1. Presentation by: Dan Wilson
The Natural Step
Presentation by: Dan Wilson
Whistler 2020

2. Problem: Good Planets are hard to find…
Why Sustainability?
If today’s entire world population enjoyed the same consumer lifestyles as North Americans, it would take four additional planets to accommodate everyone sustainably.
This is not anything new, you’ve likely all heard this before
Problem: Good Planets are hard to find…

3. Confused about Sustainability?
So with this dilemma at hand, we all want to figure out how to become sustainable, but when we look to experts we see confusion and a mix of tools and concepts claiming to work towards sustainability. Often we get stuck trying to define sustainability and the more time we spend here the less time we have for better discussion ultimately leading to better actions..
Smart Growth

4. Sustainability requires planning in complex systems
A Systems Approach
Sustainability requires planning in complex systems
Level 1
The Natural Step builds on a science-based understanding of society within nature
Level 2
Four sustainability principles connect the vision of sustainability with the realm of effective action

5. What can we agree on? Open System with respect to energy
Closed System with respect to matter
1) Nothing disappears
“Photosynthesis pays the bills”
2) Everything disperses
Slow geological cycles - materials from the Earth’s crust
Sustainability is about the ability of these cycles to run forever.

6. How do we influence the cycles?
Physically inhibit ability of nature to run cycles 3
Barriers to people meeting their basic needs worldwide 4
Relatively large flows of materials from the Earth’s crust 1
Introduce persistent compounds foreign to nature 2

7. Natural Step System Conditions
A sustainable society does not:
Mine and disperse materials at a faster rate than they can be redeposited into the Earth’s crust;
Produce substances and disperse them faster than they can be broken down by natural processes; if they can be broken down at all;
Deplete or degrade resources at a faster rate than they are replenished (over-harvesting trees or fish) or by other forms of ecosystem manipulation (paving over fertile land or causing soil erosion);
Create conditions that increasingly undermines peoples capacity to meet their needs.
Another way of stating the principles

8. System Condition 1 Inefficient Use Efficient Use Dissipative Use
We cannot take more from the Earth’s crust than is redeposited again or is kept in tight technical loops to avoid dissipation to natural systems.
We are releasing billions of years of sequestered material (esp. oil and gas) over a very short period of time into the biosphere.
Nature cannot tolerate this, as the substances are either directly toxic to living systems, or they alter the physiochemical conditions that are necessary to support life.
Other notes:
Yes, we will require metals, but the question is how do we extract them, and from where, and do we allow them to be used in dissipative ways?
No, no fossil fuels are part of this future unless you’re directly injecting carbon back into the wells.
Inefficient Use
Efficient Use
Dissipative Use
Tight Technical Cycles
Scarce metals
Abundant metals
Fossil Fuels
Renewables Sequestration