Competence Over Values: Redefining Sustainability for a Green Economy
Sustainability requires more than values; it demands competence. This work emphasizes the importance of strategic sustainable development, operational definitions of sustainability, and the necessity for informed leadership. Addressing global challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource management, it highlights the competitive advantages that organizations can gain through effective sustainability practices. Through collaboration between scientists, businesses, and municipalities, a framework for systemic problem-solving and innovative design is presented as essential for achieving sustainability goals in various sectors.
Competence Over Values: Redefining Sustainability for a Green Economy
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Presentation Transcript
Sustainability is moreaboutcompetencethanvalues Karl-Henrik Robèrt The Natural Step Blekinge Institute of Technology • 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 Alliance for Strategic Sustainable Development
McKinsey studyof 2000 CEO: • 50% sustainability is very, or extremely, important for the therespectivecompany’sfuture. • 1% defineswhatsustainabilitystands for Ourgreatestchallenge is not... • Climatechange, pollution, deforestation, decliningfresh-watertables, shrinkingphosphatereserves, poverty, terrorism, financialcrisis, greed… But... • Incompetentleadership
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 • …
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 • … Tid
Sustainabilityintegratedintogoals for companies/value-chains/regions/cities A. Sustainability principles as boundaryconditions Vision Backcasting CoreValues • D. Prioritize from C • Flexible platform? • Enough ROI? Strategicgoals C. List possible solutions Aktionsprogram B. List current situation Tid
Tested in companies and cities ... • Övertorneå • Robertsfors • Karlskrona • SEKOM • Morbegno • Dublin • Whistler • North Vancouver • Canmore • Halifax • Eindthoven • … Conclusion • Greatestsustainability problem – incompetentleadership • Misunderstandingsrooted in old paradigm and lack of know-how • Sustainability – greatestcompetitiveadvantage – all categories. • Organizationsnowlearnabout: • Strategicsustainabledevelopment as a competitiveadvantage • Sustainability is, at last, operationallydefined • A frameworkwith support tools for systematic problem solving, planning, and leadershipexist • International research program between scientists, companies and municipalities/cities www.alliance-ssd.org
”Green Economy” • Economic system is a human construct… • …designed for somethingelse… • …that must be on the table for… • …’economy’ to get a meaning • So ”green economy” oughttomean a modifiedeconomic system, not running in the face ofleaderswhoknowwhat social and ecologicalsustainability is. • ”The roleforentrepreneurstohelpdevelopa green economy” before ”The roleofentrepreneurs in a green economy”.
