Sustainability and the Natural Step

8/14/2019 Sustainability and the Natural Step

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Sustainability and TheSustainability and The

Natural StepNatural Step

Presented by Amery NaturalPresented by Amery Natural

Step GroupStep Group


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Things are getting complicated forThings are getting complicated for

our planet and its billions ofour planet and its billions of

inhabitantsinhabitants


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a series of profounda series of profound

challenges for communitieschallenges for communities

around the worldaround the world


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And that includesAnd that includes

communities across thecommunities across the

United States, like AmeryUnited States, like Amery


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These challenges include:These challen

ges include:


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Rising prices for energyRising prices for energy


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Safe food and water suppliesSafe food and water supplies


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Economic uncertaintyEconomic uncertainty


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Habitat loss and species extinctionHabitat loss and species extinction


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Increasing incidences of disease,Increasing incidences of disease,

like cancer, asthma, and diabeteslike cancer, asthma, and diabetes


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Global climate changeGlobal climate change

E h f h i f d


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Each of these is a profoundEach of these is a profound

challenge to a communitys abilitychallenge to a communitys ability

to meet its needsto meet its needs


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Whether a metropolisWhether a metropolis


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Or just a small townOr just a small town


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There is, however, aThere is, however, acommon response thatcommon response that

deals with eachdeals with each

challenge above, andchallenge above, andholds true for large andholds true for large and

small communities,small communities,whether in Africa, Asia orwhether in Africa, Asia or

the United States.the United States.


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That common responseThat common response

isis to prepare for the futureto prepare for the future

to preserve and protect onesto preserve and protect ones

way of lifeway of life to ensure that tomorrow willto ensure that tomorrow will

always come for thealways come for thegenerations that followgenerations that follow


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a common umana common umanresponse is embodied inresponse is embodied in

the word sustainability.the word sustainability.


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But, what isBut, what is

sustainability?sustainability?

Does it mean getting by with less?Does it mean getting by with less?

Sacrificing todays lifestyle for theSacrificing todays lifestyle for the

benefit of future generations?benefit of future generations?

Giving up the activities we cherish?Giving up the activities we cherish?

Learning to grow our own food?Learning to grow our own food?

Living closer together?Living closer together?


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need to think ofneed to think of

sustainability as improvingsustainability as improving

a communitys resiliencya communitys resiliencyto potential socialto potential social

disruptions, likedisruptions, like

Interruption of our energy supplyInterruption of our energy supply A widespread natural disaster, likeA widespread natural disaster, like

drought, floods or climate changedrought, floods or climate change

Economic breakdownEconomic breakdown Food shortagesFood shortages

Cataclysmic environmental pollutionCataclysmic environmental pollution

or degradationor degradation


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In short, sustainability isIn short, sustainability is

best thought of as:best thought of as:

preserving apreserving a

communitys abilitycommunitys ability

to meet its own needsto meet its own needs

withwith minimalminimaldependencedependence on outsideon outside

sources of assistance.sources of assistance.


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Or,Or,

Self-sufficiency that protectsSelf-sufficiency that protects

and enhances aand enhances a

communitys unique assetscommunitys unique assetsand natural resources,and natural resources,

while creating a diversewhile creating a diverseand vibrant local economy.and vibrant local economy.

Wh i t i bilitWhy is sustainability


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Why is sustainabilityWhy is sustainability

important in a communityimportant in a community

like Amery?like Amery?


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Because when disastersBecause when disasters

strike, or social disruptionsstrike, or social disruptions

erupt, or fuel supplies areerupt, or fuel supplies areinterrupted interrupted

the impact will be feltthe impact will be feltmost keenly at themost keenly at the locallocal

levellevel, where people live,, where people live,work and have theirwork and have theirhomeshomes


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In addition, protecting ourIn addition, protecting our

natural environmentournatural environmentour

water, our natural habitatwater, our natural habitat

and our farmlandisand our farmlandisessential to ouressential to our

communitys overallcommunitys overallhealth, whether physical,health, whether physical,

economic or spiritualeconomic or spiritual


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what is sustainable andwhat is sustainable and

what is not often tangleswhat is not often tangles

people in a web of conceptspeople in a web of conceptsand scientific argumentsand scientific arguments

which confounds andwhich confounds and

confuses the issues.confuses the issues.

b di h l iR b S di h l i


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Robert, a Swedish oncologist,Robert, a Swedish oncologist,

developed a set of principlesdeveloped a set of principles

which he called the naturalwhich he called the naturalstep, hoping they wouldstep, hoping they would

greatly simplify the approachgreatly simplify the approach

to understanding what isto understanding what ismeant by sustainability.meant by sustainability.

T e Natura tepe a ura e

p


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T e Natura tepe a ura epProgramProgram

Reduce as much as possibleReduce as much as possibledependence upon fossil fuels,dependence upon fossil fuels,underground metals and minerals.underground metals and minerals.

