spring 2014 | SCAD