introducing a framework for strategic sustainable development (in river delta’s) kirsten kuipers...

Introducing a Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (in River Delta’s)

Kirsten Kuipers & Dorri te Boekhorst

Building on the work of prof.dr. Karl-HenrikRobert (BIT Karlskrona)

December 3rd 2009

Outline of today and tomorrow

TODAY, December 3rd1. Starting up with personal views of and

connections to sustainable development2. Introducing systems thinking and the Framework

for Strategic Sustainable Development (known as The Natural Step Approach)

3. Looking at three cases as examples in applying the FSSD/TNS-model

4. Exploring the FSSD in depth: e-learning in teams5. Group assignments: working on a case you

choose yourselves; practice in applying the FSSD

Outline of today and tomorrow

TOMORROW, December 4th1. Continue to work on your own case;

preparing a presentation

2. Possibility for coaching / asking questions: Friday > 11.00 a.m.

3. Friday 2.45 p.m.: group presentations of the cases on which you applied the FSSD/TNS-framework

Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

Systems thinking

Individuals Groups


TID

• Forests

• Agriculture

• Fisheries

• Ground water

• Climate

• Metals and Chemicals

• Developing countries

• Global justice

• Interpersonal trust

• ”Stories of meaning”


Strategic opportunities…

…for those who foresee change:• Resource costs• Waste management• Tax, insurance, legislation, loans • International agreements• New markets• Trust • Citizens/employees• Trade value


People are fantastic!

So what’s the problem?


About drill-holes…


Structuredoverview

…and how to make use of drill-holes


Investing with success in mind…

Backcasting


Nobody can look into the future…


…but we can invent it!


Finding a unifying theory

Theoretical science Empirical Science


Principals…- Necessary- Enough- General- Concrete- Distinct

Sustainable Vision

Time

“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes, recognizing

patterns and interrelationships,

and learning how to structure those

interrelationships in more effective,

efficient ways.” Peter Senge

Systems thinking

International NGO

Scientific consensus

TNS Framework

Leadership

Strategic Investments


So what could we agree on?

Level 1, System

Slow geological cycles (volcano eruptions and weathering)

Slow geological cycles

(sedimentation and mineralization)

Closed system with respect to matter

1) Nothing disappears

2) Everything disperses

Open system with respect to

energy

« Photosynthesis pays the bill » Sustainability

is about the ability of

these cycles to run

indefinitely

Cycles of nature

How we influence the cycles

Relatively large flows of materials from the

Earth’s crust

Introduce persistent compounds foreign to

nature

Physically inhibit nature’s ability to

run cycles

Barriers to people

meeting their basic needs worldwide


11:59.30

11/40th of a second before midnight: the Industrial Revolution1/80th of a second before midnight: we discover oil1/200th of a second before midnight, we discover how to split atoms.

CyanidesCarbon dioxideMethaneammonia

First plant cellapproximately 3.5 billion years ago

First green plant cellapproximately 1.5 billion years ago

First animal cellapproximately 0.7-1 billion years ago

4.5 Billion Years


Time?

Evolution/Adaptation/Extinction?Which Species?

...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

Level 2, Success

A

BC

D

Level 3, Strategy

The ABCD-method for Backcasting


Direction right?

Flexible platform to full success?

Good return on investment?

If we want to win in a complex system, we need to be able to define what success would be. This can generally not be done at the level of detail, but needs a principled definition.

A principled definition of sustainable success

Maslows hierarchy of needs

Matrix of human needs

FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS

AffectionProtection

Understanding

Participation

Subsistence

Identity Idleness

Creation

Freedom


Organisation/Project

Time

Level 4, Action


Time

IKEA Hydro Polymers Home Depot Starbucks coffee Electrolux Nike InterfaceMatshushita/Panasonic Scandic Hilton Skanska…


Time

AgricultureForestryEnergyTrafficMaterials…


- from ”fix” to innovative systems solutions -

Many actors, same language


Time

ÖvertorneåSEKO (70 local gov’s)WhistlerCalgaryFCMSeattlePortlandAPAEU Round TableChequamegon BayMadison W IPortsmouth NHLawrence NJPittsburgh/Vandergrift RAEvanston ILDuluth MNJefferson County WICorvallis OR…


Strategic opportunities…

• Resource potential huge• Step-by-step while ROI• Main strategy to solve trade-offs • Save - change • Synergies between sectors and actors


ISO14001

Triple bottom line

Sustainable growth

Faktor 4

Cleaner Production

Life Cycle

AnalysisZero

EmissionRenewables

RMA

Ecological Footprinting

Sustainability analysis

Ecoliteracy

Factor 10

Hannover Principles

CSR

NaturalCapitalism

Miljömålen

EM

ASEECA

LCA

Ecoeffici

ency Agenda

21

Sustainabili

ty

Level 5, Tools

Time

System Overview

© 2000 The Natural Step. All rights reserved.

Backcasting from principles(like chess)Organization X

Pioneers of tools:ISO 14001IndicatorsLCAEcological footprintsFactor 10Zero EmissionNatural CapitalismCleaner Technology…


Many good tools and concepts

Different strengths and gaps

None can replace structured systems perspective

Such increases the value of concepts and tools

Don’t wait for tools – get going!

