Models of Sustainability

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Models of Sustainability

• Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D.

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The Limits Frame

• David Orr
• A sustainable society does not undermine resource
  base and biotic stocks on which its future
  prosperity depends

Overshoot, Carrying Capacity, Finite
Earth
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ltPhantom Capacitygt
CARRYING CAPACITY
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Tragedy of the Commons Frame

• Individuals seek their self interest, hurt
  groups
• The Commons Conundrum---if 10 people share a
  common field with a carrying capacity of 30
  cattle, it is in our individual interest to have
  4 or 5 cattle, because the loss is shared.
• Garrett Hardins Lifeboat Ethics

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Systems frame
Modeling Complex Systems Cont.

• Can we depend upon required inputs and is there
  blowback from our outputs?

• Von Bertalanffy---General Systems Theory

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Ecological Footprint Frame

• How much demand does our lifestyle make on the
  environment, both in terms of demand for
  resources and for assimilative capacity for the
  pollution we create.

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Equity Frame

• Environmental Justice
• Cross Generational
• Lester Brown A sustainable society is one that
  satisfies its needs without jeopardizing the
  prospects of future generations.
• Biocentric Equality

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Renewability frame

• Herman Dalys (Daly and Cobb, 1992.)three common
  sense guidelines for a sustainable society
• Are we employing renewable resources to the
  maximum amount allowed by their rate of renewal?
• Are nonrenewable resources used only when
  absolutely necessary, and then in the most
  limited and efficient way possible?
• Are we producing pollution beyond the
  assimilative capacity of the environment?

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Entropy/laws of thermodynamics frame

• How much disorder do we create?
• How fast do we create it?
• What types of disorder do we create?

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Development Frame

• Brundtlund Sustainable Development
• Lessen impact of rich and poor
• Redefine development
• Incorporates belief in growth and
  progresssocietys progression from primitive to
  advanced (Social Darwinism)
• Incorporates belief in growth economics

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Community Process Frame creating sense of
community and social purpose while enhancing
social relationships.

• Forming coalitions
• Creating community wide planning and visioning
• Increasing opportunities to participate
• Pedestrianism and public
• Pride in community
• Creation of a common culture while respecting
  diversity
• Enhancing communication
• Recognizing significant accomplishments
• Create convivial functions and arts and Social
  events
• Livelihood Reorganizing work to give people time
  at home, family, community

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Steve Viederman

• A sustainable society is a participatory process
  that creates and pursues a vision of community
  that respects and makes prudent use of all of its
  resourcesnatural, human, human-created, social,
  cultural, scientific, etc.
• Sustainability seeks to ensure for the present
  and succeeding generations a high degree of
  economic security and can realize the democratic
  and popular participation and the wisdom and
  intelligence to use what is provided in an
  appropriate manner.

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