MUC Researcher Seminar, March 2007.

“Researching and developing in knowledge based

society.”

Envisioning a Sustainable Future

Outline

 1. Issues of the Current World

 2. Principles for Sustainability

 3. Building a Sustainable Future

 Recommended Reading

Picture source: http://thesustainablefuture.blogspot.com

Collapse of Past
Civilizations
• Climate change
• Deforestation
• Habitat destruction
• Soil problems
• Water management problems
• Over-hunting, over-fishing…
→ Environmental degradation due to
mismanagement of natural resources.
 Issues of the Modern World

• Mass extinction
• Energy shortage
• Build up of toxic chemicals, pollution
• More potent destructive technologies
• Alienation and social breakdown
• Global climate change
→ the risk of a global rather than a local
collapse.
The Root Causes
• Overpopulation
• Overconsumption
• Resources depletion
• Wastes and pollution
→ Degenerative pattern
• Our money-driving
economy
 Principles for Sustainability

"Nature does nothing uselessly. If one

way be better than another, that you
may be sure is Nature's way."
Aristotle
 Principles for
Sustainability
• Ethics:
 Care for the Earth
 Care for people
 Share resources and surplus
 Reduce consumption

• Principles:
 Maintaining regenerative cycling pattern
 Letting nature do the work
 Encouraging diversity and integrity
 Using appropriate technologies
Four dimensions of sustainability:
(1) Social sustainability ↔ Peace and Equity
(2) Ecological sustainability ↔ Conservation
(3) Economic sustainability ↔ Appropriate development
(4) Political sustainability ↔ Democracy

In a sustainable society, people:

 care for each other and value social justice and peace.
 protect natural systems and use resources wisely.
 value appropriate development and satisfying
livelihood for all.
 make decisions through fair and democratic means.
Building a Sustainable Future

Picture source: www.360east.com

 Today's Economy vs. Tomorrow's Eco-Economy

 Competitive, hierachy  Co-operative, network

 Degenerative  Regenerative

 Money-based, market forces  Respects principles of ecology

 Favors maximum production  Favors optimum production

 Carbon, fossil fuel based  Renewable energy, hydrogen

energy system economy

 Pollutes the environment by  Refresh the environment

toxic chemicals

→ Unsustainable → Sustainable
 Sustainable Agriculture

 Optimize natural resource

management (biological pest
control, natural fertilizer...)

 Protect the environment and

biodiversity (crop rotation,
diversification, agroforestry...)

 Contribute to well-being of
local community

Picture source: /www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/agroforestry/louise/ntres694.h

Renewable, diverse and decentralized
energy system

Solar
power

Wind
Bio-energy
power

HYDROGEN
ECONOMY

Geothermal Hydropower

Fuelcell
 Eco-design

Picture source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/221169_green22.html

 Permaculture Business
Permaculture business:
 works for permaculture principles
 works on quality not quantity
 aims to create wealth rather than just
money

Main ideas:
 Encourage indigenous, local, traditional,
natural and environmental friendly
products and services
 Co-operation rather than competition
 Ensuring wealth sharing
Friendly, supportive community

Picture source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/221169_green22.html

 A world of joy, peace and love

Meaningful living
 Close to nature
 Simply
 Healthily
 Care and Share

Picture source: www.consensus.net

 Recommended Reading
 Alexander, Gary. 2006, eGaia, Growing a peaceful, sustainable
Earth through Communications, Lighthouse Books.

 Brown, Lester. 2001, Eco-Economy – Building an Economy for the

Earth, Earth Policy.

 Capra, Fritjof. 2002, The Hidden Connections – A Science for

Sustainable Living, Anchor Books.

 Diamon, Jared. 2005, Collapse – How Societies Choose to Fail or

Succeed, Viking Publisher.

 Lyle, John Tillman. 1994, Regenerative design for sustainable

development, Wiley.

 Seitz, John L. 1995, Global issues - an introduction, Blackwell.

Thank you for your attention!

Together, we build!
Picture source: