[USCC] The Natural Step
Jim McNelly
compost@cloudnet.com
Sun Mar 12 13:48:49 2000
<html>
<table border=3D0>
<tr><td width=3D780>For those unfamiliar with the Natural Step
Program,<br>
<br>
Here is some info and a copy of their newsletter<br>
<br>
Jim~McNelly<br>
<br>
Subject: Fwd: THE NATURAL STEP NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2000 </td></tr>
</table>
<br>
*********************************** <br>
THE NATURAL STEP NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 1 NUMBER 11 SPRING 2000 <br>
***********************************<br>
IN THIS ISSUE <br>
A Message From The Natural Step <br>
Portland's Governor Considers TNS <br>
A Deeper Look at System Condition Four <br>
Air BP Case Study <br>
The Sustainability Puzzle <br>
TNS/US Workshop Updates <br>
The Natural Step International News <br>
Newsletters Available on the Web <br>
TNS/US Regional Updates and Activities <br>
TNS/US Developments <br>
TNS Tools Available<br>
************************<br>
A MESSAGE FROM THE NATURAL STEP <br>
Sustainability -- meeting human needs worldwide<br>
Sustainability is a process, not an event, and at its core means meeting
<br>
human needs worldwide.<br>
We know that in order to meet human needs worldwide, we must address the
<br>
ecological challenges that threaten the life-supporting systems that
humans <br>
depend on. We must look at our effect on natural systems and develop ways
<br>
of interacting with these systems that are sustainable.<br>
Meeting human needs worldwide also means addressing the social challenges
<br>
we face today. In order to do this, we need to examine our interactions
<br>
not only with the biophysical world but also with each other. We should
<br>
ask whether we are meeting human needs worldwide in a way that is fair
and <br>
efficient. Are our actions toward each other sustainable over the long
<br>
run? Is our use of resources meeting human needs worldwide? Are we <br>
respecting diversity of peoples and cultures?<br>
On the conceptual level this means taking a system's perspective and
<br>
looking at the big picture, both people and planet. It means emphasizing
<br>
the linkages as well as the parts. It means exploring how each <br>
individual's part of the system - at home, at work, in the community - is
a <br>
piece of the whole.<br>
The Natural Step framework helps bring this big picture into view. It
<br>
establishes boundary conditions for sustainability and says these are the
<br>
basic principles we should focus on if we want to create a sustainable
<br>
society.<br>
Over and over again we are asked about the relevance and the role of the
<br>
fourth system condition. It seems that this is the hardest system <br>
condition for most individuals and organizations to comprehend and apply
<br>
because it is about how we interact with each other. This territory is
<br>
less traveled, less quantifiable, and seems to be more challenging for
<br>
individuals to get their arms around in relation to sustainability.<br>
Just like the first three, The Natural Step framework does not elaborate
<br>
all the details of the fourth system condition. What it does say is that
<br>
if we are to become a sustainable society, we must meet basic human needs
<br>
worldwide in a way that is fair and efficient. It tells us that we must
<br>
link human need to ecological reality, and vice versa, and that we must
<br>
make that linkage early and often in any decision making process.<br>
At The Natural Step we are exploring system condition four and providing
<br>
opportunities for our network to engage in meaningful dialogue about this
<br>
issue. At our upcoming annual conference in Atlanta we will begin this
<br>
dialogue and encourage your participation and voice in the conversation.
<br>
We have also included a more detailed discussion about system condition
<br>
four on page 10 of this newsletter.<br>
We recognize that we do not have the answers and that is not necessarily
<br>
our role. The TNS framework simply says that we must address human needs
<br>
worldwide as part of a comprehensive strategy for sustainability. We must
<br>
consider both the linkages between humans and the physical world, and the
<br>
linkages among ourselves.<br>
Catherine Gray <br>
Executive Director<br>
*************************<br>
GOVERNOR KITZHABER CONSIDERS TNS!<br>
Oregon Governor Kitzhaber publicly stated he will issue an executive
order <br>
this spring requiring the state government to move toward sustainability
by <br>
conducting business at no cost to the environment. Kitzhaber revealed his
<br>
plan in January 2000 at a banquet hosted by Sustainable Northwest, where
he <br>
explained that the state "consumes reams of paper, builds offices,
buys <br>
power, paves roads, manages forests and rangeland. Does this all happen
<br>
with the overarching goal of fostering sustainable economic growth that
is <br>
respectful of both our environment and our communities? I cannot tell you
<br>
that it does."<br>
During an interview with The Oregonian, Kitzhaber said it would be <br>
appropriate for state agencies to follow The Natural Step guidelines,
which <br>
would provide the overarching framework that is currently lacking. <br>
Kitzhaber praised the "prophets of the new century," such as
Norm <br>
Thompson's John Emrick and Jim Quinn of Collins Pine, for pursuing <br>
sustainable business practices and "changing the face of the
Northwest." <br>
While the order will not have the power to change law, it will encourage
<br>
agencies to buy recycled, nontoxic, or biodegradable goods and for the
<br>
state to become a more efficient consumer of energy, water, and fuel.
There <br>
is a possibility the administration could ask the Legislature to make tax
<br>
and regulatory changes designed to encourage landowners and businesses to
<br>
live more sustainably. If the order has significant impact, Oregon could
<br>
become the first state to weave sustainability into an effective program
to <br>
enhance the economy and the environment.<br>
*************************<br>
A DEEPER LOOK AT SYSTEM CONDITION FOUR<br>
The The following article is the final piece in a continuing series that
<br>
explores each system condition in greater depth. The Natural Step system
<br>
conditions are principles for sustainability. They define a favorable
<br>
outcome, namely, sustainability. The system conditions meet this goal by
<br>
taking advantage of the fact that the ecosphere (living organisms and all
<br>
the physical systems with which they interact) itself is sustainable, if
<br>
humans stop destroying it. The system conditions can be concisely stated
<br>
because, while the ecosystem is very complex, there are only a few
general <br>
ways that people destroy it. Each system condition complements the
others, <br>
covering a specific area of concern that is necessary, but not sufficient
<br>
on its own. Only when all the system conditions are met can
sustainability <br>
be achieved.<br>
The Icon <br>
The icon for the fourth system condition - In order for a society to be
<br>
sustainable, resources must be used fairly and efficiently in order to
meet <br>
basic human needs globally. - illustrates balance and equity. Notably,
the <br>
peaks and valleys depicted in this symbol aren't extreme and the <br>
transitions between them are not steep."<br>
- Brian Dougherty, <br>
Celery Design Collaborative<br>
<br>
WHAT IS SYSTEM CONDITION FOUR? <br>
In order for a society to be sustainable, resources must be used fairly
and <br>
efficiently in order to meet basic human needs globally.<br>
"System condition four is essential because we are humans. No
humans, and <br>
system conditions one, two, and three would likely not be challenged. We
<br>
are the agents, the ones making choices that are compromising the fabric
of <br>
life." - Vicki Robin, Co-author, Your Money or Your Life<br>
Simply put, the fourth system condition brings humanity into the planning
<br>
process from the very beginning. It raises the question, "What
happens <br>
when you don't meet human needs?" It asks people to examine the
extreme <br>
inequalities that exist in the world today and the consequences of such.
<br>
It challenges people to define, for themselves, the concepts of <br>
"efficiency" and "enough." It draws attention to the
way in which people <br>
are using and sharing the earth's limited resources. Most importantly,
<br>
however, system condition four serves as a point of discussion for people
<br>
working toward building not just a sustainable planet, but a sustainable
<br>
society, and offers endless opportunities for innovation. As the
following <br>
discussion illustrates, TNS certainly does not have all the answers.
