Systems-Based Approach to Support Sustainable and Resilient

Communities

Gary Foley, PhDSenior Advisor

Montira Pongsiri, PhD, MPHEnvironmental Health Scientist

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency26 February 2015

Objectives for Today

Discuss EPA’s Systems approach (Triple Value (3V)):

A platform for ongoing EPA regional community-based projects that address challenging sustainability issues (e.g., Narragansett Bay pilot) and resilience issues (e.g. the Delmarva Peninsula pilot).

An integrative framework for “systems thinking” on energy, water, materials, infrastructure, etc.

helps to show the big picture in a simple yet comprehensive way

A necessary first step for communities to identify unintended consequences of decisions; understand the dynamics between economic, social, and environmental impacts; and, to achieve sustainable solutions.

Today’s issues are broad in scope,

deep in complexity and widespread

in their impacts.

Provide science and technology to support EPA’s

mission of protecting human health and the

environment.

Mission for Research & Development

4

Bristol Bay,

AlaskaGulf

Oil

Spill

EPA Supports Resilient Communities

“Resilience: the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a system to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.”

“EPA researchers will work directly with urban communities to share a variety of innovative tools and initiatives they have developed to meet just such challenges.”

- Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator in

EPA’s Office of Research and Development5

Sustainability is the capacity for:

human health and well being

economic vitality and prosperity

environmental resource abundance

Resilience is the capacity to:

overcome unexpected problems

adapt to change (e.g., sea level rise)

prepare for and survive catastrophes

What is a Systems Approach? A comprehensive methodology for

understanding the interactions and feedback loops among

Economic systems—companies, supply chains….

Ecological systems—forests, watersheds….

Societal systems—cities, networks….

Reveals consequences (sometimes unintended) of human interventions, such as new policies, technologies, and business practices

Case in point: Degraded ecosystems threaten the sustainability and resilience of human communities7

Overview EPA has pioneered an innovative systems approach to

developing and implementing sustainability strategies

Based on the Triple Value (3V) framework

Conceptual framework for EPA Report on the Environment

Piloted successfully in partnership with EPA Region 1 (New England), and now being applied to sustainability problems in several Regions

The systems approach offers an integrated view of EPA’s strategic initiatives and cross-cutting priorities

Synergies among programs provide multiple benefits

Partnerships & collaboration complement regulatory actions

Performance indicators reflect sustainability and resilience

Triple value

simulation

Sustainability Realization Process

System Characterization

Sustainability Assessment

Sustainability Enhancement

System Adaptation

Scope, context, stakeholders, goals, problems, stressors,

barriers, solution options

Indicators, baseline assessment, option evaluation, risks & benefits, trade-offs,

knowledge gaps

Decision making, consideration of system resilience

Monitoring, response to problems

Stakeholder Involvement

Conceptual

frameworkIntervention Outcomes

Lessons for EPA policy & research

2 to 4 months 6 to 9 months

“The Triple Value Model: A Systems Approach to Sustainable Solutions,” Clean Technology & Environmental Policy, 2014.

Triple Value (3V) Framework

Environment(Natural Capital)

waste and emissions may degrade the environment

industrial demand for ecological

goods and services places stress on natural capital

community use of ecological goods and services places stress

on natural capital

some waste is recovered and recycled

emissions may harm humans

Society (Human & Social Capital)

Industry(Economic & Built Capital)

economic valueis created for

society

labor is utilized in industry

Strategic Use of the 3V Framework Provide unifying conceptual framework to identify

potential synergies among diverse EPA programs(See EPA Report on the Environment)

Develop high-level performance indicators to capture progress in sustainable resource use (energy, water, materials, land) and resulting benefits

Improve communication about resilience/sustainability strategy to a variety of stakeholder audiences

EPA New England (Region 1) and

Office of Research & Development

Application of Systems Thinkingat a Watershed Scale

Challenges of Nutrient Pollution Concentrations of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P)

in many U.S. waterways have increased greatly due to human sources, e.g., municipal wastewater treatment, agricultural & stormwater runoff, airborne emissions

These excess nutrients result in algal blooms and degraded aquatic ecosystems, adversely impacting drinking water, fishing, recreation, and tourism

N and P are difficult to control or remove because the sources are broadly dispersed, the environmental pathways and mechanisms are complex, and the removal technologies are costly and energy-intensive

Triple Value (3V) Framework

Environment(Natural Capital)

waste and emissions may degrade the environment

industrial demand for ecological

goods and services places stress on natural capital

community use of ecological goods and services places stress

on natural capital

some waste is recovered and recycled

emissions may harm humans

Society (Human & Social Capital)

Industry(Economic & Built Capital)

economic valueis created for

society

labor is utilized in industry

Criteria to Develop and Apply 3V Strategic importance to decision-makers of looking at possible

solutions to the challenges in a big picture way

Complexity of sustainability “nexus” issues – i.e. understanding the intersections and interconnections between economic, social and environmental impacts.

