Sustainability and Innovation: A Platform for Prosperity Mike F. Keen,

Sustainability and Innovation: A Platform for Prosperity Mike F. Keen, Ph.D, Mike F. Keen,LEED-AP Ph.D., LEED AP IU SouthBailey, Bend Center for a Sustainable Future Krista MLS IU South Bend Center for a Sustainable Future

The Greatest Challenge Arctic sea ice drops to its lowest level since modern recording began Scientists call event “tipping point" in global warming. -National Sea Ice and Data Center (09/16/12) PressTV 2010 Is Also Our Greatest Opportunity!!!

The Greatest Challenge Is Also Our Greatest Opportunity!!!

What is Sustainability? Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs -United Nations World Commission of Development and Environment

What is Sustainability? Sustainability brings three elements into harmony:

Triple Bottom Line People Prosperity Planet

Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development Developed over the last 20 years by an international group of natural and social scientists as a result of the desire to help identify a set of principles that could guide human action toward a more sustainable path regardless of the starting point. Provides a comprehensive definition of an environmentally sustainable society that is easily understood and grounded in natural science, social science, and systems theory. Offers a flexible framework for individuals, families, businesses, and communities to create and implement their own plans which will enable them to become more sustainable one step at a time.

Karl-Henrik Robert, PhD Cancer Cell Scientist

Building Block of Life Public Library of Science What makes it possible for a cell to emerge and to sustain itself?

Scientific Foundations Basic Laws of Physics 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics Law of Conservation of Matter

Scientific Foundations Evolutionary Biology 4.5 billion years – Swirling stew 3.5 billion years – First plant cell 1.5 billion years – First green plants 0.7- 1 billion – First animal cells 2 million years – Human ancestors Evolution

Scientific Foundations Nitrogen Planetary Cycles Carbon (CO2) Water National Center for Atmospheric Research

What all scientists agree upon Open system with respect to energy Closed system with respect to matter 1) Nothing disappears 2) Everything disperses « Photosynthesis pays the bill » Slow geological cycles (volcano eruptions and weathering) Sustainability is about the ability of our own human society to continue indefinitely within these natural cycles Slow geological cycles (sedimentation and mineralization)

How we influence the system Physically inhibit nature’s ability to run cycles Barriers to people meeting their basic needs worldwide Introduce persistent compounds foreign to nature Relatively large flows of materials from the Earth’s crust

Earth is like a terrarium Closed system Sun pays the bills There is no away Sustainability means maintaining the balance

4 System Conditions of a Sustainable Society In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing. .concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust, .concentrations of substances produced by society, .degradation by physical means, and, in that society. .people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

Current unsustainable situation Declining resources and ecosystem services Through innovation, creativity & the unlimited potential for change we can reopen the walls of the funnel to a Third Industrial Revolution!!! Increasing demand for resources and ecosystem services

Operating Manual for the Planet Objective 1 1. Reduce and eventually eliminate our contributions to the systematic accumulation of materials taken from the earth’s crust. Inefficient Use Efficient Use Dissipative Use Tight Technical Cycles Scarce metals Fossil Fuels Abundant metals Renewables

Operating Manual for the Planet Objective 2 2. Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the systematic accumulation of substances produced by society. Inefficient use Persistent and Unnatural Dissipative use Efficient use Abundant & breakdown easily Tight Technical Cycles

Operating Manual for the Planet Objective 3 3. Reduce and eventually eliminate our contributions to the ongoing physical degradation of nature. Inefficient use of resources and land Resources from poorly managed ecosystems Efficient use of resources and land Resources from wellmanaged ecosystems

Operating Manual for the Planet Objective 4 4. Reduce and eventually eliminate our contributions to conditions that systematically undermine people’s abilities to meet their own needs. Unsafe and unhealthy production and use Safe and healthy production and use Violations of human rights Respect for human rights Sufficient resources for livelihood Economic barriers

Strategies for Planning and Implementation Systems Thinking Learning Organization

Create a Sustainability Action Plan Identify a set of priorities for actions and innovations that put the sustainability objectives into practice, evaluated on the basis of the following questions: 1. Does the action/innovation step towards all four guiding objectives of sustainability simultaneously? 2. Does the action/innovation create a flexible platform for future steps, or does it lead to a blind alley? 3. Will the action/innovation give a good return on investment, i.e., time and money.

Why is it so hard with organizations? No One Sees the System!

Forecasting

Backcasting Visioning Future Present 1. Begin with the end in mind 2. Move backwards from the vision to the present 3. Move step by step towards the vision

Why should you care?

Sustainability and Innovation at Interface Carpet Misson Zero Milestones Since 1994: Energy usage down 43% Renewable 30% Cut waste 77%; Saved 483 mil Cut greenhouse gas 44% Cut water use 80% Planted 87,000 trees Increased sales Invented and patented new machines (ReEntry) Doubled earnings & Raised profit margins

Hot Lips Pizza

What’s in it for me and my business or organization? What does sustainability offer me and my business or organization? New Market Potential Competitive Differentiation Platform for Innovation Reduced Energy Bills and Operating Costs Risk Avoidance (law suits, new environmental regulation and taxes, and market shifts) Improved Employee Morale Increased Productivity and Reduced Employee Absenteeism Improved Public and Community Relations Do well by doing good Be a hero to your children and grandchildren

Sustainability Resource Guides http://sustainthefuture.iusb.edu

Center for a Sustainable Future 574.520.4429 [email protected] sustainthefuture.iusb.edu The Natural Step International www.naturalstep.org