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This slideshow touches on the science and a systems approach to sustainability
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Sustainability : systems thinking
Anna Hughes, Otago Polytechnic 2009
“Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-
called scientific knowledge” Thomas Edison
1. Nothing disappears!
• there is no “away” to throw your rubbish
2. Everything spreads!
• all products break down eventually
3. It is the material structure and quality of matter that we
consume
• energy and matter combined into useful / valuable forms
4. Plants using solar energy are the only net producers of
structure and quality
• photosynthesis “pays the bills” and retains order
Sustainability – the science
Copyright © The Natural Step
Accumulating concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust
Accumulating concentrations of synthetic substances that do not easily break down in nature
Destruction of natural systems
Barriers to people meeting their basic needs
4 basic disruptions to natural cycles
Copyright © The Natural Step
What is sustainable?
1. We take what nature replaces.
2. We make what nature can process.
3. We avoid breaking nature.
4. We are equitable.
Copyright © The Natural Step
The system conditions
In a sustainable society,
nature is not subject to systematically increasing…
1. concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust
2. concentrations of substances produced by society
3. degradation by physical means
and in that society,
people are not subject to conditions that systematically…
4. undermine their capacity to meet their needs.
Copyright © The Natural Step
WHAT WE TAKEContinually reduce and eliminate our dependence on mined metals, minerals and fossil fuels - extract less, reuse, recycle, use renewable resources
WHAT WE MAKEContinually reduce and eliminate our use of manufactured non-degradable chemicals and substances - use natural alternatives and recyclable materials
WHAT WE BREAKContinually reduce and eliminate our dependence on activities that cause physical encroachment upon the natural environment - draw resources from sustainably managed eco-systems, restore nature, protect biodiversity
HOW WE SHARE THE CAKEEnsure that people are treated fairly and with respect to enable them to meet their needs efficiently – look after people, share resources fairly
Sustainability objectives1
3
2
4
Adapted from The Natural Step Framework 4 System Conditions
• Reduce reliance on mined resources• What we take
• Use products and materials that nature can process• What we make
• Prevent destruction of natural environments• What we destroy
• Look after everybody in the process• How we share
Copyright © Adapted from The Natural Step Framework, 4 System Conditions
1
3
2
4
Operating within the System Conditions
Seeing the whole picture
Copyright © The Natural Step
Supply chain systems
The organisational system
What do we deliver?
Earlier stages inthe supplier
chain
Use of product/service
What do we depend on?
What is left?
2
3
Energy
Water
Transport
Land, Building, Equipment
Investment
People
Products
Services
Waste
By-products
1
Copyright © The Natural Step
Wh
at is left?
Manufacturing Process
Raw Materials
6% Product
94% Waste
0% Waste
US$33 trillion p.a.
Natural systems
Supply chain systems and life cycle thinking
The life of a …
Adapted from Forum for the Future’s ”Buying a Better World”
Raw materials extraction & processing
Manufacturing Transportation Use Disposal
Minerals, timber, oil, water, electricity, fossil fuels, pesticides, labour, $ etc
Heavy metals, greenhouse gases, persistent chemicals, dioxins, landfill waste, traffic congestion, illness, $ etc
Recycling and reuse
Lost in the details
Piecemeal approach
Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step
A systems approach
A systems approach
Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step
Structuredoverview
Know the rules, then set strategy
Copyright © BusinessLAB Ltd 2008
1.1. UnderstandUnderstand - what sustainable success means
2.2. VisionVision – using sustainability as a guiding light
3.3. BaselineBaseline - where are you now?
4.4. Plan / doPlan / do – set strategy / take action
5.5. MeasureMeasure - evaluate, review
Copyright © BusinessLAB Ltd 2008
Planning for sustainability
Understand
Vision
Baseline
Plan / do
Measure