The Natural Step Condition 4 - Applied to My Life

CONDITION 4: Resources must be used fairly and effectively in order to meet basic human needs globally.

The fourth principal of TNS is to promote equality and social justice in human societies, allowing every individual the opportunity to meet his or her basic needs. This encompasses the protection and preservation of resources - such as clean water, unpolluted air, and healthy soil - across the planet, as well as the protection and preservation of human rights.

I believe strongly in this goal, but I fear it will be the hardest to achieve. Since the dawn of civilization, there has been war, conflict, oppression, and inequality among humans. Much of our current economy is built on the hard labor and exploitation of disenfranchised individuals - especially in developing countries. Our current economy needs people who are desperate enough to take on the "dirty" jobs that the privileged classes shun - jobs like working in industrial slaughter houses.

However hard the challenge, I also believe it's possible for this to change. I can help create this change by not supporting businesses or buying products that rely on the exploitation of the world's poor and disenfranchised. I can choose to patronize businesses with a record of treating their employees well and working with suppliers who similarly value fair trade, human rights, and worker safety. In addition, I can make commitments to volunteer and serve in my community.

COMMITMENTS: Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. I already attended the volunteer orientation session, and I will aim to work one day per month building affordable housing. Volunteer to teach English for the Minnesota Literacy Council. I signed up for volunteer training that begins in July. Get involved with the "Farm Raising" event in Northeast Minneapolis, helping to plant a 50' x 50' farm at St. Olaf Community Campus. Help my friends and neighbors with projects focused on growing organic food for urban populations. For example, this week I am going to a friend's house to install vegetable gardens on the rooftop of his garage. Next week, I will help out on an organic farm that grows produce to give away to food shelters. Advise a non-profit, End of the Spectrum, on fundraising. End of the Spectrum's mission is to create sustainable, productive living environments for children and adults with autism. Partner with a fellow unemployed Minnesotan, offering him help with cover letters so he has a better chance of finding a job. Support companies that are committed to the well-being of their employees, such as New Balance. Seventh Generation, SmartWool, and other companies listed as "best places to work." Instead of buying Christmas gifts for my friends, agree to pool money to donate Heifer International. I did this last year with my friends; I will try to make it a tradition. Become a member of the Land Stewardship Project, which teaches people how to become farmers and promotes policies advancing sustainable agriculture.

The Natural Step Condition 3 - Applied to My Life

CONDITION 3: To not systematically impoverish by physical displacement, over harvesting, or other forms of ecosystem manipulation.

The third principal of TNS is to stop destroying habitats and ecosystems. This principal is near and dear to my heart, because I love animals and care deeply about preserving natural habitats and biodiversity. Recently, I installed two rain gardens in my backyard. The rain gardens will divert rainwater into my vegetable garden, reducing the amount of water I have to use from the city supply.

COMMITMENTS: Buy only shade-grown, fair-trade organic coffee. Eat vegan meals more frequently. Give up red meat Install native plants in my boulevard. Pick up liter near Minnehaha Falls and the Mississippi River. Donate money to Operation Migration, which is helping to reintroducing a second population of endangered Whooping Cranes in the range from where they were exterpated. Talk to people with outdoor cats about cats' severe impact on birds. Scientists estimate that cats kill millions of birds each year. This includes common species such as Cardinal, Blue Jay, and House Wren, as well as rare and endangered species such as Piping Plover, Florida Scrub-Jay, and California Least Tern. Volunteer for the Animal Rights Coalition at the Pride Festival on June 27. Buy organic produce as much as possible Learn more about permaculture; take a workshop from PRI Cold Climate.

The Natural Step Condition 2 - Applied to My Life

The second principal of TNS is to cut down on the man-made substances we produce. The goal is to not produce more synthetic materials than the earth or ecosytems can process without harm. To reduce the growth of man-made substances, businesses and manufacturers need to increase their reliance on natural, renewable, non-toxic materials. Also, "waste" needs to be reduced or eliminated. This means making or purchasing products that are safe for humans and animals and that are biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable.

COMMITMENTS: Do not buy any more cleaning supplies; make my own with natural ingredients, such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. Buy compostable cat litter, such as Yesterdays News, instead of clay or crystal litter Wear make-up less frequently Recycle electronics that no longer work Promote a culture of "reuse" (or valuing what I have) instead of a culture of consumption Shop at thrift stores, finding new uses for "discarded" items Donate unwanted or unused items to ARC or Goodwill

The Natural Step Condition 1 - Applied to My Life

CONDITION 1: Substances from the Earths crust must not systematically increase in the biosphere. The first principal of TNS is to cut down on what we take from the earth's crust -- oil, metals, and minerals. It's important not to systematically accumulate substances from the earth's crust above ground, because ecosystems cannot handle large concentrations of these substances without deleterious effects. To avoid excess removal of resources from the earth's crust means reducing mining and the burning of fossil fuels.