<br>
Instead, it helps turn the debate into a discussion and begins with the
<br>
reality that humans are an integral part of the system and should be
<br>
treated as such.<br>
Dr. Karl-Henrik Rob=E8rt, founder of The Natural Step, explains, "From
a <br>
systems perspective, the fourth system condition divides into two major
<br>
parts - the technical and the social." The technical part addresses
the <br>
concept of efficiency and translates into the "technical reduction
of <br>
resource throughputs." In other words, using less to make more by
taking <br>
measures such as recycling, reducing, reusing, and eliminating waste
<br>
whenever possible. The social part addresses the issue of fairness <br>
regarding "all aspects of human needs in relation to each unit of
resources <br>
used by society." Dr. Rob=E8rt goes on to explain, "The two parts
of the <br>
fourth system condition allow for two methods of improvement. We can
<br>
reduce the throughput of resources for the same utility unit
(satisfaction <br>
of human kind), or we can increase the utility unit (satisfaction of
human <br>
kind) per resource throughput. The best result is, of course, if we can
do <br>
both at the same time."<br>
THE TECHNICAL <br>
Often sustainability experts suggest changing the word
"efficiently" to <br>
something more humane such as "carefully" or
"productively." Some argue <br>
that the word efficient is too closely associated with physical resource
<br>
metrics and measurements that traditionally have nothing to do with=20
<br>
humanity. Others describe the possibility of sustainable societies that
<br>
are sometimes wasteful and inefficient. Many theorize that efficiency
<br>
alone can lead to an increase in resource consumption and invite people
to <br>
use more of the earth's resources even more rapidly.<br>
Perhaps choosing a different word, using more words, or fewer words could
<br>
address some of these issues. However, at the heart of the problem lies
<br>
the need to include the concept of sustainability in whatever words are
<br>
used to communicate the goal of responsible resource use.<br>
>From a systems perspective, natural systems are inherently efficient.
<br>
Unfortunately, human systems today are not. This is where people have a
<br>
lot to learn from the planet. The challenge is for people to understand
<br>
the local conditions and boundaries of a given environment and then to
find <br>
ways to design and use the resources within that environment. Dr. George
<br>
Basile, Senior Scientist at The Natural Step US, explains, "There is
<br>
opportunity in system condition four for people to work with and within
the <br>
system - to be efficient in the same way a tree is efficient. A tree
<br>
throws off branches and leaves, blows off water and oxygen, and finally
<br>
falls flat and sprawls on the ground. Yes, it makes a huge mess, but a
<br>
tree is still efficient within the system because the 'waste' it produces
<br>
is used as a resource for something, or someone, else. We can shift from
<br>
linear models of infinite resource use and infinite growth to cyclical
<br>
models of infinite transformation and change. This is how nature
works."<br>
For many companies, an important step is redefining their products as
<br>
services. For example, someone selling lamps might come to realize that
<br>
what they are actually selling is light. In most cases, this new <br>
perspective makes the prospect of redesigning products and operations
more <br>
appealing. It typically makes throwing out the "stuff" that
supplies your <br>
service seem like a bad idea. In all cases, it opens, enables, and <br>
encourages innovation and creativity. In doing this, companies can make a
<br>
stronger connection between their businesses and the rest of humanity and
<br>
the living systems we are imbedded in. Companies come to see their <br>
business as in some way helping to meet human needs -- which often brings
<br>
the concepts of fairness and equity into the equation. (See below
"Steps <br>
Organizations are Taking")<br>
THE SOCIAL <br>
An overwhelming amount of data demonstrates that if basic human needs are
<br>
not met, sustainability goals, ecosystems, and ecosystem services suffer.
<br>
These patterns surface when highly impoverished societies sacrifice
healthy <br>
living systems for survival, or overpopulated regions lack local
resources, <br>
food, education, health care, and birth control. Consider, for instance,
<br>
the familiar 20:80 ratio, which describes that the top 20% of the world's
<br>
people living in the highest-income countries account for 86% of total
<br>
private consumption expenditures while the poorest 20% account for only
<br>
1.3% 1<br>
India--population one billion--is a stunning example of a nation where
many <br>
people's first priority is immediate survival, rather than long-term
<br>
survival - A.K.A. sustainability. Today, more than half the children in
<br>
India are malnourished, one third of the population is living below the
<br>
poverty line, and half the adults are illiterate. Rising population=20
<br>
pressures are threatening India's resource base. Forests are
disappearing, <br>
rangelands are deteriorating and water tables are falling, endangering
food <br>
production. 2<br>
Unfortunately, India is not an isolated case. According to the United
<br>
Nations International Labor Organization, about one third of the world's
<br>
work force is unemployed or underemployed (involuntarily working <br>
substantially less than full time, or earning less than a living wage)
and <br>
in many countries rapid population growth is causing even more <br>
unemployment, poverty, and political instability. 3 Whether food, <br>
clothing, and shelter cover the gamut of "basic human needs,"
they are <br>
surely part of the equation, and yet without work, many people cannot
even <br>
afford these necessities--not to mention health care, education, and
making <br>
sustainable choices.<br>
It's clear that environmental realities and human realities need to be
<br>
equally important. When human needs are not being met, people cannot
<br>
realistically address the other three system conditions. Why then in
<br>
supposedly affluent societies where the majority of the populations'
needs <br>
are being met (there are plenty of resources, relatively low unemployment
<br>
rates, education for all, national security, available health care, etc.)
<br>
are people still making unsustainable choices and struggling with <br>
sustainability issues? Because human needs have not been well defined.
<br>
Going back to Dr. Rob=E8rt's explanation of the social part of system=20
<br>
condition four, in which he describes social as "all aspects of
human <br>
needs," one can ask - How exactly do you define human needs? Looking
<br>
beyond the obvious biophysical needs of humans such as clean air, clean
<br>
water, and nutrition, humans also have emotional needs such as love,
<br>
compassion, dignity, respect, fulfillment and creative expression. <br>
However, system condition four is not prescriptive. It integrates <br>
environment and society, and indivduals and the environment, and demands
<br>
that the integration take place at the earliest possible point in a=20
<br>
decision making process.<br>
System condition four is a necessary point of discussion if the goal is
to <br>
build a sustainable society and the discussion has many facets. In her
<br>
work, author Vicki Robin distinguishes between human needs filled by the
<br>
economy (resources) and human needs filled emotionally, intellectually,
and <br>
spiritually. She explains, "Looked at in this way, humanity's need
for <br>
resources is really quite limited. Once people focus on the preciousness
<br>
of their own lives and how they sell their lives for money, they become
<br>
naturally frugal. On average their expenses drop quickly by 20% or
more."<br>
Well-known author, environmentalist, and entrepreneur Paul Hawken
suggests, <br>
"The fourth system condition is so important that it would make more
sense <br>
to invert their order and make it the first. We wouldn't need The Natural
<br>
Step were it not for human activity. Thus, while the first three system
<br>
conditions express the relationship between human and living systems, the
<br>
fourth implies that there needs to be different internal relationships
<br>
within human systems - without which ecological change is
impossible."<br>
This points to the remaining element of the fourth system condition -
<br>
fairness and personal responsibility. In speaking to this point, Randy
<br>
Hayes, President of Rainforest Action Network, remembers Martin Luther
<br>
King, Jr.'s adage, "an injustice anywhere is an injustice
everywhere," and <br>
adds, "that would be reason enough to include the fourth system
condition." <br>
He continues with the thought that, "when there are large numbers of
<br>
under-consumers (malnourished or starving) we have a responsibility to
<br>
assist to get them up to decency and sustainability just as we have a
<br>
responsibility to get over-consumers down from indecency and <br>
unsustainability."<br>
WHAT TNS IS DOING <br>
In the end, the fourth system condition (and all its various components)
<br>
makes the point that without humans there would be no need for The
Natural <br>
Step at all or any other sustainability framework. It is focused on the
<br>
social transformations that must occur in order to achieve a sustainable
<br>
society, yet it does not attempt to resolve them.<br>
In an effort to further examine all the intricacies of system condition
<br>
four, The Natural Step US is focused on finding ways to better understand
<br>
what it means to "be fair and efficient in meeting human
needs." This <br>
year, the TNS/US Annual Conference in Atlanta will serve as a platform
for <br>
discussion and dialogue, a place to explore the issues that encompass
<br>
system condition four and to offer an opportunity for everyone to get
more <br>
clarity on the topic. TNS/US is engaging with the community of Atlanta
and <br>
other professionals working on social justice issues to design the
workshop <br>
as a space for shared learning and education. We invite you to join us in
<br>
the journey. (see below for conference information).<br>
1 1998, Human Development Report, page 2. New York: United Nations <br>
Development Programme.<br>
2 Halweil, Brian and Brown, Lester R., "India Reaching 1 Billion on
August <br>
15: No Celebration Planned," Worldwatch News Brief 6-99.<br>
3 Halweil, Brian and Brown, Lester R., " Unemployment Climbing as
World <br>
Approaches 6 Billion," Worldwatch News Brief 6-99, Part II.<br>
<br>
STEPS ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING TODAY<br>
The Social Side<br>
NIKE has been taking many new steps to help better the lives of the
people <br>
in the countries where its contract-manufacturing plants are located. For
<br>
example, in Thailand and Vietnam, Nike has successfully implemented a
micro <br>
loans program for mainly rural women. These loans help to finance
chicken, <br>
pig, and duck raising as sources of family income which act to keep=20
<br>
families together in the countryside. Nike has also helped finance a
<br>
sustainable agriculture project for rural people by providing money for
an <br>
irrigation system to produce chemical-free food. In Thailand, Nike has
<br>
developed a socially beneficial program of satellite stitching for
hundreds <br>
of rural women. This allows the women to earn income by stitching <br>
components of Nike products in their villages without the dislocation of
<br>
having to seek employment in the cities away from their families. All of
<br>
these type of projects are designed with the purpose of helping to
support <br>
the traditional way of life of the villagers.<br>
INTERFACE, INC., understands the importance of sustainability education
<br>
across the globe. The company is working internally to educate all <br>
Interface employees, sponsoring non-sales events to educate their
customers <br>
and suppliers, and reaching out to many of the communities in which they
<br>
operate. Interface Europe in Northern Ireland established a challenge
<br>
program for local high schools to submit environmental projects.
