Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

David FiskDavid FiskProf Engineering for Sustainable Prof Engineering for Sustainable

DevelopmentDevelopment

The PlotThe Plot

Some HistorySome History

What does it mean?What does it mean?

Even more historyEven more history

TomorrowTomorrow– Thinking in the 4Thinking in the 4thth dimension dimension

Its ethics stupid!Its ethics stupid!

OriginsOrigins

1970’s

Environmentalism

3rd World Development

1980’s

UN Brundtland Report1990’s

UN Rio Summit2000’s

UN Jo’burg Summit

UN World Summit

Brundtland’s FindingsBrundtland’s Findings

Series of case studiesSeries of case studies

Government efforts to remove povertyGovernment efforts to remove poverty– solved today’s problem often by…….solved today’s problem often by…….

– making tomorrow’s problems worsemaking tomorrow’s problems worse

created off balance sheet liabilitiescreated off balance sheet liabilities– often (but not always) by raiding the environmentoften (but not always) by raiding the environment

–

–since no one since no one owns it though owns it though it supports it supports everyoneeveryone

Brundtland’s RecomendationBrundtland’s Recomendation

Government’s should commit themselves Government’s should commit themselves toto– development that meets the needs of the development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needsfuture generations to meet their needs

Too Abstract?Too Abstract?

Really?Really?Testing how what we do now effects Testing how what we do now effects everything in the futureeverything in the future

Environment can’t survive in social or Environment can’t survive in social or economic collapseeconomic collapse

DividendsDividends

Un-sustained development is obvious when you see it!!

New Thinking: 1New Thinking: 1

Env SocEcon

•Thinking in 3 capitals not one

New Thinking: 1New Thinking: 1

Env SocEcon

•Thinking in 3 capitals not one

•Some trade-offs

New Thinking: 1New Thinking: 1

Env

Soc

Eco

n

•Thinking in 3 capitals not one

•Some trade-offs

•But one down all down!!!

Thinking in the 4Thinking in the 4thth dimension dimension– investing in real optionsinvesting in real options

– always exposing future liabilitiesalways exposing future liabilities– saying the unspeakablesaying the unspeakable

Governments find this hard!!Governments find this hard!!

~ 200 civilisations failed so far~ 200 civilisations failed so far

New Thinking: 2New Thinking: 2

Trying HardTrying Hard

200 failed so far200 failed so far

Soviet Union most recentSoviet Union most recent

Old Testament?Old Testament?

Leviticus

Law

Or

Ecology Manual?

Leviticus

Law

Or

Ecology Manual?

Was Christianity that bad?Was Christianity that bad?

Abbeys an exemplar of sustainabilityAbbeys an exemplar of sustainability

Power of fossil fuel has overwhelmed Power of fossil fuel has overwhelmed everyoneeveryone

Adam Smith: The last solar powered economist

Unsustainable Consumption?Unsustainable Consumption?

You used to be what you ownedYou used to be what you owned

Now you are what you consumeNow you are what you consume

Once it was great just to be richOnce it was great just to be rich

Now you worry if you aren’t getting richerNow you worry if you aren’t getting richer

Once productivity meant more leisureOnce productivity meant more leisure

Now it is needed to even to stay where you areNow it is needed to even to stay where you are

Not So HardNot So Hard

But its actually everyone’s objectiveBut its actually everyone’s objective

The trick: how to meet it but not at the The trick: how to meet it but not at the expense of anyone elseexpense of anyone else

A moral issueA moral issue

First Great Commandment – CreationFirst Great Commandment – Creation

But with extended definition of ‘neighbour’But with extended definition of ‘neighbour’

Polluting the Samaritan’s air?Polluting the Samaritan’s air?

Stealing the Samaritan’s future?Stealing the Samaritan’s future?Sustainable development Sustainable development

is the synthesis is the synthesis not the not the conflictconflict

of the 2 Greatest of the 2 Greatest CommandmentsCommandments

Sustainable development Sustainable development is the synthesis is the synthesis not the not the conflictconflict

of the 2 Greatest of the 2 Greatest CommandmentsCommandments