System Conditions And Thinking
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1. The document discusses sustainability and systems thinking, noting that everything is interconnected and nothing disappears, as there is no "away" to throw things. 2. It outlines four basic disruptions to natural cycles: accumulating concentrations of substances from the Earth's crust; accumulating synthetic substances; destruction of natural systems; and barriers to meeting basic human needs. 3. The key principles of sustainability are outlined as taking only what nature replaces, making only what nature can process, avoiding breaking nature, and ensuring people can meet their basic needs.
System Conditions And Thinking
- 1. Sustainability : systems thinking Anna Hughes, Otago Polytechnic 2009
- 2. “ Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge” Thomas Edison
- 3. Nothing disappears! there is no “away” to throw your rubbish Everything spreads! all products break down eventually It is the material structure and quality of matter that we consume energy and matter combined into useful / valuable forms Plants using solar energy are the only net producers of structure and quality photosynthesis “pays the bills” and retains order Sustainability – the science Copyright © The Natural Step
- 4. Accumulating concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust Accumulating concentrations of synthetic substances that do not easily break down in nature Destruction of natural systems Barriers to people meeting their basic needs 4 basic disruptions to natural cycles Copyright © The Natural Step
- 5. What is sustainable? We take what nature replaces. We make what nature can process. We avoid breaking nature. We are equitable. Copyright © The Natural Step
- 6. The system conditions In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing … 1. concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust 2. concentrations of substances produced by society 3. degradation by physical means and in that society, people are not subject to conditions that systematically … 4. undermine their capacity to meet their needs. Copyright © The Natural Step
- 7. WHAT WE TAKE Continually reduce and eliminate our dependence on mined metals, minerals and fossil fuels - extract less, reuse, recycle, use renewable resources WHAT WE MAKE Continually reduce and eliminate our use of manufactured non-degradable chemicals and substances - use natural alternatives and recyclable materials WHAT WE BREAK Continually reduce and eliminate our dependence on activities that cause physical encroachment upon the natural environment - draw resources from sustainably managed eco-systems, restore nature, protect biodiversity HOW WE SHARE THE CAKE Ensure that people are treated fairly and with respect to enable them to meet their needs efficiently – look after people, share resources fairly Sustainability objectives Adapted from The Natural Step Framework 4 System Conditions 1 3 2 4
- 8. Reduce reliance on mined resources What we take Use products and materials that nature can process What we make Prevent destruction of natural environments What we destroy Look after everybody in the process How we share Copyright © Adapted from The Natural Step Framework, 4 System Conditions Operating within the System Conditions 1 3 2 4
- 9. Copyright © The Natural Step Supply chain systems Seeing the whole picture
- 10. The organisational system Copyright © The Natural Step What is left? What do we deliver? Earlier stages in the supplier chain Use of product/service What do we depend on? What is left? 2 3 Energy Water Transport Land, Building, Equipment Investment People Products Services Waste By-products 1
- 11. Manufacturing Process Raw Materials 6% Product 94% Waste 0% Waste US$33 trillion p.a. Natural systems
- 12. Supply chain systems and life cycle thinking The life of a … Adapted from Forum for the Future’s ” Buying a Better World ” Minerals, timber, oil, water, electricity, fossil fuels, pesticides, labour, $ etc Heavy metals, greenhouse gases, persistent chemicals, dioxins, landfill waste, traffic congestion, illness, $ etc Recycling and reuse Raw materials extraction & processing Manufacturing Transportation Use Disposal
- 13. Lost in the details
- 14. Piecemeal approach Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step
- 16. A systems approach Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step Structured overview
- 17. Know the rules, then set strategy Copyright © BusinessLAB Ltd 2008
- 18. Understand - what sustainable success means Vision – using sustainability as a guiding light Baseline - where are you now? Plan / do – set strategy / take action Measure - evaluate, review Copyright © BusinessLAB Ltd 2008 Planning for sustainability Understand Vision Baseline Plan / do Measure