Every day I use items that depend on substances taken from the earth's crust. My car is made from mined metal and runs on gasoline. My household appliances are made from metal and use electricity, which is generated by burning fossil fuels. My food was grown and transported using oil-powered machines and oil-based products (plastic bags, plastic packaging). Pretty much everything I touch required the mining of oil, metals or minerals from the earth's crust. What actions can I take in my life to help reduce the amount of substances taken from the earth's crust?

First, I can cut down on my energy/electricity usage. Second, I can cut down on the amount of gas I use for transportation. Finally, I can get involved in the community to spread the word about peak oil and facilitate transition to a less energy-intensive society.

COMMITMENTS: Use less electricity: unplug appliances when not in use; turn off computer when not in use; replace incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient bulbs; take maximum advantage of daylight to do work or read in naturally-lit areas, instead of working at night with lamp-light; put up a clothes-line in my backyard. Bike more, and drive less. Bring reusable bags to the grocery store, cutting down on use of plastic bags Buy less packaged or processed foods; stick to produce, grains, and legumes, and purchase in bulk whenever possible Become more active in the Transition Towns movement, learning how to faciliate a graceful energy descent. Attend the Transition Towns training this fall. ( http://www.transitiontc.org/about) Talk to my friends and neighbors about peak oil, and point them to resources where they can learn more, such as chrismartenson.com. CONDITION 2: Substances produced by society must not systematically increase in the biosphere.

Elevator Speech - Sobering Version

As my readers know, I lost my job this past winter, and so I've been doing some soul-searching about what I should do next. I haven't figured it all out, but I know that I want the next chapter of my life to involve promoting sustainable ways of living.

I've been spending my time-off learning about a variety of environmental issues to see where I might fit, and it has really reinforced for me the importance -- and inevitability -- of radically changing the way we live.

Most people know about climate change, but what's scarier to me is the coming energy crisis we're facing as oil runs out. Some scientists think we've reached "peak oil" -- meaning from now on, we'll be producing less and less oil, of decreasing quality, for higher and higher cost (just think of the cost of off-shore drilling compared to land-drillling). The scary thing is, there isn't anything that can really replace oil. Yes, there are alternative energy sources -- but none are nearly as efficient as oil in terms of energy output.

When we first discovered oil, we could get 100 units of energy for every one unit we spent producing it. Alternative fuels can't get anywhere close to that. In other words, even if all of these new technologies -- wind power, solar power, biofuels, etc. -- were put to maximum use tomorrow, and all the infrastructure was there, we still couldn't generate as much energy as we do with oil. The fact is, we are going to have less energy available to use in the future.

On top of that, we will be facing more unpredictable climates and dwindling natural resources -- since we are steadily consuming more of everything (trees, clean water, minerals) than can be regenerated. The best thing we can do is become proactive and start transitioning to a less energy and resource-intensive way of life now -- before we no longer have a choice.

The Business Case for Sustainability

Recently I've been studying frameworks for assessing and advancing sustainable practices in business. It can actually be advantageous for businesses to "green" their operations. First, it increases their resilience in the face of dwindling natural resources and increasing concerns about climate change. Second, it can spark the development of new, forward-thinking, marketable "solutions" that address key challenges of the 21st century. In other words, advancing sustainability offers opportunities for businesses to do good for our planet AND emerge as leaders in changing markets.

We're really living in an exciting, historic time. More and more people are realizing that protecting the environment and really valuing natural resources is not only a nice idea -- it is necessary for ensuring continued quality of life for us and for future generations.

Currently, we are consuming resources faster than they can regenerate, and we are producing more waste and pollution than Nature can effectively process. In the next 20 years, there will have to be dramatic changes in our economy and society as oil production gets more difficult and costly and the signs of global warming intensify. However, I believe the changes will be positive. We'll develop more respect for the intelligence in nature and be empowered to live in harmony with the planet. I also think we'll come to value local resources more and -- as a result of initiatives like the slow food movement -- build stronger communities.

Sustainability is about transitioning to ways of living that promote the health of the planet and people. We have the opportunity now to re-shape society -- developing smarter ways to live and meet our needs, while also protecting the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

The Natural Step

The Natural Step is a broad conceptual framework - widely endorsed by environmentals and business leaders - that offers four key principals or conditions to guide people towards sustainable living. These four conditions were developed by Dr. Karl Henrik Robert as a way to define sustainability and measure our progress towards it.

The four conditions, paraphrased, are:

1) Do not systematically increase what we take from the earth's crust (metals, oil, minerals)

2) Do not systematically increase the concentrations of made-made substances on the earth

3) Do not systematically injure natural habitats, ecosystems, or biodiversity

4) Share resources equitably so all humans can meet their basic needs.

The Natural Step conditions provide simple, yet ambitious goals around sustainability that people from diverse fields, with diverse backgrounds, can agree upon and understand. The Natural Step offers the 10,000 foot, "big picture" view to inform our priorities and actions. It is up to us as individuals to figure out how to apply these conditions to our lives.