The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift

by Edwards, Andres R.

• ISBN13: 9780865715318
• ISBN10: 0865715319
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-01
• Publisher: New Society Pub

Summary

Sustainability has become a buzzword in the last decade, but its full meaning is complex, emerging from a range of different sectors. In practice, it has become the springboard for millions of individuals throughout the world who are forging the fastest and most profound social transformation of our time-the sustainability revolution. The Sustainability Revolution paints a picture of this largely unrecognized phenomenon from the point of view of five major sectors of society: Community (government and international institutions) Commerce (business) Resource extraction (forestry, farming, fisheries etc.) Ecological design (architecture, technology) Biosphere (conservation, biodiversity etc.) The book analyzes sustainability as defined by each of these sectors in terms of the principles, declarations and intentions that have emerged from conferences and publications, and which serve as guidelines for policy decisions and future activities. Common themes are then explored, including: An emphasis on stewardship The need for economic restructuring promoting no waste and equitable distribution An understanding and respect for the principles of nature The restoration of life forms An intergenerational perspective on solutions Concluding that these themes in turn represent a new set of values that define this paradigm shift, The Sustainability Revolution describes innovative sustainable projects and policies in Colombia, Brazil, India and the Netherlands and examines future trends. Complete with a useful resources list, this is the first book of its kind and will appeal to business and government policymakers, academics and all interested in sustainability. Andres R. Edwards is an educator, author, media designer and environmental systems consultant who has specialized in sustainability topics for the past 15 years. The founder and president of EduTracks, an exhibit design and fabrication firm specializing in green building and sustainable education programs for parks, towns and companies, he lives in northern California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Foreword by David W. Orr	xiii
Introduction: Portrait of the Sustainability Revolution	1	(10)
Anatomy of Social Revolutions	3	(2)
Movements and Revolutions	5	(1)
The Five Characteristics of the Sustainability Revolution	6	(3)
A Revolution of Interconnections	9	(2)
Chapter 1: The Birth of Sustainability	11	(18)
The Context	11	(1)
Environmentalism: The Precursor to Modern Sustainability	12	(3)
Contemporary Environmentalism: The Roots of Sustainability	15	(1)
The Emergence of Sustainability: Brundtland (1987) and Rio (1992)	16	(4)
The Core of Contemporary Sustainability: The Three Es	20	(3)
The Three Es Plus One: Education	23	(1)
The Methodology: Fundamental Principles	23	(2)
Criteria for Selecting Principles	25	(1)
Principles as Songlines	26	(3)
Chapter 2: Sustainability and Community	29	(20)
Interdependence at All Levels	29	(2)
Ontario Round Table on Environment and Economy (ORTEE) Model Principles	31	(2)
Principles of Sustainable Development for Minnesota	33	(4)
The Netherlands National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP)	37	(4)
The Earth Charter	41	(5)
International Council of Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI)	46	(1)
Integrating Sustainability Values at All Community Levels	47	(2)
Chapter 3: Sustainability and Commerce	49	(26)
Beyond "Business as Usual"	49	(2)
Adopting Sustainable Strategies	51	(4)
The Precautionary Principle	55	(3)
The Natural Step	58	(6)
The Houston Principles	64	(3)
The CERES Principles	67	(5)
The ICC Charter and ISO 14000	72	(1)
Environmental Assessments and Green Taxes	72	(2)
A New Business Model	74	(1)
Chapter 4: Sustainability and Natural Resources	75	(22)
The Contradictions of Resource Extraction	75	(2)
American Petroleum Institute (API) Environmental, Health and Safety Principles	77	(4)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Principles and Criteria of Forest Stewardship	81	(3)
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing	84	(5)
The Asilomar Declaration for Sustainable Agriculture	89	(7)
Natural Resources at a Crossroads	96	(1)
Chapter 5: Sustainability and Ecological Design	97	(16)
Designing with Nature	97	(2)
The Hannover Principles	99	(3)
The Five Principles of Ecological Design	102	(2)
The Todds' Principles of Ecological Design	104	(2)
The Sanborn Principles	106	(3)
US and World Green Building Councils: The LEEDing Edge	109	(2)
An Interdependent Perspective	111	(2)
Chapter 6: Sustainability and the Biosphere	113	(10)
Our Role in the Biosphere	113	(1)
Deep Ecology's Basic Principles	114	(2)
Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for the Environment	116	(2)
Biomimicry Principles	118	(2)
Permaculture Principles	120	(2)
A Biocentric Perspective	122	(1)
Chapter 7: Future Pathways	123	(18)
Principles: Scopes, Sectors and Types	123	(5)
Seven Common Themes	128	(2)
Hopeful Signs	130	(2)
Our General Predicament	132	(2)
Seeking an Alternative Path	134	(3)
Beyond Green: A New Vision of the Future	137	(4)
Resources	141	(28)
Organizations	141	(23)
Online Publications/Newsletters/List Servers	164	(3)
Additional Principles	167	(2)
Annotated Bibliography	169	(14)
Notes	183	(14)
Index	197