Chapter 2 PDF - Sustainability Analysis

lOMoARcPSD|11364796 Learning Module 2: Complex Problems Systems thinking for sustainability Analysis: “Fixes-that-fail”: the original problem comes back at a later time as the symptomatic are solved by not the underlying reasons for the symptoms o However, sustainable is not b...

lOMoARcPSD|11364796 Learning Module 2: Complex Problems Systems thinking for sustainability Analysis: “Fixes-that-fail”: the original problem comes back at a later time as the symptomatic are solved by not the underlying reasons for the symptoms o However, sustainable is not being less unsustainable Example of “fixes that fail”: Biodiversity loss Solution to resolve symptomatic: conservation projects, which might delay extinction, however if species are not protected in the wild the danger of extinction is not removed Humans have to tendency to believe that technological progress will eventually solve our problems, however this Technohubris rather leads often to a false sense of security. Building ever higher dikes instead of tackling the real cause of rising sea levels can be seen as an example only building on dikes is unlikely to be sufficient. Example of Shifting the burden: Carbon offset of aviation emissions 11 / www.temagroningen.nl / [email protected] Gedownload door Bart S ([email protected])  lOMoARcPSD|11364796 Benefits of System Thinking for Sustainability Potential to see undesirable consequences of actions Can help to prevent “fixes that fail” Remember that these systems occur inside organization as well as in broader society Real improvements come not from shifted but removed burdens! Sustainability – a wicked problem? Definition: 1. Extremely difficult (impossible) to define precisely 2. No definitive solution – multiple interventions might be necessary 3. Implemented solutions tend to have large consequences a. E.g. drought problem in California: forbidding the most water intense activity (growing almonds) would have heavy impacts on the regions. Almond milk would become more expansive boosting the diary industry 4. Interconnected with other problems 5. Involving many stakeholders Also in the SDG are many wicked problems: If we boosted “Affordable and clean energy” (SDG #7) in the Netherlands it would lead to increased number of jobs (SDG #8), however, renewable energy technologies require a lot of minerals such as cobalt which are produced under bad working conditions elsewhere in the world (SDG #8) Symptomatic Solutions “Good” after all? Solving wicked problems often it only possible by applying symptomatic solutions, however one should always aim to solve the fundamental 12 / www.temagroningen.nl / [email protected] Gedownload door Bart S ([email protected])  lOMoARcPSD|11364796 problem in the long run. Sometimes it takes working through a problem to discover rather than plan for fundamental solutions. Live Session 2 Group Meeting - Agree on a company - Poll What’s wrong with Carbon Neutral coffee? Everybody can be carbon neutral nowadays through carbon offset measurements, however through that companies do not put enough effort into climate lobbying to change something. Hence, offsetting leads to neglecting the actual problem. Shipping industry: - Taking more efficient engines - Bio gasoline Ehrenfeld: Strong or Weak sustainability? - Strong sustainability because he argues that we cannot offset resource shortages with technology advancement Less unsustainable is not more sustainable! Examples: Fixes that fail: Primark says they have a zero tolerance regarding child labor, however their suppliers might still use child labor Why is there Child Labor in the first place? Because families need the money, companies that want to do something about that need to tackle poverty in those families child labor as a symptom of extreme poverty Unintended consequences: Lots of packaging waste often happens when changing from plastic to recyclable packaging as more packing is needed Shifting the burden: …. Why is it so hard to get regulations to solve the issue? 13 / www.temagroningen.nl / [email protected] Gedownload door Bart S ([email protected])  lOMoARcPSD|11364796 It is very difficult to regulate common resources (e.g. overfishing in our oceans). Tragedy of the commons 14 / www.temagroningen.nl / [email protected] Gedownload door Bart S ([email protected])