Models of Sustainability

Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D.

The Limits Frame

David Orr:

A sustainable society does not undermine resource base and biotic stocks on which its future prosperity depends

Overshoot, Carrying Capacity, Finite Earth

LOAD

OVER SHOOT

COLLAPSE

Population x Demand =

Load

Time >

<PhantomCapacity>CARRYING CAPACITY

Tragedy of the Commons Frame

Individuals seek their self interest, hurt groups:

The Commons Conundrum---if 10 people share a common field with a carrying capacity of 30 cattle, it is in our individual interest to have 4 or 5 cattle, because the loss is shared.

Garrett Hardin’s Lifeboat Ethics

Systems frame

Can we depend upon required inputs and is there blowback from our outputs?

Modeling Complex Systems Cont.

• Von Bertalanffy---General Systems Theory

Through-put outputinput

SYSTEM:CLOSEDOR OPEN

Ecological Footprint Frame

How much demand does our lifestyle make on the environment, both in terms of demand for resources and for assimilative capacity for the pollution we create.

Equity Frame

• Environmental Justice

• Cross Generational

Lester Brown— A sustainable society is one that satisfies its needs without jeopardizing the prospects of future generations.

• Biocentric Equality

Renewability frame

Herman Daly’s (Daly and Cobb, 1992.)three common sense guidelines for a sustainable society:

• Are we employing renewable resources to the maximum amount allowed by their rate of renewal?

• Are nonrenewable resources used only when absolutely necessary, and then in the most limited and efficient way possible?

• Are we producing pollution beyond the assimilative capacity of the environment?

Entropy/laws of thermodynamics frame

How much disorder do we create?

How fast do we create it?

What types of disorder do we create?

Development Frame

Brundtlund: Sustainable Development

Lessen impact of rich and poor

Redefine development

Incorporates belief in growth and progress—society’s progression from primitive to advanced (Social Darwinism)

Incorporates belief in growth economics

Community Process Frame: creating sense of community and social purpose while

enhancing social relationships.• Forming coalitions• Creating community wide planning and visioning• Increasing opportunities to participate• Pedestrianism and public • Pride in community• Creation of a common culture while respecting diversity• Enhancing communication• Recognizing significant accomplishments• Create convivial functions and arts and Social events• Livelihood: Reorganizing work to give people time at

home, family, community

Steve Viederman

• A sustainable society is a participatory process that creates and pursues a vision of community that respects and makes prudent use of all of its resources—natural, human, human-created, social, cultural, scientific, etc.

• Sustainability seeks to ensure [for] the present [and succeeding] generation[s]… a high degree of economic security and can realize the democratic and popular participation [and] the wisdom and intelligence to use what is provided in an appropriate manner.