Caption: "Sadly, the only proven way to achieve global GHG reductions so far has been economic recession." Comment: Fortunately, shifting to 100% renewables would catalyze the global transition to durable prosperity and community well-being in a way that would eliminate GHG production AND grow the economy <<continued>>. (See also: strategic sustainability, natural capitalism, its four strategies, and RMI's Reinventing Fire [energy] Program.)
Quick access to key sustainability resources from an emerging whole systems and critical-path perspective: pioneers, leaders, powerful ideas, path-breaking initiatives, beyond best practices, important events. Comment. Search. Go to the Sust-Clips Index of categories. See also: the State of Sustainability (SOS)TM Journal for commentary.
September 26, 2011 at 08:29PM Researching Sustainability, A Guide to Social Science Methods, Practice and Engagement, Edited by Alex Franklin, Paul Blyton, Published August 1st 2011 by Routledge – 352 pages
This book is for students and researchers across the social sciences who are planning, conducting and disseminating research on sustainability-related issues. Real-world sustainability problems cross
September 26, 2011 at 08:17PM A new book of integrative research: Transitions to Sustainable Development, New Directions in the Study of Long Term Transformative Change, By John Grin, Jan Rotmans, Johan Schot, Published August 9th 2011 by Routledge – 398 pages, and blog.
Over the past few decades, there has been a growing concern about the social and environmental risks which have come along with the progress achieved through a variety of mutually intertwined modernization processes. In recent years these concerns are transformed into a widely-shared sense of urgency, partly due to events such as the various pandemics threatening livestock, and increasing awareness of the risks and realities of climate change, and the energy and food crises. This sense of urgency includes an awareness that our entire social system is in need of fundamental transformation. But like the earlier transition between the 1750's and 1890's from a pre-modern to a modern industrial society, this second transition is also a contested one. Sustainable development is only one of many options. This book addresses the issue on how to understand the dynamics and governance of the second transition dynamics in order to ensure sustainable development. It will be necessary reading for students and scholars with an interest in sustainable development and long-term transformative change.
September 25, 2011 at 08:09PM Illuminating innovation for sustainability as the only platform left for sustainable profits. Explore the confernece. Presented for business, the same is true for communities, but will require development for the more complex application.
September 25, 2011 at 08:02PM Vancouver, Canada — Business leaders, corporate executives, NGOs, and government policymakers from around the world will meet in Vancouver, March 14-16, 2012 to explore corporate sustainability, climate change, carbon management, clean energy, sustainable finance, and greener cities. Special subthemes for GLOBE 2012 will include: clean technology, water, sustainable retail, and Auto FutureTech: The future of the auto industry.
September 19, 2011 at 03:33PM Access the reading list, design portal, teaching materials on the Bimimicry Institute's resources page.
September 19, 2011 at 12:34PM The Biomimicry Institute now offers a 6-hour on-line course, an Introduction to Biomimicry. It is designed for teachers, but could be useful for anyone. The cost is $65.
September 19, 2011 at 10:24AM The Corporate Eco Forum (CEF) is an invitation-only membership organization for large companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to environment as a business strategy issue. CEF’s mission is to help accelerate sustainable business innovation by creating the best neutral space for business leaders to strategise and exchange best-practice insights. Members represent 18 industries and have combined revenues exceeding $3 trillion.
Subscribe to their weekly Eco-Briefing to stay abrest of leading-edge transformational change in the business community.
September 19, 2011 at 10:21AM Institute for Global Futures is a San Francisco based think tank that forecasts innovations and trends. IGF provides keynote presentations, futures research services, and strategy consulting to the Fortune 1000, associations and governments. IGF was founded by Dr. James Canton in 1990, and enables clients to: (1) better anticipate future trends in business, society and the marketplace; (2) develop and effectively deploy business strategy.
September 18, 2011 at 12:43PM See SustainAbility's report and video summary on key trends and implicationa for sustainability.
