We may finally be on the verge of a tipping point wherein mainstream attention to identifying and mitigating a company’s carbon impact will become a core strategic priority for all businesses. But what comes next? The reality is, global warming is just one of the detrimental impacts of unchecked business activity. During this time of seismic shift in awareness of the interconnectedness of things, the opportunity is to take a longer, more systemic view of the many ways our activities impact the world around us. By doing so, we will begin to anticipate and respond more quickly to both the needs and the enormous world of possibility in front of us to innovate for a whole, healed world. Be inspired by this thought leader who is working with leaders around the globe to help us all understand and ultimately align our activities with the basic carrying capacity of the earth.

1. BEYOND CARBON:
Carrying Capacity and
the Ecological Footprint
of Business
Mathis Wackernagel

2. BEYOND CARBON:
Carrying Capacity and the
Ecological Footprint of Business
Mathis Wackernagel, PhD
Sustainable Brands, June 1, 2009

3. We are entering a new era…

4. Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors

5. Ecological Creditors and Ecological Debtors

6. The Ecological Footprint
CARBON footprint

7. www.footprintnetwork.org/atlas

8. PIONEER COUNTRIES SO FAR
Switzerland
Japan
United Arab Emirates
Belgium
Ecuador
Luxembourg
Finland
EU

9. My life (1962 – onwards)
Annual Deficit adds up to a
global Ecological Debt

10. My life UN’s Most Moderate Scenario

11. From nicety to necessity…

12. Sustainability Wedges and an End to Overshoot (WBCSD)
15

13. Impact: The Eco-Footprint of a General Retailer (vintage poster facsimile)
20b

14. Energy company (reduce impact)
Waste management (increase value)
Cement production (compare to competition)
Finance (analyze investments)
Food (demonstrate commitment)
Construction (track performance)
Packaging (compare to competition)
Electronics (drive innovation)

15. Ecological Footprint thinking:
• You can pinpoint the challenge: a
complex, ecologically constrained
world
• You can more easily communicate
benefits of aggressive sustainability
efforts
• You can identify business risks &
opportunities