Existence of collaborative, not controversial, stakeholder relationships to the issues

Timeliness and sense of urgency – need for making decisions sooner than later

Availability of historical baseline data (that the city and its stakeholders can provide) on the issues (and indicators) of interest

Political and legal considerations (not barriers but opportunities)

Transferability to other communities and regions

16

Solution Options for Sustainable Water Resources

water & nutrient

reuse

water demand reduction

Environment

SocietyEconomy

Agriculture

Energy

Manufacturing

Transport Infrastructure

industrial & commercial water use reduction

BusinessesHouseholds

Public Utilities

coastal & wetland restoration & resilience

Forests Soils Ecosystems

Living Species

Watersheds

Groundwater

Global Climate

runoff reduction

exposureand risk

reduction

water conservation & rain harvesting

wastewater treatment

ecosystem impact reduction

green infrastructure &low-impact development

pollutionprevention

innovative technologies

stormwatermanagement

best management practices

discharge limits

Legend

SustainabilityIndicators

Amplifies

Diminishes

Property Values

Economy Society

Environment

Social Development

Well-Being

Examples of Indicators for Nutrient Management

Resource flows• Energy & water demand• Renewable energy use• GHG emissions• Wastewater volume• Wastewater pollution• Food waste volume• Fertilizer application

Climate Change

Access to Nature

• Finfish, salmon, etc.• Shellfish beds

Interventions

Treatment Biodigestion Behavior change Water quality trading

CSO tunnels Biofiltration Design for resilience Flood control

LID and GI Aquaculture Habitat protection Land use zoning

Best practices Phytoremediation Hydrologic engin. Local sourcing

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A

F

G

Nutrient and Pathogen Inflows

H

J

K

L

M

K

N

O

P

Q

Q

Agriculture, Fishing, Logging, Tourism

• Nutrient conversion ratio • Available farmland• Agricultural chemical input• Land development• Tourism activity and revenue• Salmon & shellfish harvest• Agricultural production• Lumber production Food supply

• Locally-produced• Seafood quality

Resource Flows

Economic Development

Food Supply

E

Agriculture, Fishing, Logging, Tourism D

Fish Abundance

• Pollutant concentrations in water• Stream temperature, acidification• Water quality impairment, TMDL• Fish & shellfish habitat conditions • Benthic index—biotic integrity• Biodiversity in waterways• Hydrographic changes

• Nitrogen & phosphorus loadings• Chemical & microbial contaminants• Natural attenuation in waterways

• Snowpack• Precipitation • Sea level rise• Storm intensity

Storms & Floods

• Floodplain area• Natural protection• Flood damage risk• Stormwater runoff• Land cover changes

Storms & Floods

O

• Cultural spaces • Tribal fish catch• Recreation

• Quality of life• Flood insurance cost• Household income

• Population growth• Job creation & job quality

• Industry growth (GDP)• Built environment & infrastructure

Human HealthB

P

C

N

Coastal Ecosystem Health M

L

J

Adapted from the Tulalip Tribe/Region 10

3V Model for Snohomish Basin

Interventions

WWTF treat. Air reduction

CSO tunnels Fertilizer red.

LID and GI Aquaculture

ISDS upgrade Waterway eng.

Stormwaterrunoff

Fishing & Tourism

Economic development

Wastewater treatment

Municipal tax revenue

Atmospheric deposition

Farming & livestock

Property values

Beach visits

Septic tanks & cesspools

Climate change

Fresh water loadings

Precipitation episodes

Economy Society

Fish abundance

Environment

Legend

SustainabilityIndicators

Amplifies

Diminishes

Water demand

Impervious surfaces

GHG emissions

Lawn fertilizer

Forestloss

Energy demand

Phosphorus loadings

Pathogen loadings

Flows of water, nutrients, pathogensvia land, groundwater, surface water

Beach esthetics

Nitrogen loadings

Algae blooms(eutrophication)

