Agenda
• What is Sustainability?• What is Sustainable Production?• What is Sustainable Consumption?
• What is the Ecological Footprint?
• Evaluate your own EF
• How can SCP become a part of your lifestyle?
• SCP in your community
Sustainability
• Please name this term in your native language
• What does it mean for you
• Is it a well-known concept in your country
The term Sustainable Development can be defined several ways
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
The simultaneous pursuit of a triple bottom line: Economic prosperity Environmental quality Social equity
A better quality of life for everyone now and for generations to come
StakeholderValue
Another perspective is to identify where there can be value creation for stakeholders that
creates enterprise value.
EnterpriseValue
Access to education & health care
Social equity and justice
Cultural preservation
Ecosystem protection
Natural resource
conservation
Biological diversity
Poverty alleviation
Business opportunity
Economic growth and prosperity
Employee well-being
Right to operate
Eco-efficiency
Resource productivity
ROI
EVA
etc.
SocietalEcological Economic
CEOs of major corporations recognize the importance of sustainable development to business
I think it’s fair to state the case in rather stark terms that in the future, companies that are not sustainable—in the fullest sense of that term—will not be operationally or financially successful. It is doubtful they will even survive.
William S. Stavropoulos, President & CEO, Dow Chemical
The challenge of sustainable growth is not a philosophical issue. It is a nuts-and-bolts business reality. We made it the primary objective of our company, because we believe sustainable growth will be the common denominator of successful global companies in the 21st century.
Chad Holliday, Chairman and CEO, DuPont
Sustainability – or the capacity for continuance – is a concept of critical importance to all of us... Business has the skills, resources and knowledge to make a difference. The challenge is to grasp the opportunities it presents, openly and responsibly.
Paul Drechsler, Executive Director of ICI PLC & Chairman and Chief Executive of Quest International
The challenge of sustainable development arises from these two major converging trends
Decline in resource availability and ecosystems
Impact = Population x Consumption x Technology
Diminishing margin for action
Sustainability
These trends are leading to a decline in the health and capacity of natural systems worldwide.
• Biologists: greatest extinction rate in 63 million years
• Global 50% drop in freshwater available per person
• 13 out of 17 fisheries collapsed or endangered
• Forest losses equal to area of UK/year, plus reduced diversity, acid rain etc.
• 30-80% topsoil losses significantly reduce diversity, absorptive capacity, and agricultural productivity
Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuel and Cement
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
7000000
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
Mil
lion
Met
ric
Ton
s of
Car
bon
Central and South America
Africa
Far East
Centrally Planned Asia
Middle East
Centrally Planned Europe
Oceania
Western Europe
Germany
North America
Source: CDIAC
Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are rising.
Surface temperatures have warmed over the past century.
WORLDWORLDRESOURCESRESOURCESINSTITUTEINSTITUTE
At the same time, millions of people worldwide are struggling to meet their basic needs.
• 1.3 billion people live in absolute poverty, with incomes less than $1/day (World Bank)
• 841 million people in developing countries suffer from basic protein-energy malnutrition (UN Food and Agriculture Organization)
• Nearly 1 billion people either cannot work or are employed in jobs where they cannot support their family (International Labor Organization)
11.7%
2.3%
1.9%
1.4%
Richest Fifth
Poorest Fifth
(UNDP, Human Development Report 1992)
82.7%
Distribution of Total World Income
Please read the question and tick the most relevant box 5: Strongly agree / 4: Agree / 3: Neutral / 2: Disagree / 1: Strongly Disagree
• 1. Most environmental problems can be solved by advances in technology. • 2. Most environmental problems can be solved through the production of wealth
in a free market. • 3. Most environmental problems can be solved by a better redistribution of
wealth• 4. Most environmental problems can be solved by changes in our life style.• 5. Human beings have the right to exploit Nature for their own profit.• 6. Human beings have a duty to preserve the environment for future generations.• 7. Environmental sustainability is the most important concern for human society.• 8. Human welfare is the most important concern for human society. • 9. The rights of other living organisms are subordinate to those of human beings, • 10. It is OK to sacrifice environmental quality if this benefits human society as a
whole. • 11. Human beings are the “crown of all creation”.• 12. Human beings are the “cancer of the Earth”. • 13. Human beings are merely a “cog in the machinery of Nature”.• 14. ‘Human beings and Nature are One’ a single living wholeness.
Given the scale and nature of environmental and social problems, we need new mental models and
ways of thinking to solve them.
Problems cannot be solved within the mindset that created them.
