Sustainability: How do we move from rhetoric to reality?

Sustainability: Sustainability: How do we move from How do we move from

rhetoric to reality?rhetoric to reality?

principlesprinciples


policypolicy


policypolicy

practicepractice


policypolicy

praxispraxis

To be useful, principles of To be useful, principles of sustainability must:sustainability must:

be easily understoodbe easily understood be applicable in many contextsbe applicable in many contexts be transferrable across scalesbe transferrable across scales translate well from fundamental values translate well from fundamental values

into applied policy and practical actioninto applied policy and practical action identify possibilities for identify possibilities for radical radical

transformative changetransformative change AND AND positive incremental changepositive incremental change

Some earlySome early

Principles of Sustainability Principles of Sustainability in the literature:in the literature:

Our Common Future (WCED 1987)Our Common Future (WCED 1987) Principles defining sustainable development Principles defining sustainable development (OSEM 1989)(OSEM 1989) Defining a sustainable society Defining a sustainable society (Robinson (Robinson et et alal . 1990,1996) . 1990,1996) Agenda 21 (1992)Agenda 21 (1992) Six principles of sustainable development Six principles of sustainable development (ORTEE 1992)(ORTEE 1992) Guideposts for a sustainable future Guideposts for a sustainable future (Nickerson 1993)(Nickerson 1993) Framework for Sustainable Development Framework for Sustainable Development (CIDA 1994)(CIDA 1994) The Natural Step The Natural Step (Robert (Robert et et alal . 1994) . 1994) Sustainability Principles Sustainability Principles (ORTEE 1994), etc.(ORTEE 1994), etc.

Recent compilation of Recent compilation of Principles of SustainabilityPrinciples of Sustainability

http://iisd1.iisd.ca/sd/principle.asphttp://iisd1.iisd.ca/sd/principle.asp

-IISD (Winnipeg)-IISD (Winnipeg)

Guideposts for SustainabilityGuideposts for Sustainability(after Nickerson, 1993)(after Nickerson, 1993)

Activities are Activities are sustainable sustainable when they:when they:

1.1. Use materials in continuous cycles.Use materials in continuous cycles.

2.2. Use continuously reliable sources of Use continuously reliable sources of energy.energy.

3.3. Encourage desirable human traitsEncourage desirable human traits(equity; creativity; communication; (equity; creativity; communication; coordination; appreciation; intellectual coordination; appreciation; intellectual and and spiritual development).spiritual development).

One example:One example:

Guideposts for SustainabilityGuideposts for SustainabilityActivities are Activities are not sustainable not sustainable when they:when they:

4.4. Require continual inputs of non-renewable Require continual inputs of non-renewable resources.resources.

5.5. Use renewable resources faster than their Use renewable resources faster than their rate of renewal. rate of renewal.

6. 6. Cause cumulative degradation of the Cause cumulative degradation of the environment.environment.

7. 7. Require resources in quantities that could Require resources in quantities that could never be available for people everywhere.never be available for people everywhere.

8. 8. Lead to the extinction of other life forms.Lead to the extinction of other life forms.

……a course or general plan of action a course or general plan of action to be adopted by a government, to be adopted by a government, party, person, etc.party, person, etc.

- Concise Oxford Dictionary

……a selected, planned line of conduct a selected, planned line of conduct in the light of which individual in the light of which individual decisions are made and coordination decisions are made and coordination achievedachieved

- Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary

policypolicy

policypolicydescriptiondescription

analysisanalysis linkageslinkages

implicationsimplicationsalternativesalternativesformulationformulation

the policy the policy making processmaking process

simplified...simplified...

policy makingpolicy making Ask yourself 3 questions Ask yourself 3 questions regarding the policy issue:regarding the policy issue: where are we now?where are we now?

where do we want to be?where do we want to be? how do we get from where we how do we get from where we

are to where we want to be?are to where we want to be?

policy makingpolicy making where are we now?where are we now?

