The Natural Step Framework

Presentation at Living Green ConferenceDuluth, Minnesota February 2, 2008

Introduction

• The Natural Step framework• Eco-municipalities • Early Adopters Project

The Natural Step

The Natural Step is an international non-profit research, education and advisory organization that uses a science-based, systems framework to help organizations, individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward sustainability.

Who uses it?

Swedish Eco-municipalities

City of Madision, WI

The Natural Step Framework

1. A shared science- and systems-based definition for sustainability

2. A decision-making framework and process to help organizations and communities plan for sustainability

3. A compass to help us know if we’re moving in the right direction

Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt

Find fundamental principles of indisputable relevance, and thereafter ask the advice of others on how to apply them.

Why are we talking about

sustainability?

Our planet is in trouble

Growing Awareness

Understanding the Sustainability Challenge

The Funnel as a Metaphor

The Sustainability Challenge

Environmental?Economic?

Social?Cultural?

*Resources *Ecosystem services

declining

increasing

*Global population*Demand for resources *Demand for ecosystem

services

Time

Ecosystem Services

Some examples:• Purification of water and air• Regulation of chemical composition of atmosphere/oceans• Decomposition of wastes• Natural pest & disease control by birds, insects, bats &

other organisms• Formation of topsoil & soil fertility• Protection against harmful cosmic radiation• Regulation of local and global climate• Pollination• Primary producers of basic necessities – food, fiber, water

The Sustainability Challenge

environmenteconomy

society

Dimensions of Sustainability

Society

Economy Environment

Conventional Thinking

Traditionally, we try to understand complex systems by reducing the whole and studying the individual parts.

This is called reductionist thinking.

Systems Thinking

But…

We know that the properties of systems depend on the relationships between the parts as much as the parts themselves.

When you dissect the system, you destroy the pattern of relationships.

We mustWe must

look atlook at

the whole ...the whole ...

… … and notand not

get stuckget stuck

on detailson details

Systems Thinking

A Systems Perspective

The Earth as a system

Sustainability – a Systems Perspective

Closed System with respect to matter

Slow geological cycles -

materials from the Earth’s

crust

Open System with respect to energy

Sustainability is about the ability of these cycles to run forever.

Photosynthesis is the primary producer

1) Nothing disappears2) Everything disperses

Humans are inherently part of this system

Sustainability – Mechanisms for Un-

sustainability

1. A systematic increase in concentration of matter from the Earth’s crust

1

2. A systematic increase in concentration of substances produced by society

2

3. A systematic physical deterioration

3

4. Barriers to people meeting their needs worldwide

4

Basic Conditions for Sustainability

concentrations of substances extracted from the earth's crust

concentrations of substances produced by society

degradation by physical means

and, in that society…

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:

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2

1

Basic Ways in Which We Are Un-Sustainablewe dig stuff (like heavy metals and fossil fuels) out of the Earth’s crust and allow it to build up faster than nature can cope with it

we create man-made compounds and chemicals (like pesticides and fire retardants in carpets, etc.) and allow them to build up faster than nature can cope with them

we continuously damage natural systems and the free services they provide (including climate regulation and water filtration) by physical means (for example, overharvesting and paving wetlands)

And . . .

we live in and create societies in which many people cannot meet their basic needs (for example, to find affordable housing)

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2

1

FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS

AffectionProtection

Understanding

Participation

Subsistence

Freedom

Identity Idleness

Creation

Global Human Needs

Sustainability Objective 1

Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the buildup of materials taken from the Earth’s crust. This includes fossil fuels and their associated wastes.

Scarce metals Abundant metals

Fossil fuels Renewables

Inefficient use Efficient use

Dissipative use Tight technical cycles

Sustainability Objective 2

Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the buildup of synthetic substances produced by society.

Dissipative use

Persistent and unnatural

Abundant and breakdown easily

Tight technical cycles

Inefficient use Efficient use

Sustainability Objective 3

Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the ongoing physical degradation of Nature.

Inefficient use of resources and land

Resources from poorly managed ecosystems

Resources from well-managed ecosystems use

Efficient use of resources and land

Sustainability Objective 4

Unsafe working and living environments

Economic barriers

Safe working and living environments

Sufficient resources for livelihood

Political oppression Political freedom

Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to conditions that undermine people’s ability to meet their basic needs.

“Knowing where we want to go will help us get there”

Key Concepts

Backcasting from Principles and the

ABCD Methodology

Backcasting

...looking ’back’ to the present and designing strategic, step-wise actions...current

reality

time

Backcasting from Sustainability Principles

...looking ’back’ to the present and designing strategic, step-wise solutions...current

reality

time

Generic Planning Framework

“D” Step

Right direction?

Flexible Platform?

Return on investment?

time

Review - Key Concepts

The Funnel

Backcasting

Principles of Sustainability

A growing movement

Community stories

An eco-municipality aspires to develop an ecologically, economically, and socially healthy community for the long term, using The Natural Step Framework for sustainability as a guide, and a democratic, highly participative development process as the method.

Swedish Eco-municipalities

What’s Happening in Our Area?

Wisconsin Eco-Municipalities

City of Washburn

City of Ashland

City of Madison

City of Bayfield

Town of Bayfield

Douglas County

Johnson Creek

City of Marshfield

City of Manitowoc

City of Neenah

City of Menasha

Town of Cottage Grove

La Crosse

La Crosse County

City Beloit

City of Baraboo

_________________________

Duluth, MN

Early Adopters for Sustainability

• Model rooted in the theory of innovation diffusion – from innovators, to early adopters, to early majority, to critical mass

• Recent applications as part of Natural Step program in Canadian communities of Whistler and Canmore

• Green Team Network in Chequamegon Bay

• Twin Ports Early Adopters Project coming in the spring/summer

Sustainable Twin Ports Early Adopters Project

• Partnership Sustainable Twin Ports– Sustainable Duluth– We Mean Green (Knight Creative Communities

Initiative)

• “Eco-resolutions”– City of Duluth– Douglas County

• Project has been funded by local foundations– Zeppa Foundation– Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

The Basics

• Twelve to fifteen early adopter organizations• Two to five participants per organization • Ten days of training over one year• Baseline evaluations• Developing a vision of a sustainable

organization• Action planning and implementation• Documentation, peer learning, and sharing with

broader community

Key Strengths

• Creation of local role models and success stories that inspire rest of community about sustainability

• Development of a shared understanding of and language for sustainability among leading organizations in the community or area

Recruitment Criteria

• Candidate organizations are recognized community leaders;

• they have an interest in sustainability; and

• they collectively represent the breadth of the community or area.

For Additional Information

Sustainable Twin Ports Contacts

• Jan Karon – 218-722-7200; skaron@chartermi.net

• Jerry Hembd – 715-394-8208; jhembd@uwsuper.edu

Thank You