Interface <br>
Flooring Systems Canada is working with local civic leaders to promote
TNS <br>
in local government, industries, and institutions through their
"Quinte <br>
Initiative." Prince Street is using their facility as a teaching
tool to <br>
educate 8th grade students on career opportunities relating to <br>
manufacturing and the environment. Interface Flooring Systems
participated <br>
in an initiative to raise school children's awareness of pollution in the
<br>
local Chattahoochee River.<br>
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - HOUSTON'S Health Science Center is dedicated to
<br>
educating <br>
its community and offering itself as a model to other institutions
working <br>
toward sustainability. Internally, the school is attracting interest from
<br>
graduate students and providing sustainability education to the <br>
University's Historically Underutilized Businesses Program (HUB). HUB's
<br>
mission is to identify small, minority, and woman-owned businesses, and
to <br>
encourage them to partner and contract with the University. The Health
<br>
Science Center (HSC) is itself supporting local vendors through contracts
<br>
for food service, construction materials, and wood flooring. Every 60
<br>
days, the HSC provides free workshops on The Natural Step and <br>
sustainability for UTH students as well as local businesses, schools, and
<br>
organizations. In addition, the University's award winning film,
featuring <br>
its sustainable building project, has been translated into Spanish in
order <br>
to reach audiences that might not otherwise have access to the
information.<br>
The Technical Side<br>
INTERFACE, INC. has shifted their thinking of products as things, to
<br>
understanding products as a means to deliver a service to their
customers. <br>
The Evergreen (TM) Lease is Interface's first attempt to transform a
durable <br>
commercial product, in this case carpet tiles, into a service. Rather
than <br>
selling carpet tiles, the company has implemented a program to lease the
<br>
services of the carpets to the building owner. As carpet tiles wear out
<br>
and are replaced, the old ones are broken down and remanufactured into
new <br>
tiles as part of the lease fee. The customer pays no installation fee,
<br>
rather a monthly fee for constantly fresh-looking, functional carpet.
Over <br>
time, the amount of raw materials used decreases, and employment
increases <br>
while saving the customer money and providing a superior product. As in
<br>
nature, the product becomes part of a cycle, either decomposing or
breaking <br>
down into parts or molecules to become "food" in an organic
cycle, or being <br>
synthetically broken down into a technical nutrient for a new
product.<br>
SCANDIC HOTELS, a leading Swedish hotel chain, has used The Natural Step
to <br>
implement a resource reduction program called the Resource Hunt. In the
<br>
first year, the company reduced energy consumption by 7% and water <br>
consumption by 4%. Overall, Scandic has reduced its amount of unsorted
<br>
waste at its Nordic hotels by 15%. The estimated financial benefits=20
<br>
generated by the Resource Hunt was in excess of SEK 6 million (roughly US
<br>
$800,000).<br>
IKEA is working to design and construct furniture for future disassembly
<br>
and recycling. In Switzerland, the company has been offering customers
the <br>
service of recycling their old sofas and armchairs since 1994, and in
1996 <br>
this service was expanded to allow customers to return all types of=20
<br>
furniture including kitchen units, white goods, and flooring. IKEA is
also <br>
focused on decreasing the environmental impact of their transport needs.
<br>
Wherever possible, IKEA plans to use rail transport and combined
road-rail <br>
transport. In the long-term this requires influencing railway companies
<br>
and public opinion about the economic and environmental benefits implicit
<br>
in these choices. In addition, IKEA is working with its carriers to find
<br>
ways to reduce the environmental impact of transport and facilitate more
<br>
efficient transportation options.<br>
Today MCDONALD'S SWEDEN estimates it recycles 97% of its waste and that,
<br>
on average, each restaurant produces no more than one garbage bag of
<br>
unsorted waste each month. The company has also decreased the average
<br>
distance to each restaurant by almost 40%, and is developing new trucks
<br>
equipped with trailers to facilitate rail transport.<br>
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TODAY<br>
Because system condition four is about taking responsibility for our
<br>
actions, consumers need to be proactive in voting with their dollars. We
<br>
need to demand that our needs be met in a sustainable manner and we need
to <br>
be willing to change as those options become available. This means asking
<br>
for these products before they show up on the shelf. It means focusing on
<br>
your real needs. Practically speaking, it also means to support these
<br>
changes. For example, work with your business' purchasing department to
<br>
change rules that block the purchasing of recycled and reused goods.
<br>
Support legislation that includes a systems perspective into societal
<br>
actions. Avoid excess packaging. Shop at thrift stores. Buy used <br>
building supplies, used furniture, used computer supplies, re-inked or
<br>
refurbished toner or inkjet cartridges. Visit your local library. Choose
<br>
a place to live (or work) that reduces your need to drive. Think twice
<br>
before making purchases. Conserve energy. Choose a fuel-efficient, <br>
low-polluting car and whenever practical walk, bicycle, or take public
<br>
transportation. Set concrete goals for reducing your travel. Install
<br>
energy-efficient lighting fixtures and appliances. Choose an electricity
<br>
supplier offering renewable energy. Work locally to make better choices
<br>
with fewer system condition violations.<br>
FUNNEL FACTS:<br>
The following information relates to system condition four and can be
used <br>
by individuals to enhance presentations about The Natural Step
framework.<br>
=85 One child born in New York City, Paris, or London will consume, waste,
<br>
and pollute more in a lifetime than as many as 50 children born in an
<br>
average developing country. - 1998, Human Development Report. New York:
<br>
United Nations Development Programme,
<a href=3D"http://www.netaid.org/environment/index.htm"=
eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>www.netaid.org/environment/index.htm<br>
</a></u></font>=85 The World Health Organization estimates that more than 3
billion people, <br>
mostly in Asia and Africa, suffer from malnutrition. - Higgins, Margot,
"6 <br>
Billionth Earthling was Born Today," Environmental News Network,
October <br>
12, 1999<br>
=85 According to the UNDP Poverty Report; a third of the people in
developing <br>
countries continue to live in an "income poverty" bracket,
earning less <br>
than $1 per day; about 60% of humanity have incomes of barely $2 per day;
<br>
and each year between 13 and 18 million people, mostly children, die from
<br>
hunger and poverty related causes. - Poverty Report. New York: United
<br>
Nations Development Programme,
<a href=3D"http://www.undp-jordan.org/press36.html" eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>www.undp-jordan.org/press36.html<br>
</a></u></font>=85 For every product delivered to the consumer in the
United States, another <br>
32 pounds of waste is created. - Interface Sustainability Report, <br>
Interface, Inc. 1997, page 5<br>
=85 The globe's next few billion people will be added to the poor countries
<br>
of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. And within those countries, the
growth <br>
will be focused on cities, and particularly the slums. - Feldman, Linda,
<br>
"The Challenges Ahead for a Population of 6 Billion," The
Christian <br>
Science Monitor, October 12, 1999<br>
=85 Each American consumes about 50 times more goods and services than the
<br>
average Chinese citizen. - David Pimentel et. Al, "Will Limits of
the <br>
Earth's Resources Control Human Numbers?, Environment, Development and
<br>
Sustainability, Cornell University, September 1999<br>
=85 The "dirtiest" zip code (i.e., 30354) in the five-county
Atlanta <br>
Metropolitan area is located in Fulton County and receives over 1.55
<br>
million pounds of toxic releases annually; people of color make up 69.1
<br>
percent of the population in zip code 30354. Residents in zip code 30336
<br>
are subjected to a whopping 873.9 pounds of toxic releases per person
<br>
annually; this Fulton County zip code is 98.2% black. - Bullard, Robert
D. <br>
and Johnson, Glenn S., Environmental Justice Resource Center, Clark
Atlanta <br>
University, "Atlanta: Social Equity Dimensions of Uneven Growth and
<br>
Development," February 5, 1999<br>
=85 Eight thousand pounds of hazardous waste-water result from the
production <br>
of one tiny microprocessor in your computer. - Interface Sustainability
<br>
Report, Interface, Inc. 1997, page 5<br>
by Jill Rosenblum, <br>
Director of Development and Communications, TNS/US<br>
************************<br>
AIR BP (BP AMOCO) - A TNS CASE STUDY<br>
Have you ever considered the ecological effects of the travel and tourism
<br>
industry? <br>
Take for example, air travel, which alone contributes to global warming
and <br>
noise and air pollution. Air travel is a major source of waste, uses a
<br>
vast amount of fossil fuels and chemical solvents, and struggles with
daily <br>
problems such as kerosene spillage during refuelling operations. In 1997,
<br>
over 1.4 billion passengers traveled by plane. In the next fifteen years,
<br>
the aviation industry is predicted to grow by 6% every year. 1<br>
Today, the aviation industry is feeling increasing exigency to change its
<br>
ways. The area of most public concern is the impact CO2 emissions are
<br>
having on climate change. In addition to the anticipated rules ensuing
<br>
from the 1992 Kyoto Protocol, the industry is feeling pressure from the
<br>
environmental community, the European Union Commission, and from a number
<br>
of European governments namely Germany, Austria, Belgium, and
Switzerland, <br>
who are all in support of taxing aviation fuel.<br>
Air BP is a business unit of the BP Amoco Group and the world's <br>
third-largest supplier of aviation fuel. It operates in over 1,400 <br>
locations in 87 countries. Air BP is also committed to fostering <br>
sustainable development throughout its business and decreasing the <br>
environmental impact of its operations. In addition to having personal
<br>
environmental sensitivities, the Chief Executives of BP Amoco (Sir John
<br>
Browne) and Air BP (Vivienne Cox) both recognize the strategic business
<br>
benefits of adopting environmental initiatives.<br>
The goal is to lead in a highly competitive marketplace by selling
cleaner <br>
fuel and having better safety and sustainability credentials. Vivienne
Cox <br>
remarks, "I respect 'deep green' views and I recognize the wider
shift in <br>
consumer opinion in favor of clean fuels which do no damage to the
natural <br>
environment." With this understanding, Cox plans to leverage Air
BP's <br>
position as an industry leader. "For us, fuel quality is a
fundamental <br>
service we provide our customers and I'm determined that Air BP should
set <br>
the standard for the whole industry."<br>
Why do they think this is possible? Cox explains, "We believe we can
be a <br>
leader in providing fuels of that quality, and TNS is a helpful,
pragmatic <br>
approach which recognizes the business realities without compromising the
<br>
objective." At the same time, "The first three system
conditions make <br>
sense to me as a scientist." The company views The Natural Step as a
key <br>
piece of their sustainability agenda and expects it will have particular
<br>
relevance in helping grow the business and reducing environmental
impacts.<br>
Although Air BP is widely regarded as having one of the best
environmental <br>
records in the industry, the company understands that its operations
still <br>
have negative ecological impacts. In August 1998, The Natural Step United
<br>
Kingdom (TNS/UK) and Air BP formalized a partnership, just one month
prior <br>
to a public announcement of BP's environmental commitment made at Yale
<br>
University by Sir John Browne (BP Group Chief Executive). The Chief=20
<br>
Executive stated, "Our goal is to reduce our emissions of greenhouse
gases <br>
by 10% from a 1990 baseline over the period to 2010." This is just
one of <br>
the many public announcements Browne has made regarding BP's commitment
to <br>
globally reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating the effects of global
<br>
warming and climate change.<br>
The company is using The Natural Step to gain a comprehensive
understanding <br>
of sustainable development and its relevance to the business objectives
of <br>
Air BP. For the past two years, Air BP's senior staff members, Dr.
Michael <br>
Nott, Global Health, Safety, and Environment Coordinator, and Dr. Ann
<br>
Lamont, Global Human Resources Manager, have been working with Stephen
<br>
Martin, Director of Learning for TNS/UK, to identify practical steps the
<br>
company can take to move toward sustainable practices and enhance its
<br>
competitive commercial position.<br>
An initial, educational workshop on The Natural Step involving <br>
representatives from TNS, Air BP, BP Group, and British Airways clearly
<br>
defined the scope of the partnership and identified the two main focuses
of <br>
the work: operational issues and strategic issues.<br>
The Grassroots Program was developed specifically to focus on operational
<br>
issues relating to fuel supply, other airport procedures, and the
reduction <br>
of fuel spillages. The goals of the program were to identify how Air BP's
<br>
operations can become more sustainable, to recommend actions to achieve
<br>
this, and to assess how TNS can help Air BP move toward
sustainability.<br>
In November 1998, the Grassroots Program began by educating a sample of
<br>
airport supervisors, operators, and managers through a series of TNS
<br>
workshops. The workshops introduced participants to The Natural Step and
<br>
its applications, and investigated the specific problem of fuel
spillage.<br>
TNS workshop participants gained a deeper understanding of BP Amoco and
Air <br>
BP's environmental situation, linked environmental policy issues to=20
<br>
operational issues through the emphasis on fuel spill reductions, and
<br>
identified various outcomes related to individual learning and skills
<br>
development. In addition, the following short-term action items were
<br>
generated:<br>
1) Initiate pilot programs to increase environmental awareness both for
<br>
Air BP staff and for external partners and users, at trial airport <br>
locations in Sweden. <br>
2) Review the use, recycling, and disposal of filters. <br>
3) Quantify waste flowing from airport sites. <br>
4) Document current good practices on recycling of waste materials.=20
<br>
5) Assess options for waste oil disposal. <br>
6) Identify eco-friendly vehicle wash detergents.<br>
Other issues raised during the Grassroots Program have wider policy=20
<br>
implications, such as working with joint venture partners, collaborating
<br>
with airlines, capitalizing on commercial opportunities, and finding ways
<br>
to systematically build on opportunities provided by the workshops <br>
themselves. Based on a combination of feedback from workshop
participants, <br>
the nature of the practical outcomes, and an assessment made by the TNS
<br>
team, it is clear that the TNS principles and processes contributed=20
<br>
substantially to the achievement of Air BP's initial goals for the <br>
workshops. According to Cox, "The Natural Step is an effective way
of <br>
involving staff, making the concept of sustainability meaningful,
enabling <br>
participants to identify short-term and long-term actions, and to develop
<br>
the skills and motivation to implement them."<br>
The second focus of the partnership, called the Policy Review, explored
<br>
strategic issues related to sustainable development in the aviation=20
<br>
industry and the implications of these for Air BP. The goal was to use
The <br>
Natural Step principles to help Air BP generate a strategic vision and
<br>
identify steps that would help move its business - and the aviation=20
<br>
industry - towards sustainable development over the next 10 years.<br>
Again, the format for learning was a TNS workshop held this time in
January <br>
1999. The workshop addressed issues including the environment lobby on
the <br>
aviation industry; the implications of environmental taxation; broad
policy <br>
issues at the national and international level; BP's response to climate
<br>
change, including specific targets and the pilot emissions trading
system; <br>
aviation's role in the growth of world trade and changes in the structure
<br>
of the industry; and the potential for Air BP to influence developments
<br>
world-wide.<br>
In considering where to begin implementing sustainability initiatives,
<br>
aviation fuel was identified as the most important element. Environmental
<br>
taxation was discussed as a stimulus, yet not a solution in itself. Other
<br>
key sustainability components identified included fuel for ground <br>
operations, materials and energy for aircraft manufacture and
maintenance, <br>
ground transportation, and the impacts of travel as linked to aviation.
