3. forum for the future
“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can
change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Forum for the Future is a sustainability non-profit that works
globally with business, government and others to solve tricky
challenges.
4. We have to ramp up the scale and pace of change towards
sustainability.
We have to focus on transforming whole systems which
underpin our lives.
We have to do it together.
we believe that…
5. Alexa Schubert
I work on the Systems Innovation team, helping
organisations make innovative change. I also do
futures work and sit on the energy team here at
Forum (although my interests are wide!).
Rodrigo Bautista
I work on the Systems Innovation team too! I
collaborate using creative techniques and future
scenarios projects, mainly related to food and ICT.
My job is all about creating sustainable and
innovative long-term solutions. My background as
an industrial designer gives me a great footing to
use design and creative methods to help us get
there.
7. What is a weak
signal?
A discrete example of something
happening in the world today
that may grow into a trend or
point to how trends are evolving
7
8. A new printer can pulse
laser light over printed
paper to erase the
print.
Un-print your paper
8
9. Renato Zenobi and his
colleagues at the Swiss
Federal Institute are now able
to identify compounds in our
breath immediately. There is
the potential for instant
diagnosis, of certain diseases,
from our breath.
Footprints, fingerprints, and
now…breathprints!
9
10. Recently someone hacked the
Associated Press twitter account
and sent a tweet saying that
there had been explosions in the
White House and that the
President was injured. The Dow
Jones dropped significantly
before returning to previous
levels when it was discovered
the tweet was a fake.
Fake tweet rocks market
10
11. In 2010 India restricted the amount of cotton it
exported so that Indian businesses could be sure
of supply
In 2012 China was accused of doing the same for
rare earth metals
It’s all mine
11
12. There are numerous
projects appearing
that provide multiple
sensors to detect
everything from
moisture to light and
pollution.
A sensor in every room
12
13. What is waste to some is a resource to others
Not waste at all
13
17. “Development that meets the
needs of the present without
compromising the ability of
future generations to meet
their own needs”
The Brundtland
definition of
sustainable
development
17
18. Strictly, sustainability means
“The capacity for continuance into the long
term future”
– Continuance of life on earth
– Continuance of the human species
– Continuance of Earth’s life-support systems
19. Economy
Structured to meet objectives
and values set by society
Society
Decides objectives for
development and sets ethical
and value framework
Environment
Sets limits, the real bottom line
The 3 Pillars
20. What do the three pillars mean?
Environmental Social Economic
What do you think?
21. Financial performance
Contribution to
economic growth
Affect on local labour
Affect on local
companies,
entrepreneurs and
economic
development
Contribution to local or
regional infrastructure
Human rights
Labour practices &
work standards
Health and safety
Community impacts
Corruption
Privacy
Happiness
Materials & resources
used
Energy
Water
Biodiversity
Emissions & waste
Climate change
What do the three pillars mean?
Environmental Social Economic
28. • Reflect on what you’ve learned here
• Discuss with colleagues
• Come with an unsustainable object and an
example of a local sustainable business
Preparing for next week’s
workshops…
28
29. Thanks!
See you next week
29
Rodrigo Bautista – r.bautista@forumforthefuture.org
Alexa Schubert – a.schubert@forumforthefuture.org
