"What’s the business case for ending life on Earth?"

Ray Anderson, Business Man and Sustainability Advocate

Sustainability and Climate Friendly Thinking. A Seminar for those with an agenda for positive change.

The only people who like change are babies with wet nappies, and even they usually cry!

The Sustainable Thinking workshop has been developed after spending the last 15 years studying and taking practical action to respond to the twin problems of climate change and sustainability. It is for anyone who has a personal or work interest in finding ways to engage themselves and others, including work colleagues or members of the public, in dealing with these issues. And deal with them we must, as they will define life in the 21st Century at all levels of human society.

My approach begins with a behavioural change approach borrowed from the Health Service that helps people to change destructive forms of behaviour...in this case, unsustainable and climate destructive thinking and acting. Where are people in terms of responding to the sustainability challenge? Are they in a state of disinterest or denial about the magnitude of the challenge facing our society? Or have they moved beyond that to a point where they are considering the evidence objectively? Have they accepted the reality of the situation but are overwhelmed by the size of the problem and are unsure about what to do and where to start? Possibly, they have a plan but need to get others on board and these people may be caught in earlier stages of the change process and reluctant to get on board. The approach that I introduce gives people insights into this situation and options for moving forward with positive actions.

The fact is that old patterns of response to these new problems are merely leading us down new dead ends. These responses are called “Sustainability Thinking Blunders” and participants are asked to compare how their own thinking and behaviour compares to these common mistakes and their sustainable alternatives. These mistaken approaches that are so often employed are simply unable to deal with the complexity of the natural systems within which we must learn to live and work. Like replacing cars run on fossil fuels with electric cars charged up by electricity generated in coal fired power stations, short term solutions are missing the point and the opportunities.

Instead, a systems based approach is proposed which helps people to see the overall picture within a scientifically robust framework called The Natural Step. This framework is widely used by some of the biggest organisations and most progressive communities in the world. It provides useful insights into the nature of the problem and tools to help forge a pathway to a sustainable future. The Natural Step is promoted in The UK by Forum For The Future and is advocated by many of the most prominent members of the sustainability community. It provides a common language and understanding of what we are aiming for to ensure mutual understanding and effective action.

The ideas delivered in this workshop are both challenging and exciting. It employs numerous examples to illustrate the ideas introduced and participants will be asked to analyse a variety of situations, including their own, using the approaches being advocated. The intention is that people will leave the workshop with an improved understanding of the nature of the challenge and with ideas about how they can respond effectively. Expect to be challenged. The seminar is a day long event.

Learning outcomes include:

• Being able to identify which stage of the change process people are in, from denial or disinterest, through deliberation and effective design of responses to putting the design into practice.
• How to help people or organisations move from one stage to the next in a way that increases the chances of the changes being effective.
• Understanding how the present system is undermining the ecological system on which all economic activity and life on Earth depends.
• Being able to define what “sustainability” means and what a “sustainable society or organisation” will look like, within a scientifically robust and peer reviewed framework.
• Using this understanding to identify problems facing the organisation, as well as solutions and goals that are available.
• Being able to communicate this information to others with the intention of involving them in the solutions.
• Giving people the necessary information to begin to develop a Sustainability Plan for their organisation.

For more information on dates that this seminar is running or to discuss a visit to your group or organisation please contact Iain Findlay. HYPERLINK "http://www.mygreenhouseffect.co.uk" www.mygreenhouseffect.co.uk 07771 963080