Influencing policy (training slides from Fast Track Impact)
Sustainable Development & Competitive Advantage: What Businesses Need to Know to be Successful in a Global Economy
1. What Businesses Need to Know to be
Successful in a Global Economy
Professor Jeremy B. Williams
Chief Academic Officer
Knowledge Universe
CXO Learning Series
CII Northern Region Headquarters, Chandigarh, India
21 June 2012
3. 3
Overview
1) Why some believe there is no need to worry
about climate change
2) Why we should worry about climate change
3) What needs to be done
4) Reasons for optimism?
4. 4
1) WHY SOME BELIEVE THERE IS NO NEED
TO WORRY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
11. 11
1.Doubts about Bordering on
the science the absurd
2.We will invent Ignores
our way out precautionary
of trouble
principle
3.Think about
today not the Unethical
future
30. 30
Forced migrations
UN study estimates that there were
50 million environmental
refugees around the world in 2010
Same study estimates that as many as
100 million people live in areas that
are below sea level or liable to storm
surge
35. 35
The ecological footprint concept
How many planets would
we need if everyone lived
like you?
http://www.myfootprint.org
36. 36
Calculating the ecological footprint
Official statistics on
consumption are used to
calculate the amount of
biologically productive land
and water area required to
produce the resources
consumed and to absorb
the wastes generated using
prevailing technology
Image source: http://www.ew.govt.nz
37. 37
Worldwide, there
exists about 1.9
biologically
productive global
hectares per person
Image source: www.adbusters.org
38. 38
At what stage do you think humankind will outstrip
its supply of biologically productive hectares?
A. 2010
B. 2020
C. 2050
D. 2100
E. No answer
46. 46
“The Virgin Earth Challenge”
… USD25 million prize if you can develop “a commercially viable design which
results in the removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases so as to
contribute materially to the stability of Earth’s climate”.
49. 49
Going about our business naturally
Radical resource
productivity
Biomimicry
Service and flow economy
Investing in natural capital
www.naturalcapitalism.org
50. 50
Radical resource productivity
Using resources more efficiently in ways that can already be
achieved; e.g. process redesign (disembodied technical
change) or energy efficient buildings, passive solar heating.
51. 51
Research biomimicry
Spider silk Abalone shell
Stenocara beetle
52. 52
Reorient to a service
and flow economy
Focuses more on
selling and purchasing
services rather than
products
Makes manufacturers
more ecologically
responsible