Lecture 2 - Sustainability Flashcards
When was sustainable development coined for the first time?
In the Brundtland Report in 1987
What is the widely used definition of sustainable development?
Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
What are two key concepts of sustainability?
- The concept of ‘needs’, in particular, the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given
- The idea of ‘limitations’ imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.
What factors does sustainable development balance?
- Economic development
- Environmental protection
- Social well-being
What are aspects of social economic factors
- Business ethics
- Fair trade
- Worker’s benefits
- Fair taxation
What are aspects of social environmental factors?
- Conservation policies
- Environmental justice
- Global stewardship
Aspects environmental economic
- Energy efficiency
- Renewable fuels
- Subsidies, incentives
- Green technology
What are the three ‘P’s of sustainability?
People, planet, profit
What did the attitude behavior-gap experiment measure? (Park & Lin)
Measured: the reported intention to buy sustainable products, and the amount of sustainable products actually purchased
Did this differ in developed vs developing countries?
Recycling
Re-using products
Upcycling
Convert waste into new products
Results of Attitude-Behavior gap
- Purchasing decision process for sustainable products is not well understood
- Sustainable vs fashionable choice?
Factors influencing results:
* Individual characteristics: environmental concerns, PCE, normative expectations of others
* Product characteristics: perceived product value, desire for individuality
* Socio-demographic variables
The Sustainable Development Goals
The main purpose of the SDGs is to address global challenges and
work towards ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring
prosperity for all.
How many SDGs are there and in which year were they founded?
17 SDGs
Founded: 2015
Systems Thinking: The problem for SDGs
The SDGs are deeply interconnected – a lack of progress on one goal
hinders progress on others.
Wicked Problems
- are problems with many interdependent factors making them
seem impossible to solve. - often lack clarity in both their aims and solutions.
- require thoughtful and holistic collaboration on solutions.
Because the factors are often incomplete and difficult to define,
solving wicked problems requires a deep understanding of the
stakeholders involved, and an innovative approach provided by
design thinking.
Systems Thinking
- Systems thinking looks at connected wholes rather than separate parts.
- Systems thinkers are curious, have open minds, are good listeners and seek out root causes.
- A systems thinker tries to expand the range of options available for solving a problem.
System Leadership
Systems leaders set the tone for an organization to work more systemically and encourages staff to embed systems approaches in their work.
What are four things a system leader does?
- Influence other leaders to shift to collective focus in the right direction
- Encourage the use of systems principles
- Think about wider systems and ask questions
- Ensure positive change towards shared goals
Extended version
* Influence other leaders to shift the collective focus in the right direction and
develop and maintain cross-departmental and cross-directorate relationships
so there are shared understanding of goals and of the system.
* Encourage the use of systems principles and tools for complex problems by
promoting collaboration across traditional siloes, within or outside the team.
* Think about the wider system and ask questions that explore the possible
impact of certain actions on the wider system.
* Ensure positive changes towards shared goals are sustained through
monitoring and evaluating progress towards them.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) means taking responsibility for the impact of the business on the environment, society, employees and animal welfare while striving for economic success.
Top-down CSR
- Reputation
- Regulation
- Non-financial reporting
- Full integration in the business
Bottom-up CSR
- Employee engagement
- Best knowledge of their own job
- Purpose
- Community building
Greenwashing
Disclosing negative information and disseminating
positive information about an organization’s
environmental and/or social efforts
The non-financial reporting directive
- Environment: Environmental protection
- Social: Social Responsibility, and Treatment of Employees, Respect for Human Rights, Company Board Diversity, Education & Profession
- Governance: Anti-Corruption and Bribery
What is the purpose of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive?
To encourage transparancy and accountability by requiring companies to produce corporate responsibility disclosures at regular intervals, and outline their specific polies on them
Limitation of Non-Financial Reporting Directive
Legal Implementation Deficit:
* The failure to transpose EU legislation into national laws