Reduce as much as possibleReduce as much as possibledependence upon chemicals anddependence upon chemicals andunnatural substances.unnatural substances.

Reduce encroachment upon natureReduce encroachment upon natureand its processes, in terms of airand its processes, in terms of airand water pollution, cutting trees,and water pollution, cutting trees,decreasing wilderness, etc.decreasing wilderness, etc.

Meet human needs as fairl andMeet human needs as fairly and


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Simple in approach, theSimple in approach, the

Natural Step has unendingNatural Step has unending

implicationsimplications

for the way we live ourfor the way we live our

lives,lives, how we eat,how we eat,

what we buy,what we buy, how we get around.how we get around.

potential to change how apotential to change how a


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potential to change how apotential to change how a

municipality conducts itsmunicipality conducts its

business, plans the futurebusiness, plans the futureand meets the needs of itsand meets the needs of its

citizens.citizens.


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Towns andTowns and

businesses in Swedenbusinesses in Swedenhave adopted manyhave adopted many

changes as a result ofchanges as a result ofstudying the Naturalstudying the Natural

Step Program,Step Program,including:including:

Increased use of naturalIncreased use of natural


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Increased use of naturalIncreased use of natural

lighting in new constructionlighting in new construction

and remodelingand remodeling

I d fIncreased se of


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Increased use ofIncreased use of

alternative energies,alternative energies,

including wind, solar, andincluding wind, solar, andgeo-thermal.geo-thermal.

New transportationNew transportat on


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New transportationNew transportat onstrategies that utilize non-strategies that utilize non-

motorized technology,motorized technology,mass transit andmass transit and

pedestrian-friendly cities.pedestrian-friendly cities.

d h dli fand handling refuse


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and handling refuse,and handling refuse,

including composting,including composting,

recycling and burningrecycling and burninggarbage for electricalgarbage for electrical

generation.generation.

strategies includingstrategies including


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strategies, includingstrategies, including

increased insulation, betterincreased insulation, better

envelope sealing, increasedenvelope sealing, increasedefficiency in lighting andefficiency in lighting and

heating, and sharingheating, and sharing

energy and heat amongstenergy and heat amongstneighboring buildings.neighboring buildings.

Strategies to grow moretrateg es to grow more


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Strategies to grow moretrateg es to grow morefood organically at the localfood organically at the local

level to support bothlevel to support bothgrowers and consumers.growers and consumers.

d h i th td h i th t


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and change in ways thatand change in ways that

maximize local producers ofmaximize local producers of

building materials and thatbuilding materials and thatminimize impacts on theminimize impacts on the

environment and the wasteenvironment and the waste

stream.stream.

y


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yto analyze policy initiativesto analyze policy initiatives

and local development inand local development in

order to preserve localorder to preserve local

habitat and unique naturalhabitat and unique natural

systems and features.systems and features.

fi l


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Amerys first naturalAmerys first natural

step?step?


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communities acrosscommunities across

Wisconsin and declareWisconsin and declare

itself an eco-municipalityitself an eco-municipality

--


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--embraces the fourembraces the four

principles of the naturalprinciples of the natural

step program and tries tostep program and tries to

implement them throughimplement them through

Municipal planning and zoningMunicipal planning and zoningdocumentsdocuments

Departmental actions and policiesDepartmental actions and policies

Citizen forums, workshops andCitizen forums, workshops andtrainingtraining

City-wide envisioning process andCity-wide envisioning process and

actual development proposalsactual development proposals

h d hiWh d hi


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Where does this processWhere does this process

begin?begin?

Through adoption of an eco-Through adoption of an eco-municipality resolution and planningmunicipality resolution and planning

documentsdocuments

Through departmental discussionsThrough departmental discussionsand facilitated meetingsand facilitated meetings

Through citizen forums andThrough citizen forums and

neighborhood workshopsneighborhood workshopsThrough continuous discussion ofThrough continuous discussion of

how Amery can become more energyhow Amery can become more energy

independent, ecologically aware andindependent, ecologically aware and


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In reality, it beginsIn reality, it begins

With vigorous, purposeful leadershipWith vigorous, purposeful leadership


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Directions for leadershipDirections for leadership

Developing an overall planDeveloping an overall plan

Taking inventory of communityTaking inventory of community

assetsassets

Choosing a few specific projects toChoosing a few specific projects to

work onwork on

Building understanding andBuilding understanding and

commitment among local citizenscommitment among local citizens

Spending real money, time andSpending real money, time and

energy to bring pieces of the visionenergy to bring pieces of the visionto life

b h lf f lO b h lf f A N l


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On behalf of Amery NaturalOn behalf of Amery Natural

StepStep

We thank you for your time andWe thank you for your time and

commitment to making Amery acommitment to making Amery a

leader in protecting the environment,leader in protecting the environment,developing our own food and energydeveloping our own food and energy

sources, and keeping Amery asources, and keeping Amery a

vibrant, healthy place to raise avibrant, healthy place to raise afamily.family.

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Sustainability and the Natural Step

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