Week 1 - Global Sustainability Frameworks

Question 1

Define the framework

Triple Bottom Line

Developed by John Elkington in 1994

Answer 1

A framework that extends the bottom line of a firm’s accounting statements to include societal and environmental value-added or destroyed byt the company.

Not to be a trade-off mentality. It’s about questioning capitalism.

Helped raise the importance of the society and environment in the business world. NGOs, accounting, and investment firms explicitly use this framework to criticize the
performance of companies.

Question 2

What are the limitations of the Triple Bottom Line?

Answer 2

• It failed to transform the monocapitalistic, single bottom line paradigm;
• It treats economy, society, and environment as separate but intertwined systems and therefore, fails to recognize the interconnectivity and complexity of sustainability.

Question 3

Define the framework

Planetary Boundaries Framework

Developed by a research group led by Johan Rockstrom

Answer 3

• The framework identifies 9 environmental processes that determine the
  stability of the earth system
• The quantitatively defined boundaries comprise the safe operating space for humanity
• The framework has influenced politics, science, and business decisions
• Used for discussions during the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals

Main advantage: Simplicity of the framework enables to communicate complex problems to a broader audience (visually appealing)

Question 4

What is the main limitation of the Planetary Boundaries Framework?

Answer 4

It captures only the environmental concerns

Question 5

Define the framework

Doughnut Economics

Proposed by Kate Raworth and published in 2012 by Oxfam

Answer 5

• Builds upon the planetary boundaries
• Incorporates social elements of sustainability and challenges existing economic models
• Economic activities should fall between the ecological ceiling and meet fundamental societal needs
• Main advantage: Visual framework that includes ecological and social elements
• Used for discussions during the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals

Question 6

What is the main limitation of the Doughnut Economics Framework?

Answer 6

High level and it does not provide specific recommendations on how to
act as a decision-maker.

Question 7

What are the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)?

Answer 7

• Set of 17 interconnected economic, social and environmental goals (with sub-targets) for all stakeholders to achieve by 2030
• Goals are for all stakeholders including business and they are relevant for all countries
• Establishes a common language for business, policymakers, and NGOs to discuss sustainability

Question 8

What are the limitations of the SDGs?

Answer 8

• Too high level, lacks an action plan
• Unlikely to be achieved since they are voluntary
• Environmental aspects are not represented enough in the framework
• Too numerous and difficult to translate into business action
• Currently, we are not on track to achieve the goals by 2030

Question 9

Define the framework

Wedding Cake Model

Answer 9

• Embedded nested systems perspective of sustainability
• 17 SDGs are arranged by economic, social, and environmental goals
• Stresses the interconnectivity and wholeness of the SDGs