Select and inform tools as needed

Robèrt, K.-H., Schmidt-Bleek, B., Aloisi de Larderel, J., Basile, G., Jansen, L., Kuehr, R., Price Thomas, P. Suzuki, M., Hawken, P., and Wackernagel, M. 2001. Strategic sustainable development – selection, design and synergies off applied tools -. The Journal of Cleaner Production, 10 (2002) 197-214.

Conclusions


“We cannot afford sustainable development!”

(Invalid; it is un-sustainability we cannot afford)

Objection 1


“We cannot afford sustainable development now! ”

(Invalid; ROI step deals with this)

Objection 2


“We can’t afford to go all the way!”

(Invalid; bankruptcy would only follow later)

Objection 3


“We cannot afford going all the way fast enough on our own!”

(Valid; cross-sector cooperation necessary)

Objection 4


Examples:

OK and alcohols

Electrolux and batteries.

Whistler

A

BC

D

Resort Community of Whistler

•A world destination resort

• 2.5+ million visitors, $2 billion+ /year

• Rapid growth

• Winter Olympics 2010

Resort Community of Whistler

An Unlikely Story...

• ”Indulgence and Excess”

• Cheap Hydro power

• Plentiful fossil fuels

• ”Expand production to meet growth...”

www.whistler.ca

WHISTLER2020 Comprehensive Sustainability Plan

Strategies, actions

20602020 Timewww.whistler.ca

2005

Vision of Success

(participatory)

Sustainability Principles

(science-based)

Current reality

Backcasting from principles and Whistler 2020 Vision

Does this action move Whistler toward our shared Vision of Success?

Does this action move Whistler toward our shared Sustainability Principles?

Is the action a good financial investment?

Does the action present a flexible platform for further movement toward Success in the future?

22

4433

11

i.e. avoid ’blind’

investments!

Today’s decisions…… guided by strategic questions

www.whistler.ca

Comprehensive(16 strategies, 1000’s of actions)

Equipment (e.g. Automobiles)

Urban Design/ Re-design

years

space

~10 ~50 100+

100x m

10x m

1000x m

Infrastructure Projects, Community Development

Adapted from Jaccard et. al 1997

Time Scales and Investments

An Example...

~$42 Cdn. million; 50 km., high pressure, capacity for doubled

energy loads

Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline...

Challenges…

Towards Energy Sustainability vision?

Towards Sustainability Principles? (incremental GHG improvement over propane)

Flexible platform?

Good ROI?

• Capital cost ~$30 million (vs. previous $42m.)

• New Whistler Energy Utility

And...

** New ”Energy Services” business unit (for gas company)

New Proposal

e.g. Olympic VillageWas: 100% Natural GasNow: 100% Renewables

WHISTLER2020

“Best Long Term Planning”

2005 LivCom Awards, La Caruna, Spain

WHISTLER2020 Moving Toward a Sustainable Future

www.whistler.ca

StrategicComprehensiveParticipatory/decentralised

Case of Tualatin Valley Water District (USA)

The good thing is that it has been possible to…

1. …demonstrate a self-benefit of individual organizations to plan systematically towards sustainability,

2. …produce a framework for planning and selection of tools,

3. …growing the number of positive role models working like this,

But the sad thing is that…

…many problems remain that slow the process:

1. Competitive advantage to not sharing knowledge.

2. Weak political leadership on Sustainability.

3. Mass medial focus on sensations rather than solutions.

4. Current economic framework dysfunctional (perverse subsidies, obsolete taxes).

5. …and Scientific community remains largely reductionist.

Our hope relies on Local Governments!

Whealthy Rhine

Regional cooperation for flood safety, spatial quality and economic development

Province of Gelderland, City region Arnhem Nijmegen, Region Rivierenland, Province of Gelderland, City region Arnhem Nijmegen, Region Rivierenland, 15 municipalities, Water board, Rijkswaterstaat, Radboud University, 15 municipalities, Water board, Rijkswaterstaat, Radboud University,

knowlegde institues, national fundings, advisories. knowlegde institues, national fundings, advisories.

Multi-stakeholder cooperation project

1. Shared regional vision (umbrella for local projects): what is the problem, what are the outlines and preconditions of the solution? Time period: 2010-2050

2. Dialogue with other municipalities, and other stakeholders: companies, NGO’s, inhabitants, land owners

3. Prepare a package of measures, find financial instruments (business partners)

Method project Wealthy Rhine

http://www.gelderland.nl/

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

9 project areas

Sharing local wishes, dreams,

and knowledge

Sharing local wishes, dreams, and knowledge


Vision: Inspiration Atlas


Ubbergen

Find local solutions, within the Find local solutions, within the visionvision

Getting started yourselves

Apply the 4 system conditions to the Wealthy Rhine Case

Prv RU

-Project coördinatie (financieel/inh.)-Trainingen ondersteuners-Bijeenkomsten, verslaglegging-Knowledge gaps financiering, juridische belemmeringen-Inbreng “Best practices”-Nieuwsbrieven

-Opdrachtgever aan RU-Sturing vanuit beleidskader-Bewaken samenhang en synergie

Voorzitter

Ondersteuners

WWDuurzaamoverkoepelend

Ondersteuning CoP’s (lijnen zijn illustratief)

Organization Toward a Sustainable Wealthy Rhine

Prv

Thank you!

[email protected]

introducing a framework for strategic sustainable development (in river delta’s) kirsten kuipers...

Documents

natural step slide

system slide

nature slide

fssd slide

future slide

natural step systems

fssdtns framework slide

natural step people