Sustainability is more about competence than values Karl-Henrik Robèrt Blekinge Institute of Technology The Natural Step Alliance for Strategic Sustainable Development • Conflict Resolution, Ben-Gurion Univ., Israel • Product-Service Innovation, BTH, Sweden • Complementary Currencies, Berkeley Univ., USA • Green Chemistry, Carneige Mellon Univ., USA • Industrial Ecology, Graz University, Austria • Sustainable Travel, KTH, Sweden • Energy Systems, LiU, Sweden • Water Management, Radboud University, Netherlands • Communication Strategies, Sheridan Institute, Canada • Rainforest Ecosystems, Univ. of Amazonas, Brazil • Agriculture, MTT, Finland 2011 The Natural Step McKinsey study of 2000 CEO: 50% sustainability is very, or extremely, important for the the respective company’s future. 1% defines what sustainability stands for Our greatest challenge is not... Climate change, pollution, deforestation, declining fresh-water tables, shrinking phosphate reserves, poverty, terrorism, financial crisis, greed… But... Incompetent leadership 2011 The Natural Step Threats Forests Agriculture Fisheries Ground water Climate Metals Phosphates POP’s Eutrophy Hormones Loss of trust Segregation Corruption Epidemias Poverty ... Opportunities Resource management Waste management Tax, legislation, insurance, loans New markets Innovation/design Trust Productivity, Transaction costs Brand Stories of meaning Team building Community … 2011 The Natural Step Threats Tid Forests Agriculture Fisheries Ground water Climate Metals Phosphates POP’s Eutrophy Hormones Loss of trust Segregation Corruption Epidemias Poverty ... Opportunities Resource management Waste management Tax, legislation, insurance, loans New markets Innovation/design Trust Productivity, Transaction costs Brand Stories of meaning Team building Community … 2011 The Natural Step Sustainability integrated into goals for companies/value-chains/regions/cities A. Sustainability principles as boundary conditions Backcasting D. Prioritize from C - Flexible platform? - Enough ROI? B. List current situation Aktionsprogram Vision Core Values Strategic goals C. List possible solutions Tid 2011 The Natural Step Tested in companies and cities ... • Övertorneå • Dublin • Robertsfors • Whistler • Karlskrona • North Vancouver • • • • (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Conclusion • SEKOM • Canmore • Morbegno • Halifax Greatest sustainability problem – incompetent leadership Misunderstandings rooted in old paradigm and lack of know-how Sustainability – greatest competitive advantage – all categories. Organizations now learn about: • Eindthoven • … Strategic sustainable development as a competitive advantage Sustainability is, at last, operationally defined A framework with support tools for systematic problem solving, planning, and leadership exist International research program between scientists, companies and municipalities/cities www.alliance-ssd.org 2011 The Natural Step ”Green Economy” Economic system is a human construct… …designed for something else… …that must be on the table for… …’economy’ to get a meaning So ”green economy” ought to mean a modified economic system, not running in the face of leaders who know what social and ecological sustainability is. ”The role for entrepreneurs to help develop a green economy” before ”The role of entrepreneurs in a green economy”. 2011 The Natural Step