Albert Einstein
A Crumbling Paradigm
Industrial economic globalization: Has increased global inequity to its highest point
in history. Has accelerated the destruction of global
ecosystems. While dramatically increasing consumption, has
not increased levels of well-being and happiness accordingly.
Is dependent upon cheap, abundant fossil fuel energy which is becoming scarce and expensive.
Has an alternative!
Earth Crisis
In the last 50 years we’ve changed the ecosystem more than any other period in history.
Humans have increased the species extinction rate by 50 – 1,000 times.
In 2002 alone, natural capital was overdrawn by 23% 2.4% of total forests were deforested in the 1990s, we
now deforest at about 1% per year 40% of the global population suffers from water
shortages 3/4 of fishery stock is exploited 25% of coral reefs and 35% of mangrove forests are
gone
Globalization Conclusion
Industrial economic globalization, dependent upon cheap, abundant fossil fuels, is consuming resources at an unsustainable rate, degrading global ecosystems to the point of climate chaos, widening the gap between rich and poor, and is failing in its own goals of human development and well-being.
We need an alternative.
“Sustainability can be defined as the infinite lasting of vital human ecological support systems and resources, such as the planet's climatic system, systems of agriculture, industry, forestry, and fisheries, and human communities in general and the various systems upon which they depend”
Wikipedia
What is Sustainable Consumption?
• What do you think is Sustainable Consumption?– 5 points on what SC means to you– Share with rest of the group
Suggested scope of “Ethical Consumption” or “Socially Responsible
Consumerism”
Animal killing and welfareCarbon emissions/footprint/milesChild and female labour abuseCollective BargainingCommunity RelationsConsumption – Excesses/
LevelsEmployment SecurityEnvironmental ImpactEqual OpportunitiesFair PricingFair Trade
Human rights
Non-polluting activity
Organic Products
Packaging Excesses
Pollution levels and control
Safety & Quality Issues - ISO
Sustainability
Wasteful use of resources
Working conditions/sweatshops
Definition of “The Ethical Consumer”
An ‘ethical consumer’ looks for products which, above all, are both friendly to the environment and also to the people who produce them. They are aware of the consequences of production, consumption and disposal. They have clear expectations of how they expect a company to behave and expect ethical companies to conform to ethical standards.
Quote – Michelle Sohn (2005)– Brand and Business Strategist SA
What is the Ecological Footprint?• Ecological Footprint is the
land and water area that is required to support a defined human population and material standard indefinitely, using prevailing technology
What is the impact of our lifestyle on the earths resources?
Evaluate your Ecological Footprint
• How does your lifestyle affect the planet?
• Please estimate the impact you have on the Earth’s Environment
SCP
• Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is a holistic perspective on how society and economy can be better aligned with the goals of sustainability. SCP can be defined as:
• “the production and use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while minimising the use of natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardise the needs of future generations.”
• SCP is an overarching objective of and essential requirement for sustainable development.
How can SC become a part of your lifestyle?
• What can we do to reduce our EF– Your ideas in your life– Share with the group
Economic Localization
Helena Norberg-Hodge: “The essence of localisation is to enable communities around the world to diversify their economies so as to provide for as many of their needs as possible from relatively close to home…this does not mean eliminating trade altogether, as some critics like to suggest. It is about finding a more secure and sustainable balance between trade and local production.”
Michael Shuman: “Community self-reliance suggests personal responsibility, respect for others, and harmony with nature…addition of the word “community” underscores that the ultimate objective is a social and caring one.”
Sustainable Consumption in your Community
• What can you do to encourage Sustainable Consumption in your community?– For example, how can water be better
protected– Or how can alternate sources of energy be
used
Time
Su
stai
nab
ilit
y
Rio 1992
Jo’burg 2002
Global trends in sustainability
Stockholm 1972
Business Business AgendaAgenda
Compliance
Cleaner Production
Eco-Efficiency
Corporate SocialResponsibility
EHS Manage
ment
Corporate
Sustainability
Strategy
Government Government AgendaAgenda
Command & Control
Legislation
Co-regulatory /
Voluntary
Economic Instruments
Sustainable Livelihoods
Legislation?
Partnership
CSR in EUEU
lead
ers
hip
Bu
sin
ess
lead
ers
hip
20102000 2005
Lisbon Summit I
Lisbon Summit II
Creation CSR
Europe
1st European Business
Convention on CSR
Launch of European Marketplace & Roadmap for
competitive and sustainable enterprise
1st EU Communicatio
n 2002
EU Multi-stakeholder
Forum
European Business
Campaign on CSR
Business Roadmap
2nd EU Communicatio
n 2006
Delors Appeal
1995
European Alliance on CSR
EABIS-2003
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