<br>
The group also recognized that cyclical rather than linear forms of
energy <br>
use were essential in visioning sustainable solutions.<br>
The workshop conclusions focused on the various reasons why the aviation
<br>
industry can expect much greater environmental pressures over the next
few <br>
years, as well as the industry forces impeding sustainable solutions.
<br>
Priority actions that resulted were:<br>
1) To establish effective collaboration with other major industry <br>
players, notably major airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, and
<br>
joint partners. The workshop also identified several ways to initiate and
<br>
develop this debate, and recognized the value of TNS' objective <br>
framework and the shared language it provides. <br>
2) To establish pilot initiatives towards sustainable development <br>
in areas within Air BP's control, such as ground operations. <br>
3) To establish collaboration with other oil companies, and <br>
determine how Air BP should involve them in this process.<br>
Already, Air BP is applying The Natural Step to airport operations in
<br>
Sweden and Germany and is finding ways to switch to reusable oil filters,
<br>
eco-friendly vehicle washing detergents, various recyclable products, and
<br>
biofuels. In addition, the company is reducing fuel usage and beginning
to <br>
educate its ground staff in the principles and applications of <br>
sustainability.<br>
Having successfully completed the first phase of its work with Air BP,
<br>
TNS/UK continues to assist the company with follow-up measures. They are
<br>
co-creating a sustainability guide for airport staff, including
refuelling <br>
operators, administrators, and support personnel. The guide will function
<br>
as a training manual to be used at all Air BP airport locations, with the
<br>
challenge of translating the principles and concepts of sustainability
both <br>
linguistically and culturally. Currently, an interim guide is being
tested <br>
at various European airports and a final product is expected in June
2000. <br>
TNS/UK is also working hard to train key Air BP staff and ultimately
plans <br>
to cascade the training throughout the company. The broader focus is to
<br>
begin looking at an overall strategy and policy for Air BP to implement
<br>
sustainability worldwide.<br>
According to TNS/UK, Air BP has a clear opportunity to raise motivation
and <br>
support among its own and joint venture staff, and to improve the overall
<br>
efficiency and sustainability of its operations. The Policy Review
process <br>
is serving as an important step in harnessing board leadership and
securing <br>
a commitment from Air BP's senior management. Before working with TNS,
Air <br>
BP did not have a complete understanding of sustainable development
issues <br>
at a strategic level nor did the company have a sustainable vision.<br>
TNS/UK's Stephen Martin believes the company's sustainability agenda is
as <br>
strong as ever yet questions how far it has actually permeated. He <br>
explains, "It hasn't gone too far, but it's beginning to build
momentum <br>
within the organization. There are a number of steps still being taken in
<br>
terms of internal communications to get the program really moving
forward."<br>
<br>
1 ICAO Annual Civil Aviation Report 1997<br>
By Jill Rosenblum, Director of Development and Communications,
TNS/US<br>
Information from this case summary was extracted from an Air BP
Pathfinder <br>
Project Report produced by TNS United Kingdom.<br>
*************************<br>
THE SUSTAINABILITY PUZZLE<br>
This is the first in a series of articles that will explore the various
<br>
components of sustainability and the role each piece plays in a <br>
sustainability effort or initiative. The first article is an overview of
<br>
the sustainability process itself from the perspective of The Natural
Step.<br>
The field of sustainability is confusing enough before you try to <br>
understand all of the definitions, jargon, complex ideas and numerous
<br>
strategies that go along with it. Knowledge Webs, Life Cycle Assessments,
<br>
Eco-efficiency, System Conditions, ISO's, Footprints, Factors, Metrics,
<br>
Principles, Practices, Outcomes - the list seems endless. Simply defining
<br>
sustainability can be difficult, even which level to define it at. It
gets <br>
even more complicated when you consider all the dimensions required to
<br>
achieve sustainability for both people and planet, namely the social, the
<br>
environmental, and the economic. By the time you have mastered one <br>
element, you might have completely forgotten about another, or, perhaps,
<br>
even why you started.<br>
Is there a way through this big muddle? Certainly. Does it all fit into a
<br>
nice neat box? Not exactly. But amazingly, most of it fits somewhere and
<br>
by recognizing how elements fit together it is possible to make sense of
<br>
the seemingly endless morass.<br>
The Natural Step (TNS) begins with a goal of sustainability for both
people <br>
and planet, i.e. what are the actions that we take now to lead happy,
<br>
healthy and productive lives, without impacting the ability of future
<br>
generations to do the same? People have an intrinsic interest in <br>
surviving; sustainability is all about human need and survival, and=20
<br>
recognizing that the life supporting systems of the planet are critical
to <br>
success.<br>
TNS starts with science and people and articulates principles for <br>
sustainability, otherwise known as The Natural Step system conditions
<br>
(SCs). The TNS SCs are derived from scientific knowledge that is based
<br>
upon empirical observation (or 'fact') and combined with human need. The
<br>
SCs outline a successful outcome by supplying the basic requirements for
<br>
building a sustainable society and, in that sense, define the playing
field <br>
of sustainability by providing the rules for the game.<br>
A useful analogy is found in a game of chess. Any moves take place in a
<br>
specialized environment, the checkered board, and the specified movements
<br>
of each piece; this is equivalent to our environment and scientific=20
<br>
descriptions, respectively. There is a simple overall aim-capture the
<br>
king, or checkmate. The principles for success are: 1) the King will be
<br>
captured if he stays where he is and 2) he will be captured if he moves
to <br>
any other place, with any move staying within the parameters of the basic
<br>
rules of the game. Just as the principles of checkmate define a <br>
successful outcome for the game, the TNS SCs define a successful outcome
<br>
for sustainability.<br>
By articulating the principles for success within our planetary <br>
environment, the TNS SCs allow us to create a scientifically sound vision
<br>
of sustainable activities and provide a yardstick by which to measure our
<br>
progress. In this dual way, the TNS SCs, or any complete set of
principles <br>
for sustainability, play a crucial role at both the beginning (defining
the <br>
vision) and the end (assessing outcomes and communicating results) of any
<br>
sustainability effort.<br>
Once you have used a set of principles for sustainability (such as the
TNS <br>
SCs) to guide your vision, the next step is to generate a strategy for
<br>
action. Strategies are the means by which the vision is actualized. In
the <br>
case of TNS, strategy combines techniques such as backcasting, <br>
organizational learning, ABCD analysis, and small flexible steps to move
<br>
toward the goal of sustainability.<br>
Let's shift to another sport, soccer. Here, the principle for a
successful <br>
outcome is very simple: Score more goals than the other team. One
strategy <br>
might be to control the ball by pressuring your opponents as much as
<br>
possible in order to make them lose the ball before they can score. This
<br>
strategy is in line with the overall aim of scoring more goals than the
<br>
opposition. It will not be successful however if it contravenes any of
the <br>
rules of the game or is not in line with the overall aim. In the same
way, <br>
a sustainability strategy that ignores the laws of nature and is not in
<br>
line with the overall goal of sustainability is very unlikely to
succeed.<br>
Once a goal and strategies have been defined, the next step is to
identify <br>
actions that will be taken to move the process forward. Some examples of
<br>
actions taken in the field of sustainability include life cycle <br>
assessments, implementing environmental management systems, utilizing
<br>
materials substitutions, focusing on energy and resource efficiency in
<br>
specific processes, recycling, downcycling, and reuse. From a TNS <br>
perspective, these are examples of flexible steps taken to incrementally
<br>
implement an overall strategy. In our soccer analogy, given a strategy of
<br>
pressuring the opponents, one action could be to guard the opposition
very <br>
closely.<br>
Today, most companies are operating at this is the level. Unfortunately,
<br>
their actions are often being taken without an overall strategy and
vision <br>
in place that is based upon sound principles for sustainability. The end
<br>
result can lead to a great deal of frustration and difficulty in <br>
communicating objectives or the logic behind the decisions, as well as
<br>
potentially investing in solutions perceived as being sustainable when in
<br>
fact they are not.<br>