...what is the ...what is the existingexisting real-world real-world situation and policy climate situation and policy climate

surrounding the issue?surrounding the issue?

policy makingpolicy making where do we want to be?where do we want to be?

...describe the ...describe the desirabledesirable real- real-world situation, policy goals world situation, policy goals

and objectives surrounding the and objectives surrounding the issue issue

policy makingpolicy making how do we get from where we how do we get from where we

are to where we want to be?are to where we want to be?

……details and implementation steps details and implementation steps for the new policy, accounting for for the new policy, accounting for

real-world opportunities and real-world opportunities and obstaclesobstacles

policy makingpolicy making must consider:must consider:

- values and ideologiesvalues and ideologies- jurisdictional realitiesjurisdictional realities- biophysical / ecological constraintsbiophysical / ecological constraintseconomic, social, political contraints- economic, social, political contraints- patterns of human behaviourpatterns of human behaviour etc.!etc.!

a policy examplea policy example Bottled water Bottled water

at Brockat Brock- Sold in vending Sold in vending

machines campus-machines campus-widewide

policy makingpolicy making- Growing global concern about the waste Growing global concern about the waste

and impacts of plastic bottle packagingand impacts of plastic bottle packaging

policy makingpolicy making- Growing global concern about the waste Growing global concern about the waste

and impacts of plastic bottle packagingand impacts of plastic bottle packaging- Many governments, institutions, Many governments, institutions,

organizations and municipalities have organizations and municipalities have banned the sale of bottled water in their banned the sale of bottled water in their jurisdictions jurisdictions (see Council of Canadians list)(see Council of Canadians list)

- E.g., Niagara College E.g., Niagara College (see Niagara at Large article) (see Niagara at Large article) http://niagaraatlarge.com/2012/08/29/niagara-college-bans-sale-of-bottled-water-on-campus/http://niagaraatlarge.com/2012/08/29/niagara-college-bans-sale-of-bottled-water-on-campus/

Why not at Brock?Why not at Brock?

policy makingpolicy making- Context: Context:

The Story of Bottled Water (2010)The Story of Bottled Water (2010)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0

Production partners: Production partners: Corporate Accountability International, Environmental Corporate Accountability International, Environmental Working Group, Food & Water Watch, Pacific Institute, and Working Group, Food & Water Watch, Pacific Institute, and Polaris InstitutePolaris Institute

References: References: http://storyofstuff.org/pdfs/StoryOfBottledWater_pdfs.ziphttp://storyofstuff.org/pdfs/StoryOfBottledWater_pdfs.zip


values and ideologiesvalues and ideologies

-Brock has an official Sustainability Brock has an official Sustainability Coordination CommitteeCoordination Committee

-in principlein principle, Brock University , Brock University administration upholds the values and administration upholds the values and ideology of sustainabilityideology of sustainability

jurisdictional realitiesjurisdictional realities

-BUSUBUSU has jurisdiction over its own has jurisdiction over its own property and leased premises (e.g., Student property and leased premises (e.g., Student Centre, General Brock Store)Centre, General Brock Store)-Brock UniversityBrock University controls and contracts controls and contracts out food services on the rest of campusout food services on the rest of campus-RFPs go out every few yearsRFPs go out every few years-profits are sharedprofits are shared



-Successful food service contract bidder Successful food service contract bidder (currently Sodexho) gets a (currently Sodexho) gets a corporate corporate monopolymonopoly on on allall food service food service

-Sodexho may have subcontracts with Sodexho may have subcontracts with some brands (e.g., Tim Horton’s), but some brands (e.g., Tim Horton’s), but they still control what food is availablethey still control what food is available