Watershed Population

Employment

Risk of hypoxia & fish kills

A B

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

C

D

EF

G

H

Interactive Dashboard Interface for User Definition of “What-if” Scenarios

20

total property values

17.87 B

17.82 B

17.76 B

17.71 B

17.65 B

1996 2002 2008 2014 2020 2026 2032 2038 2044 2050

Time (Year)

usd

total value of owner occupied structures : BAU_May 15 - 50pcttotal value of owner occupied structures : BAU_May 15

$

Benefits : Property Value Rise after 50% N Reduction

Legend

SustainabilityIndicators

Amplifies

Diminishes

Property Values

Economy Society

Environment

Social Development

Well-Being

Key Indicators for Triple Value Simulation (3VS)

Resource flows• Energy & water demand• Renewable energy use• Fertilizer application• Wastewater volume• Manure volume• Contaminated runoff• GHG emissions

Climate Change

Access to Nature

Water & Air Pollution

• Nutrient conversion ratio • Available farmland• Agricultural chemical input• Land development• Tourism activity and revenue• Fish & shellfish production• Agricultural productivity• Lumber production• Confined animal feeding

• Locally sourced %• Fish abundance• Fish safety

Resource Flows

Food Supply

Industry & Commerce

• Inundation, salination, subsidance• Acreage of restorable wetlands • Water quality impairment, TMDL• Fish & shellfish habitat conditions • Connectivity & migration corridors • Acres of natural land lost/preserved • Biodiversity hotspots maintained• Provision of ecosystem services

• Nitrogen & phosphorus loadings• Chemical & microbial contaminants• Code red air quality days

• Precipitation • Sea level rise• Storm frequency• Storm intensity

Storms & Floods

• Floodplain area• Natural protection• Flood damage risk• Stormwater runoff• Land cover changes

Storms & Floods

• Quality of life• Income equality• Poverty reduction• Human rights

• Population growth• Job creation & job quality• Citizen engagement• Effective governance

• Industrial growth (GDP)• Built environment & infrastructure

Human Health

Coastal Ecosystem Integrity

Adapted from 3V Models developed for

Snohomish Basin (WA) and Narragansett Bay

Watershed (RI)

• Waterborne disease• Access to health care• Premature death rate• Asthma incidence

• Fishable, swimmable• Green landscapes• Recreational assets

Economic Development

Interventions

Reduce waste Remove toxics Coastal resilience

Incentives Riparian zones Environ. education

Green infra. Eco-innovation Land conservation

Reverse auction Phytoremediation Smart growth policy

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A

F

J

K

L

M

E

D

C

L

J

B

G

H

K

K

MR3 3VS PILOT

DELMARVA

PENNINSULAR

Depicts the overall

conceptual model.

It includes most of

the indicators that

have been

discussed R3,

ORD & the States,

plus some

additional ones. It

also includes most

of the interventions

that have been

discussed, plus

some additional

ones.

Triple Value Projects Across the U.S.

Durhamsustainable community TRIO model

Region 3Delmarva Peninsula(DE, MD, VA)

Net Zero Aberdeen Proving Ground

Region 10 Snohomish River Basin

(Tulalip tribe)

Region 5 Sustainability

Portfolio

Region 1 Cape Cod Nutrient Control

Region 1Narragansett Bay Watershed Policy Simulation (MA, RI)

Sustainability Indicators (HQ)

Positive Outcomes Engagement of stakeholder groups in substantive

dialogue about future policies & trade-offs, e.g.: Region 1: state agencies (MA & RI), Cape Cod Commission

Region 3 stakeholders from three states (DE, MD, VA)

Region 10: Tulalip Tribe and Puget Sound groups (WA)

Exploration of alternative sustainable solutions that cross traditional programmatic boundaries, e.g.: Point source discharge limits can be supplemented by

“smart” growth and green infrastructure development

Nutrient reduction strategies can be synergistic with food and energy security initiatives (aquaculture, biodigestion)

EPA leadership in advanced policy simulation tools for integrated systems thinking

Conclusions The 3V model can provide a unifying framework for

EPA’s numerous sustainability initiatives

Improve communication of internal workgroups

Develop cross-cutting sustainability indicators

EPA can achieve thought leadership in sustainability science, providing unique value to the business community and other stakeholders. For example:

Establish principles of “sustainability science”(Appoint panel of recognized experts)

Sponsor a recognition program for industry (Sustainable Systems Thinking Award)

Systems Thinking“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes rather than parts, for seeing patterns of change rather than static snapshots, and for understanding the subtle interconnectedness that gives living systems their unique character.”

Peter Senge, author of

The Fifth Discipline:The Art and Practice of

the Learning Organization

Questions?