09 January 2017
As we embark on a new year, we must seize the opportunity to look at our
methods and term uses when we are communicating for systems change. In many
circles over the past years I have come across people working in the field of
sustainability who refuse to use the term 'sustainability' at all. I am sure
many of you have felt the same as these people. The concept of 'sustainable
development' and 'sustainability' have gained increased recognition over the
past decades and their widespread use have been pushed to the point that the
terms themselves have been trivialized. Two types of people who dislike the
word exist, those who believe that it has an elitist, scientific jargon
component to it, and those who believe it has become a 'catch-word' which has
lost its meaning entirely. I do not necessarily disagree with these beliefs,
but I am slightly more optimistic in that the true meaning of sustainability
still holds true to me.
A (new) framework for the concept was recently (re-)developed which I find
quite helpful, particularly because it takes into account the intrinsic
importance of systems thinking in sustainability. The framework was written by
Michael Ben-Eli from the Sustainability Laboratory and is called '
Sustainability: Definition and Five Core Principles'.
It talks about five core principles that underlie five fundamental domains,
which I will go through briefly in this Weekly.
The
Material Domain,
which constitutes all the physical processes which provide the basis for human
existence which are subject to the primary laws of physics. The principle here
is to contain entropy and ensure that the flow of resources, through and within
the economy, is as nearly non-declining as is permitted by physical laws.
The
Economic Domain,
which consists of markets where transactions occur and guiding frameworks by
which transactions are evaluated and decisions about economic commitments are
made. The accounting framework presently used to guide our economy grossly
distorts values. Economists are beginning to reflect on the inadequacies
inherent in the narrow concept of growth that dominates measurement of national
economies. The principle here is to adopt an appropriate accounting system to
guide the economy, fully align with the planet's ecological processes and
reflecting true comprehensive biospheric pricing.
The
Domain of Life,
which constitutes the inherent importance of all living systems and beings, and
the interdependence of these as part of our evolution process. It also reflects
the importance of diversity for our long-term viability. The principle here is
to ensure that the essential diversity of all forms of life in the biosphere
are maintained.
The
Social Domain,
which is how we organise ourselves as a species, and our relationships (how we
treat ourselves and each other), is an intrinsically important aspect of human
progress and wellbeing. The principle here is to maximize degrees of freedom
and potential self-realization of all humans without any individual or group
adversely affecting others.
Lastly, the
Spiritual
Domain, often underrated and undervalued, speaks about wisdom
and deep connection. The principle here is to recognize the seamless, dynamic
continuum of mystery, wisdom, love, energy and matter that links the outer
reaches of the cosmos with our solar system, our planet and its biosphere
including all humans with our metabolic systems and their externalized
technology extensions; embody this recognition in a universal ethics for
guiding human actions.
The framework is quite an easy read, and short (only ten pages). At the
end, it highlights that 'deeper reflection on the concept of sustainability and
the five core principles that prescribe it reveals that the spiritual dimension
and its related principle are fundamental to the quality and coherence of the
whole. [..] A balanced and full integration of all five principles is
essential..for conceptualisation and realizing sustainability as an enduring
state.'