Finally, once steps have been taken toward a goal, one must measure the
<br>
actual outcomes - to see what is actually being done as opposed to what
<br>
one might think, or hope, is being done. The question still remains: Is
<br>
the strategy that has been chosen a good one, given the goal, and are the
<br>
actions working? It will be the outcomes of these actions that are used
<br>
to assess the success, failure, or need for any modification of the=20
<br>
strategy. Here a number of tools and metrics have been developed that
help <br>
measure the changes taking place and the movement of the changes toward
or <br>
away from sustainability.<br>
In a soccer game one might assess how well certain actions worked over a
<br>
number of games, in relation to the overall goal of scoring more than the
<br>
opposition. For sustainability, measures include mass and energy-based
<br>
resource utilization metrics, footprint analysis, and various human=20
<br>
resource-based metrics. What is measured here will typically be defined
by <br>
the goals, strategies, and actions taken.<br>
Today, metrics and measurements themselves are often used to define=20
<br>
actions. This can lead to a dominantly reactive approach to
sustainability <br>
that is based on predicting problems and solutions given current
operating <br>
practices (this is called forecasting). This practice results in a <br>
disconnect between actions and larger goals. Thus, metrics and the
changes <br>
they measure are most effective when used as part of an overall strategy
<br>
derived from a vision based on sound principles, where the changes
measured <br>
and strategies used can be continuously assessed against the overall
goals. <br>
In this way, what is working can be emphasized and what is not working
can <br>
be modified.<br>
Implementing a sustainability effort for any organization, enterprise, or
<br>
community requires the integration of a number of different pieces, from
<br>
creating an overall vision and strategy based on principles for success,
to <br>
taking actions, assessing actual outcomes, and modifying actions as
needed. <br>
At a minimum the field of sustainability is best described as an ongoing
<br>
process, rather than a project.<br>
Future articles will continue the exploration of each part of the <br>
sustainability framework in greater depth and detail.<br>
*************************<br>
TNS US ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2000 - An Invitation<br>
The Natural Step US is pleased to announce its plans for The Natural Step
<br>
US Annual Conference 2000 and invites your participation. The event will
<br>
be held this fall in Atlanta, Georgia. Please visit our website <br>
(<a href=3D"http://www.naturalstep.org/" eudora=3D"autourl"><font color=3D"#=
0000FF"><u>www.naturalstep.org</a></u></font>)
for specific dates and location.<br>
The conference will include prominent speakers in the field of
sustainable <br>
development, a deep explanation of The Natural Step framework and its
<br>
applications, and an in-depth dialogue on system condition four.
Break-out <br>
sessions will highlight corporate and community case studies and
practical <br>
tools and applications of the TNS framework. Among the many questions the
<br>
conference will address are:<br>
What are human needs?<br>
Are fairness and efficiency the critical measures of resource use <br>
towards reaching sustainability?<br>
How does an organization relate its operations and impacts to <br>
system condition four?<br>
We are extending an invitation to all interested parties to join us in
the <br>
continuing dialogue on these issues. More details on the conference will
<br>
be available soon.<br>
To share your ideas about the conference or for more information, please
<br>
contact Nicole Whiting, Education Associate, at workshop@naturalstep.org
or <br>
call 415-561-3344.<br>
************************<br>
TNS INTERNATIONAL UPDATE<br>
Today, The Natural Step has established a strong international presence
<br>
with offices in eight countries - Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia,
<br>
New Zealand, Japan, Canada, South Africa, and the United States. Each
<br>
country holds an international license for The Natural Step and is
actively <br>
working to establish programs and support organizations adopting The
<br>
Natural Step framework.<br>
With ten years of experience under its belt, Sweden is the most
established <br>
office internationally. The Swedish team has developed many case studies
<br>
and TNS-based tools and programs and today is actively working with=20
<br>
organizations and corporations such as McDonalds Sweden, Hufvustaden,
<br>
Lantm=E4nnen, and L=E4nsf=F6rs=E4kringar.<br>
The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
<br>
have been operating between three and five years and have developed
unique <br>
programs and strategies appropriate for their respective countries.=20
<br>
Collectively these countries are working with organizations such as Air
BP, <br>
Interface, Nike, and Dupont Nylon Europe. Australia has also established
a <br>
successful youth parliament and is trialing a long-distance TNS-based
<br>
learning program. Japan and South Africa are the most recent TNS
countries <br>
to receive a license and are working to establish their organizations and
<br>
key programs.<br>
On November 29th, 1999, The Natural Step International met in Cape Town,
<br>
South Africa, to visit the newest member of the team and come together
for <br>
a formal board meeting and planning session. Executive Directors and
<br>
Senior Scientists came to exchange ideas and materials and discuss <br>
collaborative projects such as an international website and our work with
<br>
multinational corporations.<br>
In addition to the board meeting, the South African team hosted two
public <br>
seminars with Dr. Karl-Henrik Rob=E8rt and a very well-received scientific
<br>
workshop with Dr. Rob=E8rt and Dr. Holmberg. Over 200 participants attended
<br>
these events, including members of Parliament, twenty-five senior <br>
scientists, and corporate representatives from SmithKline Beecham,
Billiton <br>
plc, Caltex, and a host of local businesses, municipalities, and <br>
universities.<br>
The South African office, under the leadership of Peter Willis, has=20
<br>
established a Board of Directors and has conducted numerous public
seminars <br>
and specific training with SmithKline Beecham, Woolworths (a leading
<br>
retailer), and the cities of Cape Town and East London. The other members
<br>
of the international team are looking forward to supporting the newest
<br>
member of The Natural Step and collaborating on projects in the near
future.<br>
On the horizon for The Natural Step International is an improved web
<br>
presence, new training materials and programs for our work with <br>
organizations, and an upcoming meeting in London, England, in June. Last
<br>
week, The Natural Step was duly represented at the World Economic Forum
in <br>
Davos, Switzerland. Karl-Henrik Rob=E8rt participated in the annual meeting
<br>
as a moderator and panelist, where the TNS framework and approach were
well <br>
received by business and corporate leaders. We look forward to keeping
you <br>
updated on our international progress and activities. To contact any TNS
<br>
international office please visit
<a href=3D"http://www.naturalstep.org/" eudora=3D"autourl"><font color=3D"#0=
000FF"><u>www.naturalstep.org</a></u></font>
or call TNS/US at <br>
415-561-3344.<br>
*************************<br>
TNS/US NEWSLETTERS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WEB!<br>
We are pleased to announce that in addition to sending out an electronic=
<br>
version of The Natural Step newsletter via email, all newsletters dated <br>
Spring 1998 and forward are now posted on the TNS/US website. We will <br>
continue to post each new edition on the website, and in the coming months=
<br>
will post the remaining back issues. In an effort to reduce the resources=
<br>
required to print our newsletters, we encourage you to contact us at any=
<br>
time if you wish to receive only an electronic version of the=
newsletter.<br>
Please visit the "Events and Materials" page of the TNS/US website=
for all <br>
available newsletters. <a href=3D"http://www.naturalstep.org/"=
eudora=3D"autourl"><font color=3D"#0000FF"><u>www.naturalstep.org<br>
</a></u></font>*************************<br>
REGIONAL UPDATES<br>
NORTHWEST <br>
The Oregon Natural Step Network, a project of the Northwest Earth <br>
Institute, is a membership organization established to support businesses,=
<br>
institutions, and community organizations interested in adopting The <br>
Natural Step framework for sustainability. It offers introductory and <br>
advanced workshops on TNS, breakfast presentations every other month, TNS=
<br>
briefings, a tool kit with case studies, and a newsletter. Eight peer <br>
learning groups meet on a regular basis to discuss environmental management=
<br>
systems, the construction industry, human resources, eco-indicators, supply=
<br>
chain, the four TNS system conditions, system condition four, and <br>
globalization. This year, the Oregon Network partnered with Nike, Portland=
<br>
General Electric, and Portland State University to sponsor a Millennium <br>
Speakers Series. For more information on The Oregon Natural Step Network,=
<br>
contact Jim Gillen at 503-241-1140 or <a href=3D"mailto:jim@nwei.org"=
eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>mailto:jim@nwei.org</a></u></font>.<br>
<br>
MIDWEST <br>
The Friends of the Natural Step Minnesota Network is a growing and active=
<br>
group with several hundred people already on its email list. The network=
<br>
has a wide variety of regular events, including monthly meetings, events=
<br>
introducing The Natural Step, and TNS Business and Community Seminars. The=
<br>
monthly meetings are open to anyone and are an opportunity to meet other=
<br>
network participants, share activities, practice TNS presentations, view=
<br>
TNS videos, and gain a deeper understanding of The Natural Step. Plans are=
<br>
underway to offer TNS presentation and instructor trainings, as well as a=
<br>
monthly speaker series on sustainability in the new millennium, which will=
<br>
feature some of the world's top sustainability leaders. Facilitated by the=
<br>
Alliance for Sustainability, the network has established a Sustainability=
<br>
Resource Center with a comprehensive collection of TNS videos, tapes, <br>
articles, and other materials. It is also developing a sustainable <br>
community project bringing together businesses, government agencies, <br>
schools, nonprofits, and community groups who are using TNS. For further=
<br>
information or to get on the TNS Network email list, contact the Alliance=
<br>
for Sustainability at 612-331-1099 or <a href=3D"mailto:iasa@mtn.org"=
eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>mailto:iasa@mtn.org</a></u></font>.<br>
<br>
NORTHEAST <br>
Sustainable Step New England (SSNE) is working to significantly expand the=
<br>
understanding of sustainability throughout New England, and to provide <br>
individuals and organizations with tools and resources for taking action.=
<br>
Currently, the group is focused on increasing the number of people teaching=
<br>
the principles of TNS and sustainability by hosting presentations on TNS at=
<br>
businesses and conferences, offering peer consulting and training, <br>
initiating study circles,and developing materials. Their Community <br>
Outreach Program organizes study circles on voluntary simplicity, <br>
sustainable living, deep ecology, and related topics. Already, the group=
<br>
has generated over 40 active study circles and recently initiated study <br>
circles on The Natural Step in Greenfield and Boston, Massachusetts, and in=
<br>
Brattleboro, Vermont. SSNE is also organizing Peer Learning Circles for <br>
businesses in an effort to create a place for business managers to learn=
<br>
and have conversations about sustainability on an ongoing basis. Groups <br>
will be starting soon in Western New England, the Boston area, and <br>
Connecticut. The Western New England effort includes professional planners=
<br>
and childcare provider circles as well as other diverse business circles.=
<br>
For more information on Western New England, contact Paul Lipke at <br>
413-367-2878 or <a href=3D"mailto:mplipke@library.umass.edu"=
eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>mailto:mplipke@library.umass.edu</a></u></font>. For=
Connecticut and <br>
Boston, contact Beth Tener at 781-641-1325 or <a=
href=3D"mailto:tener.b@mindspring.com" eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>mailto:tener.b@mindspring.com</a></u></font> <br>
. SSNE is planning a full-day workshop on The Natural Step in central <br>
Connecticut this spring. Contact Beth Tener for more information on this=
<br>
event. To join SSNE's mailing list, send an email with your name, address,=
<br>
organization, and phone number to Donald Fried-Tanzer at <br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a href=3D"mailto:donaldf@gis.net"=
eudora=3D"autourl">mailto:donaldf@gis.net</a></u></font> or phone=
508-429-5004.<br>
<br>
SOUTHEAST <br>
The Southeast Alliance continues to bring together companies, <br>
organizations, and individuals in the southeast region who are interested=
<br>
in the principles and curriculum of The Natural Step. The Alliance has <br>
presented TNS programs at Georgia Tech's College of Architecture and Emory=
<br>
University's Business School. Plans to provide TNS programs with the <br>
Environmental Leadership Center at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina=
<br>
are in process. Jon Carlsten of Carlsten Associates, an Atlanta-based <br>
architecture firm, is using TNS in many of his current design projects, <br>
including the rennovation project at the Unitarian Universalist <br>
Congregation of Atlanta (see page 15 for details). Additionally, TNS will=
<br>
be part of the Earth Day 2000 programs in Atlanta and a full-day TNS <br>
workshop is being planned for Friday, April 28, 2000, as part of these <br>
observances. For more information, contact Sue Wootton at <br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a href=3D"mailto:swootton@bellsouth.net"=
eudora=3D"autourl">mailto:swootton@bellsouth.net</a></u></font> or=
770-953-8759.<br>
*************************<br>
DEVELOPMENTS<br>
Accepting the emerging 21st-century business challenge of <br>
conservation-based development, SHOREBANK CORPORATION recently adopted a=
<br>
Conservation Management System guided by the four TNS system conditions to=
<br>
help refine their products and practices and gain a competitive advantage.=
<br>
Shorebank Corporation is the parent company of South Shore Bank - Chicago,=
<br>
the nation's first community development bank, and Shorebank Pacific, the=
<br>
nation's first conservation-based development bank. For the past twenty-six=
<br>
years Shorebank's corporate mission has been to increase economic <br>
opportunity in impoverished communities by transforming neighborhoods and=
<br>
drawing a balance between development and profits.<br>
Increasingly, business leaders such as Jack Crane, Vice President of South=
<br>
Shore Bank and Co-Director of Shorebank's Environmental Strategy Team, <br>
recognize that the earth's resources are finite and that natural and built=
<br>
environments are inherently linked. Shorebank's Conservation Management <br>
System is designed to minimize adverse environmental impacts while <br>
maximizing a healthy production of wealth in their communities.<br>
>From the beginning, The Natural Step framework fit well into Shorebank's=
<br>
existing corporate culture. However, Shorebank lacked clear objectives for=
<br>
sustainability and its environmental practices needed cohesion and balance.=
<br>
After Ray Anderson, Chairman of Interface, and Carol Misseldine, Director=
<br>
of Sustainability Programs at BLDI Environmental and Safety Management, led=
<br>
a training session on TNS for Shorebank's senior management, Shorebank <br>
hired BLDI to train all 500 employees.<br>
By asking Dr. Rob=E8rt's famed question, "What can we agree on?"=
Shorebank <br>
has established three primary goals: to implement a conservation management=
<br>
system designed to maximize efficient use of resources and eliminate <br>
activities that harm natural systems; to increase profitability by <br>
designing new services and products promoting incentives for sustainable=
<br>
commerce; and to further their mission of creating wealth in impoverished=
<br>
communities by incorporating environmental integrity into all=
activities.<br>
Using The Natural Step as a lens, Shorebank has established policy <br>
objectives aimed at eliminating waste, increasing energy efficient <br>
technologies and transportation, educating stakeholders, and measuring and=
<br>
reporting on their impact in order to improve annually. The company has <br>
hired a conservation manager to help guide the cultural shift and plans to=
<br>
educate customers and stakeholders about conservation-based development by=
<br>
hosting TNS workshops and seminars in the communities in which they <br>
operate.<br>
For more information on Shorebank's Conservation Management System, contact=
<br>
Jack Crane at Jack_Crane@sbk.com.<br>
.................................................<br>
Oregon's DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY has stepped up its commitment=
<br>
to sustainability efforts. The department has hired a Resource Efficiency=
<br>
Coordinator, Tim Honadel, to analyze the agency's environmental impacts and=
<br>
prioritize opportunities for action, using TNS principles as a foundation=
<br>
tool for decision making. Over 20 department employees attended the 1999=
<br>
TNS Annual Workshop last April and welcome the department's new commitment=
<br>
to sustainability and The Natural Step.<br>
...................................................<br>
NORM THOMPSON, Oregon's premier clothing and accessory catalog retailer, is=
<br>
urging the catalog industry to embrace sustainability. President Becky <br>
Jewett wrote an article for the industry publication Catalog Age, entitled=
<br>
"Let's Face It: We're Destroying the Earth," which featured the=
TNS system <br>
conditions and listed recommendations for meeting them. Internally, Norm=
<br>
Thompson is focusing sustainability efforts on improving its product line.=
<br>
Top managers and buyers are enthusiastic about working with vendors to use=
<br>
more organic cotton in Norm Thompson products. The company is also <br>
conducting Life Cycle Analysis workshops for their buyers so they can <br>
better understand the environmental impact of the products they select. <br>
Additionally, since Norm Thompson sells salmon, its working with a <br>
