The positive power of sustainability John Dagevos (Telos) Bologna, 20h of June 2007

2 Contents of the presentation  Sustainable development in a historical perspective  Broadening the perspective on sustainable development  The Telos approach  The importance of interaction: stakeholder input  Sustainability is not a static concept  There is no sustainable development without friction  Unorthodox versus compartmentalisation  The evaluation of the GROW programme using the Telos model Broadening the perspective on sustainable development

3 Sustainable development in a historical perspective  Many definitions, a disputed concept  Sustainable development has been an important issue through the history of mankind  Distinction between a narrow (fysiocentric) and a broad perspective (anthropocentric) approach: -anthropocentric: the human needs are the starting point. The protection and the preservation of the environment is considered as a necessary contribution to human welfare -fysiocentric: the protection and preservation of the environment is the starting point without considering human needs

4  Meadows “Limits of growth” offers as well:  A warning: the limits  A ‘way out’: a development perspective  Ecological modernisation: a development-oriented approach in which the ecologisation of the economy goes hand in hand with the economisation of the ecology

5 The phases of modernisation economic modernisation 19th CT socio-cultural modernisation 20th CT ecological modernisation 21st CT SD concerns third more inclusive and self-reflexive phase of modernisation

6 Broadening the perspective on sustainable development  Brundtland (1987) broadens the perspective  Sustainable development demands balance at at least three levels:  Between the ecological (planet), the social-cultural (people) and the economic (profit) development  In time: intergenerational solidarity  In space: spatial solidarity

7 The Telos approach  Follows Brundtland’s broad perspective  Sustainable development is a development process aimed at balanced growth:  The resilience and quality of nature (ecological capital or Planet)  The physical and spiritual health of people (socio-cultural capital or People)  Healthy economic development (economic capital or Profit)  All capitals are of equal importance: therefore we use an equilateral triangle as a trademark

8 A model consisting of capitals, stocks, requirements, indicators and norms The Telos triangle Ecological capital Socio-cultural capitalEconomic capital

9 Ecological capital Socio-cultural capital Economic capital Coincidence?

10 Stocks Ecological capital Nature Soil Groundwater Surface Water Air Landscape Minerals Socio-cultural capital Citizenship Solidarity Security Housing & Living Cond. Health Education Identity & Diversity Art and Cultural heritage Economic capital Labour Capital Goods Spatial conditions Economic Structure Knowledge Raw materials

11 Capital Stock Indicator stock indicator capital indicator Requirements Theory ecologicalair clean air % fine dust

12 Requirements: based on interaction with society  indicate the long term goals  show what is relevant  are based on scientific research and policy documents  reflect the ideas of the stakeholders and citizens and are based on exhaustive discussions with society via interviews, meetings, citizen panels etc.

13 Some ingredients for sustainable thinking  Sustainability is not a static concept.  Renewal and adaptation is constantly needed  Constant interaction is needed between governmental authorities at different levels, business community, non governmental organisations and social movements  No sustainable development without friction;  Between different interests  Between old and new thinking (fixed rules, routines, within the strict sectoral and spatial boundaries, narrowly defined administrative frameworks)  It needs integral thinking  It asks for enthusiasm, creativity, unorthodox solutions, positive thinking  The role of culture and creativity as a driving force

14 The evaluation of the GROW programme using the Telos model some conclusions  GROW as a whole has the strongest focus on the profit pillar, people and certainly planet issues are of less relevance. Therefore the programme is not totally in balance  GROW is first and above all a knowledge focussed programme: development of new knowledge, learning of experiences elsewhere, transfer of knowledge etc.  Some sustainability issues hardly play a role or are considered to be relevant (safety, identity and diversity, spatial conditions, most planet issues)  Effects of the activities are expected to work out in a positive way, directly and indirectly. There are hardly any negative effects or trade offs between the pillars to be expected

15 The Telos Triangle for GROW 0,00 1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00 5,00 Planet ProfitPeople

16 The results for the GROW programme (relevance)

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18 Top six of most relevant sustainability issues in the Grow programme RankStock 1Knowledge 2Capital Goods 3Labour 4Economic Structure 5Solidarity 6 Auxiliary and raw materials 6Education

19 Expected direct and indirect effects for the GROW programme as a whole  Hardly any negative effects  More indirect than direct effects  Profit and People pillar benefit the most, Planet pillar far less  Top six of most important effects  Knowledge  Labour  Capital goods  Economic structure, auxiliary and raw materials, education

20 Overall conclusions (2)  There are clear differences between the three subprogrammes -Green Growth is the most in balance -Inclusive Growth: bi-pillar, focus on people and profit -Business Growth: one pillar, almost exclusive focus on profit issues

21 The overall picture