Equity within planetary boundaries Sigrun Maria Kristinsdottir / Brynhildur Davidsdottir / Kristin Vala Ragnarsdottir / The Converge Project Team For more information see: http://www.convergeproject.org 18 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro

Overview About the Converge Project The Converge Framework built Converge Principles Methodology The Framework tested Communities World Café and Causal Loop Diagrams Conclusion

About the Converge Project - Background Rockström et al. 2009

About the Converge Project - Background If everyone consumed like Europeans, we’d need 2-3 Earth- like planets to survive Fair share? Inequalities

Contraction and ConvergenceTM C&CTM proposed by Meyer (2000) as an equitable science-based framework for managing the transition to an acceptable level of GHG emissions Acceptable concentration of GHG, acceptable emissions, based on safe operating limits Equal per capita allowance used to set national entitlements; converging to equal per capita allowances worldwide

The Converge Project How, given the current situation, do we today manage and allocate Earth's limited resources so the projected global population of 9 billion people in 2050, and their offspring, will flourish – sustainably? Equity within biological planetary boundaries – by way of convergence

What is “convergence”? Convergence for sustainability is the process towards equity (equal per capita allowances) within biological planetary limits It is the process of limiting resource consumption and unsustainable behaviours in the developed world, while accepting an increase in consumption and sustainability in developing and deprived sectors

The project and the research group 4-year research programme (2009-2013) funded by the EU (FP7) 8 partner organizations in 5 countries Iceland – University of Iceland UK – Schumacher Institute, University of Bristol Hungary – Szent Istvan University, GreenDependent Institute Sweden – University of Lund, The Natural Step India – Social Change and Development

The Converge Framework built Ideology Contraction and ConversionTM Systems Approach Serves as a backbone to the whole study Explains how causal relationships and feedbacks function within a system Recognizes systems as whole entities Divided into Systems Analysis and Systems Dynamics

The Converge Framework built Principles Methodology modules and tools Workshops and community engagement World Café method Systems Analysis and Causal Loop Diagrams Leads to a systems model built by the team (Systems Dynamics) Convergence indictors identified Monitoring system (execution of the indicator framework) Policies

The Converge Framework – Principles – Draft Convergence for sustainability is the progress towards equal opportunities for all people, within biophysical planetary boundaries In a converging society, every global citizen has the right to a fair share of the Earth’s biocapacity and social resources, to enable him or her to live a fulfilling life A converging society uses its resources efficiently, recognizing the critical value of services from natural systems and limiting its harmful impacts upon them. It recognizes interdependence amongst human societies and between human societies and nature A converging society invests positively in human, social and environmental resources; and cares for them, maintains them and restores

The Framework tested – communities Five communities Iceland Bristol, UK India: SCAD Lund, Sweden Gödöllö, Hungary Full study done in Iceland, Bristol and India Involves three day-long workshops with participatory stakeholders and a lunch-hour meeting Introductory lectures given in Lund and Gödöllö

The Framework tested – World Café

The Framework tested – Causal Loop Diagram

The Framework tested – Causal Loop Diagram

The Framework tested – Challenges / Strengths Diverse institutional partners Diverse disciplines Diverse cultures Diverse test communities Time scale Defining “equitable distribution”

Next steps Testing in India Conference in India Conference in Brussels October 2012 Conference in India Project introduced February 2013 Conference in Brussels Introduction to policy makers Key findigns introduced April 2013

Conclusion We hope to create a usable tool which can move both individual communities and the world towards greater sustainability We hope to create a framework which is usable by individual communities and which is successful in increasing equity in the world We hope to influence policy makers to take limits seriously and to use systems approach in decision-making

Thank you! Contact details: Project website: http://www.convergeproject.org Presenter’s email: smk5@hi.is