non-profit to draft a salmon purchasing policy that ensures restoration of=
<br>
salmon runs, healthy stocks, equity for fishers, and consumer education.<br>
.................................................<br>
On December 15, the city of Portland, Oregon, adopted a GREEN BUILDING <br>
INITIATIVE that recommends using The Natural Step system conditions to set=
<br>
the city's green building policy. Further information is available at <br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a=
href=3D"http://www.ci.portland.or.us/energy/greenbuilding.htm"=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.ci.portland.or.us/energy/greenbuilding.htm<br=
>
</a></u></font>Following a TNS workshop hosted by Duke Castle, the city of=
Ashland, <br>
Oregon, recently decided to use the four TNS system conditions in the <br>
expansion of its local library. The city has hired SERA Architects, a <br>
Portland firm and active participant in the TNS Construction Peer Learning=
<br>
group, to work on the project.<br>
.................................................<br>
As one of the first white congregations to support the civil rights <br>
movement of the '60s, The UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF ATLANTA=
<br>
(UUCA) is again leading the way toward positive change by renovating their=
<br>
existing facility according to principles of The Natural Step. The members=
<br>
of the congregation saw similarities between their covenant's common <br>
respect for "the interdependent web of all existence" and the four=
TNS <br>
system conditions. System condition four, in particular, underlies their=
<br>
acceptance of one another and their quest for social justice. They have <br>
drawn up specific plans to implement each system condition during the <br>
renovation project and have highlighted how each correlates to parallel <br>
UUCA principles. As a result of adopting TNS, the church hopes to meet its=
<br>
overarching goals of maintaining the low energy costs of the original <br>
building and educating their members about individual footprints. More <br>
specifically, the construction project incorporates plans to increase <br>
insulation and natural light and to use sustainable wood products and <br>
materials with recycled content in their new facility. They have also <br>
decided to use local construction materials manufactured within a 200-mile=
<br>
radius and will document the source of these materials in order to <br>
determine that they were produced without lowering any standards of health=
<br>
and well-being in the process.<br>
..............................................<br>
Oregon Natural Step Network's CONSTRUCTION PEER LEARNING GROUP has gone <br>
through a <br>
backcasting process to determine what a construction project would look <br>
like if it met all four TNS system conditions. The result has been the <br>
development of a 13 page paper that is being widely distributed for <br>
comment. The group plans to revise the paper based on the feedback it <br>
receives and to then develop a second paper describing possible <br>
implementation strategies.<br>
.............................................<br>
Portland-based REJUVENATION, INC., a leading manufacturer of period <br>
reproduction lighting fixtures, has developed an environmental management=
<br>
system, similar to ISO 14001, based on the principles of The Natural Step.=
<br>
Currently, an environmental aspects analysis is being applied to the <br>
company's manufacturing division. In 2000, the system will be used to <br>
analyze the company's retail division. The goal is to create a path to <br>
sustainable operations and a "sustainability filter" to guide=
product <br>
selection and development.<br>
...............................................<br>
Since late 1998, Sarah James has been working with a national task force of=
<br>
planners to develop the AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION'S (APA) first Policy=
<br>
Guide on Sustainability. Sarah and co-author Joe Power have proposed a set=
<br>
of four guiding policies for the guide that are based on the four TNS <br>
system conditions. To view a recent draft (April 1999) of the guide see <br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a=
href=3D"http://www.planning.org/govt/sustdvpg.htm"=
eudora=3D"autourl">www.planning.org/govt/sustdvpg.htm</a></u></font>.=
During the next two months, the draft <br>
guide will be reviewed by all APA state chapters and voted upon for formal=
<br>
adoption by <br>
the APA delegate assembly at the national APA conference on April 16, 2000,=
<br>
in New York. Emails of support can be sent to the email address listed at=
<br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a href=3D"http://www.planning.org/"=
eudora=3D"autourl">www.planning.org</a></u></font>.<br>
*************************<br>
STAFF NEWS<br>
TNS/US wishes to congratulate "Kat" Preston, Human Resource=
Coordinator for <br>
TNS/US, and her husband, Alex Watson, on the birth of their first child,=
<br>
Samuel Alexander Watson. Born November 3, 1999.<br>
Nicole Whiting received a B.A. in International Relations from Boston <br>
University before serving as a military officer for four years in Japan,=
<br>
Virginia, and California. Since then, she has worked at the Sierra Club,=
<br>
San Diego Chapter, and for the National Park Service.<br>
Caroline McDowell received a B.A. from Sonoma State University in <br>
Environmental Studies and Urban Planning, as well as a B.A. in Theater Arts=
<br>
with a concentration on Dance. Over the past several years she has worked=
<br>
with local non-profit organizations while pursuing her passion for=
dance.<br>
VOLUNTEERS<br>
TNS/US wishes to extend our deepest appreciation to a dedicated, talented,=
<br>
and reliable troupe of volunteers.<br>
Scott Anderson <br>
Kassandra Genovesi <br>
Jennifer Martin <br>
Roberta Peterson <br>
Chris Pawlowski<br>
*************************<br>
THE NATURAL STEP<br>
The Natural Step (TNS) is an international network of non-profit <br>
educational organizations working to accelerate the movement toward a <br>
sustainable society. TNS provides a planning framework that is grounded in=
<br>
natural science and serves as a guide for businesses, communities, <br>
academia, government entities, and individuals undertaking the path of <br>
sustainable development. The system conditions are used for problem <br>
solving, for the development of consensus documents, to structure <br>
institutional scientific work at universities, in course curricula for <br>
teaching students, and by corporations, municipalities, and other <br>
organizations as an instrument for strategic planning towards <br>
sustainability.<br>
SYSTEM CONDITIONS <br>
In order for a society to be sustainable, nature's functions and diversity=
<br>
are not systematically :<br>
1. subject to increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the=
<br>
earth's crust; <br>
2. subject to increasing concentrations of subtances produced by society;=
<br>
3. impoverished by physical displacement, over-harvesting, or other forms=
<br>
of ecosystem manipulation; <br>
4. resources are used fairly and efficiently in order to meet basic human=
<br>
needs globally.<br>
*************************<br>
BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br>
Ray Anderson <br>
Leslie Barclay <br>
Anthony Cortese <br>
Paul Hawken <br>
Robert Massie <br>
Dane Nichols (Chair) <br>
Sally Ranney <br>
Karl-Henrik Rob=E8rt <br>
Sarah Severn <br>
Edward Skloot <br>
Peter Senge <br>
Jin Zidell<br>
ADVISORY BOARD<br>
Rebecca Adamson <br>
Maria de los Angeles Cinta <br>
Robert Costanza <br>
Herman Daly <br>
Catharine deLacy <br>
Robert Ford <br>
Cindy Harrell-Horn <br>
David Kiser <br>
Andy Lipkis <br>
Laraine Lomax <br>
Mark Maynard <br>
William McDonough <br>
Curtina Moreland-Young <br>
Alice Nichols <br>
Jeanne Roy <br>
James Sano <br>
Catherine Sneed<br>
STAFF<br>
Mary Altomare, Co-Director of Corporate Initiatives <br>
George Basile, Senior Scientist <br>
Catherine Gray, Executive Director <br>
John Hagen, Director of Education & Administration <br>
Caroline McDowell, Administrative Assistant <br>
Sara Mossman, Development & Communications Assistant <br>
Brian Nattrass, Co-Director of Corporate Initiatives <br>
Katherine Preston, Human Resources Coordinator <br>
Peter Price-Thomas, Education Associate <br>
Jill Rosenblum, Director of Development & Communications <br>
Nicole Whiting, Education Associate<br>
NEWSLETTER STAFF<br>
Maya Porter, Copy Editor <br>
Sara Mossman, Assistant Editor <br>
Jill Rosenblum, Editor & Designer<br>
*************************<br>
The Natural Step <br>
The Presidio <br>
Thoreau Center for Sustainability <br>
Post office Box 29372 <br>
San Francisco, Ca 94129-0372 <br>
T 415.561.3344 F 415.561.3345 <br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a href=3D"mailto:tns@naturalstep.org"=
eudora=3D"autourl">mailto:tns@naturalstep.org</a></u></font> <br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a href=3D"http://www.naturalstep.org/"=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.naturalstep.org/<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</a></u></font>****************************** <br>
Sara Mossman <br>
Communications and Development <br>
The Natural Step US <br>
415-561-3344 <br>
******************************<br>
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