The document discusses the concept of sustainability and sustainable development. It defines sustainability as meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. It also discusses approaches like the triple bottom line and deep ecology. The document argues that humanity must operate in new ways inspired by nature to transform human industry. It notes the complex, interconnected nature of sustainability challenges and calls for deliberation beyond debate. It proposes a process of structured conversations to collectively dream of and work towards a more sustainable future.

1. What can we do about this “Sustainability Thing”? a dream that is becoming reality Jenni Goricanec @ KMLF 27 th July 2011

2. The Sustainability Thing Generally Sustainable Development is understood as: ‘ development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ ( The United Nations’ Brundtland Commission in 1987) Humanity is “in some way special” Places the interests of humanity above all others (Hector).

3. consistent with this… Triple Bottom Line Environmental Social Economic Four Pillars Environmental Social Economic Governance

4. another way Deep ecology (Naess) approach Framed around the idea that ‘humanity is in no way “special” – rather humankind is simply another species in a highly complex ecosystem’ (Hector)

5. & another Sustaining or strengthening environments (Benyus; McDonough & Braungart) As humanity is special (it can do damage even though intending to do good) it is necessary to operate in new ways; not ones that just do “less badly” but ones that transform human industry through the use of design inspired by nature.

6. What though are we trying to sustain? Is it our money? Is it our recreation? Is it our occupation? Is it our family? Is it our natural environment? Is it all of these? Or is it something else? Or when your company says that is being sustainable? What is it we are trying to sustain?

7. These are philosophical questions George Monbiot (writer in The Guardian ) "The real issues are not technical or economic. The crisis we face demands a profound philosophical discussion, a reappraisal of who we are and what progress means” and “ Debating these matters makes us neither saints nor communists; it shows only that we have understood the science”

8. Something of The nature of our predicament Labyrinthine, multicursal, many paths and many “dead-ends” Dynamic with turbulence Our systems, networks, processes and organisations, developed with a causal logic have become over time deeply enmeshed in a ‘cats-cradle of interconnections’ with behaviour ‘driven by interactions between optimising, but confused, agents’ (Haldane).

9. By way of example We have de-contextualised our use of natural resources by supplying energy, water and products ‘on demand’ using causal systems. These systems have been developed purposefully e.g. to provide clean, potable water and physically separating the waste stream. This has reduced disease even though we live in close quarters in cities. The loop though is closed by relying on natural systems (e.g. rainfall in catchment areas) We are now see that we cannot necessarily rely on these natural processes (extended periods of drought)

10. We need to go beyond “debate”  deliberation? “ In deliberation, people discuss, ponder, exchange observations and views, reflect upon information and judgements concerning matters of mutual interest, and attempt to persuade each other” “ Deliberations about risk often include discussions of the role, subjects, methods, and results of analysis” US National Research Council, Understanding Risk

11. a dream becoming a reality “ When Martin Luther King said "I have a dream", he was inviting others to dream it with him. Once a dream becomes shared in that way, current reality gets measured against it and then modified towards it. As soon as we sense the possibility of a more desirable world, we begin behaving differently, as though that world is starting to come into existence, as though, in our minds at least, we're already there. The dream becomes an invisible force which pulls us forward. By this process it starts to come true. The act of imagining something makes it real.” [Quote from Bryan Eno’s Long Now and Big Here]

12. it is not my dream alone that I want to become reality Dream with others Drawing on the energy of others that emerges from their own interests, collectively Connecting with a theme that is of general concern Beginning locally and personally, as well as Connecting expansively, systemically and/or globally Need time and space

13. Beginnings… A theme A process An organisation Some connections

14. A theme Managing the Home From the etymology of the word “economy”

15. A process An initial structured conversation sharing context sharing views of values (or desirable futures) concluding with identification of actions or “projects” individually, groups and collectively, as well as potential connections to be made A further sequence of face-to-face conversations Conversations in-between supported via on-line collaboration tools Several groups from different societal parts (e.g. urban, suburban, peri-urban, regional, remote)

16. An organisation Not-for-profit Supporting the organisation of these structured conversation including Promotion Recruitment of participants Development and maintenance of online tools Mediation of the process

17. Some connections Keith De La Rue (AcKnowledge Consulting) oases Graduate School and Community Learning ( www.oases.edu.au ) Other possible connections: Others that are already active (GetUp, DDP groups, Transition Towns, Lighter Footprints etc)

18. What next? Does this make sense? Is there more that you need to have it make sense? It needs volunteers with Energy Willingness to “give it a go” Knowledge Skills Experience

19. More about The Sustainability Thing www.thesustainabilitything.com.au

20. An invitation to dream this into reality together

21. References 1. Haldane, A. Rethinking the financial network . 2009 [cited 2011 26 July]. 2. Hector, D., Towards a New Philosophy of Engineering: Structuring the complex problems from the sustainability discourse , in School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering . 2008, The University of Sydney: Sydney. 3. Naess, A., Deep ecology for the 22nd century. The Trumpeter, 1992. 9 (2): p. 53-60. 4. Bruntland, G., Our common future . 1987, The World Commission on Environment and Development, published by Oxford University Press: Oxford. 5. Benyus, J., Biomimicry . 1997, New York: William Morrow and Company. 6. McDonough, W. and M. Braungart, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things . 2002, New York: North Point Press. 7. Monbiot, G., This crisis demands a reappraisal of who we are and what progress means , in The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/dec/04/comment.politics 2007: London, UK. 8. Eno, B., The Big Here and Long Now . 2000: http:///www.longnow.org/timelinks/timelink.htm, Accessed 19th June 2005. 9. US National Research Council, Understanding risk: information decisions in a democratic society , ed. P.C. Stern and H.V. Fineberg. 1994, Washington, DC.