Sustainable Development David Fisk Prof Engineering for Sustainable Development

The Plot Some History What does it mean? Even more history Tomorrow –Thinking in the 4 th dimension Its ethics stupid!

Origins 1970’s Environmentalism 3 rd World Development 1980’s UN Brundtland Report 1990’s UN Rio Summit 2000’s UN Jo’burg Summit UN World Summit

Brundtland’s Findings Series of case studies Government efforts to remove poverty – solved today’s problem often by……. – making tomorrow’s problems worse created off balance sheet liabilities – often (but not always) by raiding the environment – –since no one owns it though it supports everyone

Brundtland’s Recomendation Government’s should commit themselves to – development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Too Abstract? Really? Testing how what we do now effects everything in the future Environment can’t survive in social or economic collapse

Dividends Un-sustained development is obvious when you see it!!

New Thinking: 1 Env Soc Econ Thinking in 3 capitals not one

New Thinking: 1 Env Soc Econ Thinking in 3 capitals not one Some trade-offs

New Thinking: 1 Env Soc Econ Thinking in 3 capitals not one Some trade-offs But one down all down!!!

Thinking in the 4 th dimension Thinking in the 4 th dimension – investing in real options – always exposing future liabilities – saying the unspeakable Governments find this hard!! Governments find this hard!! ~ 200 civilisations failed so far ~ 200 civilisations failed so far New Thinking: 2

Trying Hard 200 failed so far Soviet Union most recent Old Testament? Leviticus Law Or Ecology Manual? Leviticus Law Or Ecology Manual?

Was Christianity that bad? Abbeys an exemplar of sustainability Abbeys an exemplar of sustainability Power of fossil fuel has overwhelmed everyone Power of fossil fuel has overwhelmed everyone Adam Smith: The last solar powered economist

Unsustainable Consumption? You used to be what you owned Now you are what you consume Once it was great just to be rich Now you worry if you aren’t getting richer Once productivity meant more leisure Now it is needed to even to stay where you are

Not So Hard But its actually everyone’s objective The trick: how to meet it but not at the expense of anyone else

A moral issue First Great Commandment – Creation First Great Commandment – Creation But with extended definition of ‘neighbour’ But with extended definition of ‘neighbour’ Polluting the Samaritan’s air? Polluting the Samaritan’s air? Stealing the Samaritan’s future? Stealing the Samaritan’s future? Sustainable development is the synthesis not the conflict of the 2 Greatest Commandments Sustainable development is the synthesis not the conflict of the 2 Greatest Commandments