-Brock is Brock is a Pepsi a Pepsi universityuniversity


jurisdictional realitiesjurisdictional realities-Brock and Sodexho have Brock and Sodexho have an exclusive an exclusive multi-year vending multi-year vending contract with Pepsi, in contract with Pepsi, in exchange for a exchange for a substantial corporate substantial corporate donationdonation-AquaFina water AquaFina water is a Pepsi brandis a Pepsi brand


biophysical / ecological constraintsbiophysical / ecological constraints

- biophysical / ecological situation biophysical / ecological situation would be improved if bottled water would be improved if bottled water were banned at Brockwere banned at Brock


economic, social, political constraintseconomic, social, political constraints- Sale of bottled water is lucrativeSale of bottled water is lucrative- Sodexho corporate policy does Sodexho corporate policy does notnot

support ban on bottled watersupport ban on bottled water- Sodexho management questions the Sodexho management questions the

validity of environmental concernsvalidity of environmental concerns- Terms of current contract do not allow Terms of current contract do not allow

easy intervention by Brock administrationeasy intervention by Brock administration


patterns of human behaviourpatterns of human behaviour- Bottled water is convenient ->Bottled water is convenient ->

Brock community continues to buy it Brock community continues to buy it despite costdespite cost

Gasoline: Gasoline: currently ~ $1.31 per litrecurrently ~ $1.31 per litre

Aquafina water: Aquafina water: currently ~ $4.00 per litrecurrently ~ $4.00 per litre


Why not at Brock?Why not at Brock?patterns of human behaviourpatterns of human behaviour

- Perceptions of poor tap water quality Perceptions of poor tap water quality persist, despite evidence to contrarypersist, despite evidence to contrary

- Alternatives are not easily available Alternatives are not easily available -> -> where is the nearest drinking fountain where is the nearest drinking fountain or water bottle filling station? or water bottle filling station?


Do your part!Do your part!

policy analysispolicy analysis

policy analysispolicy analysis3-stage approach3-stage approach

Stage 1:Stage 1: Description Description

Stage 2:Stage 2: Analysis and Linkages Analysis and Linkages

Stage 3:Stage 3: Implications and Implications and

Alternatives Alternatives

Stage 1:Stage 1: Description Description Who is the policy written Who is the policy written byby?? Who is the policy written Who is the policy written forfor?? When was it proposed?When was it proposed? Who could / should implement the policy? Do Who could / should implement the policy? Do

they have the power (constitutional, economic, they have the power (constitutional, economic, moral, etc.) to do so?moral, etc.) to do so?

What are the policy’s goals and objectives?What are the policy’s goals and objectives? What are the specific policy suggestions?What are the specific policy suggestions?

Stage 2:Stage 2: Analysis and Linkages Analysis and Linkages What is What is newnew about the policy? about the policy? Is it aligned with a particular set of values, or a Is it aligned with a particular set of values, or a

particular ideology?particular ideology? What connections are there between this policy What connections are there between this policy

and other policies in the same area?and other policies in the same area? What good and bad policy precedents are there What good and bad policy precedents are there

(using logical, empirical, or ethical evaluations)? (using logical, empirical, or ethical evaluations)?

more...more...

Stage 2:Stage 2: Analysis and Linkages Analysis and Linkages What subsequent policy / legislative / political / What subsequent policy / legislative / political /

practical changes have there been since this policy was practical changes have there been since this policy was proposed?proposed?

Are the goals and objectives appropriate? If so, by Are the goals and objectives appropriate? If so, by what standards? If not, why not?what standards? If not, why not?

Will the proposed mechanisms work? Is there a Will the proposed mechanisms work? Is there a plausible route from principles through policy to plausible route from principles through policy to practice?practice?

Are there any ways to ensure accountability for Are there any ways to ensure accountability for achieveing goals and objectives?achieveing goals and objectives?

Stage 3:Stage 3: Implications and Implications and AlternativesAlternatives

What are the What are the implicationsimplications (resultant effects) (resultant effects) of this policy, in all areas?of this policy, in all areas?

What policy What policy alternativesalternatives could you propose could you propose which would improve upon the existing which would improve upon the existing policy?policy?

policy makingpolicy making

Sustainability: How do we move from rhetoric to reality?

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