September 17, 2011 at 04:56PM Extended Producer Responsibility policies could drive the transformation of material flows in our economy from the expensive and ultimately catastrophic one-way, linear flows from ground to product to land fill, to the infinite reuse loop of cyclical flows. Along with shifting to 100% renewable energy and organic agricultural practices, shifting to the infinite value harvest of cyclical flows is one of the keys to creating a sustainable regenerative economy. In the meantime, "The US can overcome thirty years of stagnation in waste management policy and divert more than 70% of solid waste from landfill, according to a White Paper just released by Natural Logic, Inc." Read the press release and then Natural Logic's white paper.
September 17, 2011 at 04:31PM Listen to this conversation with game-changers at the 2011 plenary session of SOCAP11 (Social Capital Markets) conference. They share their perspectives on purpose, commitment and impact, and our future directions in the sustainability game. (45m video).
September 17, 2011 at 03:31PM Gil Friend (CEO, Natural Logic) and Paul Herman (founder HIP Investment advisors) discuss the state of sustainable finance in an informal unscripted conversation this past May, 2011. Check out Gil's blog for a basic orientation and a few resources. The frame for the conversation is as follows: "The CFO "owns" risk -- and in
September 17, 2011 at 03:18PM Check out the 6-month-long leading by design fellows program at San Francisco's California College of the Arts.
CCA's Leading by Design Fellows Program is a highly immersive, creative educational experience for senior professionals and business managers who want to accelerate and deepen
September 17, 2011 at 03:04PM Check out Gil Friend's (CEO, Natural Logic-Strategic Advisors to the Sustainable Economy) recommended resources for an introduction to sustainability--the challenge, an accurate understanding, an effective response.
September 16, 2011 at 05:16PM There have been many funds around that use social and environmental screens as a way of inoculating investment against the worst excesses of modern capitalism. However, few, if any, use The Natural Steps four systems conditions and Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development as the basis for identifying firms that are using sustainability as an innovation and transformational platform. Such an approach guards against the presently invisible and uninsurable risks of our unsustainable economy and as a bridge to and creator of the transition to a sustainable/regenerative economy and society. The Portfolion 21 Fund appears to be one.
September 16, 2011 at 04:55PM With the main streaming of sustainability over the past few years, and the associated integration of various roles into organizations and the labor market, has come some recognition of common elements of an emerging sustainability professionals career track. The International Society of Sustainability Professionals is one of the organizations on the business sustainability side that is advancing this effort. Their recently released research study answered the question, “What should a sustainability professional know how to do?” The results will be useful for everyone entering and working in this field.
September 16, 2011 at 04:49PM Regina Hauser, Executive Director of The Natural Step USA Network, argues that "Leadership from the C-level or equivalent hierarchy." is the necessary ingredient for sustainability success. That leadership role requires aligning an organization's actions (say GHG reduction programs) with the policies it supports through its positions or membership in other organizations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which actively works against GHG reduction. Read the whole article here.
September 15, 2011 at 11:06AM A new Worldwatch report, entitled Creating Sustainable Prosperity in the United States: The Need for Innovation and Leadership, assesses the country's environmental record and calls for a broad range of policy innovations that would help boost the sustainability of the U.S. economy while maintaining people's overall well-being and quality of life. The report, authored by Gary Gardner, outlines a series of cogent and practicable policy measures that can be instituted today to put the United States on a more sustainable path. These include shifting from an income tax to a progressive consumption tax, creating more standard eco-labeling for products, encouraging more producer "take-back" opportunities, and promoting a more feasible renewable energy market.
September 15, 2011 at 11:00AM The Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share Inc., will bring 10,000 bike shares to NYC next summer as part of NYC's on-going sustainability planning. It also provides bike-share services to other US cities and internationlly.
September 15, 2011 at 10:56AM This short article about the transition movement in Portland, Oregon, provides a quick overview and access to a few key resources.
