Thanks to everyone who attended the guest lecture on Energy and Society: Factors Reshaping Our Way of Life at National University of Singapore.  Please find a PDF copy of the presentation here.

Additional links and useful resources include:

Here is the second series from Money as Debt.  The videos put the complexity (and unsustainability) of our financial system into a very clear light, and present some possible alternatives for the future.  [note: Series 1 available here].  It is incredibly easy to understand and runs about an hour in several parts.  A must see for anyone who would like to actually understand what goes on with the banking industry and how it affects us all.  Gloriously free from punditry and speculation that you'd see on the likes of major news networks-- it actually gets to the core of what's wrong.

This week, Ray Skinner at Sustainability Matters practically did the job for us.  Thanks for the great stuff mate.  What you need to know:

• Did China block Copenhagen progress to pave way for its own dominance of cleantech?  A scary but interesting thought, with some very interesting figures to back up the assertions this author is making.
• 50 Books to Change the World ... courtesy of Cambridge.  How many have you read?  I'm a bit miffed they left out permaculture.  This is a somewhat predictable list but still worthwhile for someone new to the space.
• Growth Isn't Possible: Why We Need a New Economic Direction From the NEF, really interesting reading for those keen on seeking new economic models for the future. 

Around the world, earth has traditionally been used as a durable, readily available, and low-carbon building material.  Check out this interesting documentary on the subject which explores earth building in the larger context of man-made environments worldwide.  First Earth Documentary Home Page

... It is something we are continuing to explore with much enthusiasm.  A really great new source of information on the topic recently came from WWF, entitled Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity.  Touching on similar areas to George Lakoff's explorations of cognitive psychology, it looks into how environmental campaigns can avoid pitfalls and be more effective.  Some pointers and highlights include:

• To combat the power of self-enhancing and materialistic values, encourage people to place greater priority on values such as self-acceptance/self-direction, affiliation, benevolence, and community feeling/universalism.
• By previously embracing self-enhancing, materialistic values and life goals (e.g. playing by the current rules and norms of society, such as trying to put a $ value on ecosystems), the environmental movement has actually served to reinforce the dominance of these values and goals. These are the very values and goals that lead to more negative environmental attitudes and damaging behaviour.
• Studies have shown that a more sustained, reflective meditation on the feelings aroused by thoughts of death can actually decrease material strivings, bringing a greater sense of meaning in life.
• Highlighting the scale and finality of an environmental threat may actually be counterproductive.  It is important to spread the understanding of such impacts, but should not be done in a way that stimulates fear.
• Exaggerating environmental impacts of simple and painless steps might actually encourage people to deploy strategies for diversion (e.g. avoiding the topic, seeking pleasure, or blaming the problem on someone else), and also potentially leave people less inclined to adpt other more difficult and signficant behavioural changes.
• Blaming other groups or nationalities (such as SUV drivers around carbon emissions for instance) also is counterproductive in that these campaigns might heighten the sense of threat of those targeted, encourage them to dig in further into their damaging behaviour, and engage others outside the group to deny their own responsibility, instead projecting the problems onto the target group (e.g., the target group becomes the "bad guys").
• Behaviour is a strong determinant of opinion, which is why one cannot drive behaviour with information based on opinion.  People adopt views which explain or are consistant with their their behaviours.
• In terms of wider social/environmental movements, it has been commonly noted that "Any oppression helps to support other forms of domination."  Basically then, wars that dominate one group over another, abusive treatment of animals, and oppression of women all have some common causes.  Working systematically and connecting these dots shows promise to changing the bigger picture for social and environmental issues of global importance. 

Check out the WWF study, and also a related post here on Forward Thinking.

Don’t expect climate change to get fixed by the governments of the world. Don’t expect that, however noble in intention, the efforts of Gore, McKibben, Stern, and their many cohorts will succeed either. Not on any large scale. It won’t be clean tech or green products saving the day either.

Climate change, like energy scarcity, water pollution, and other serious global issues is merely one symptom of a larger global problem. Tackle the symptoms individually, and at best you might get lackluster results. Tackle the source of the problem, and everything attached to it will be positively affected.

That problem is consumerism. Too many people want too many things on a finite planet with limited resources. The process of obtaining and manufacturing those things is what has gotten us into trouble: carbon emissions, resource depletion, deforestation, species extinction, etc.

The consumer economy is the cornerstone of “democratic” governments worldwide. As a result, governments have no genuine interest in changing the status quo. It would be too problematic, too chaotic, and mean transcending too many vested interests. Don’t count on Copenhagen to come to much.

And while Al Gore and company have some good ideas and rational arguments, the problem is that the arguments are rational, while the roots of consumerism are not.

For decades, the worldwide public both in the U.S. and any country that has emulated the American formula for “success” has had their minds absorbed by consumerism, and their emotions compromised by its advertised promises. At this point, the average consumer is largely driven by irrational motives, advertisers tugging at the heart strings, making promises that products will solve “problems”.

In this emotional landscape and this mindset, at best you might get a few people to change to energy efficient light bulbs. You might get their attention just long enough for a few token actions. As for significant lifestyle shifts, they will be few and far between. Any significant shift will come from reaching people on an emotional, and likely irrational level—just as advertisers have been doing for decades.

What we need is a shift to a new model—for our lifestyle, for our economies, for our livelihoods, for our planet.

A rational argument is not going to bring those about. What will?

Not clean tech, not green products, nor any other model that looks similar to the one we already have. Merely re-positioning “stuff that is less bad” for consumers to consume is just shifting the nature of the problem. As Buckminster Fuller advised, to make an existing model obsolete, one must create a new model worth aspiring to.

Or as Einstein so elegantly put it, “We cannot solve problems using the same logic we used to create them in the first place.”

There needs to be a shift in people’s values and behaviors on a wide scale.

The terrain is there for exploration. Here is a well documented series from the BBC tracing the origins of consumer behavior and how they got us to where we are today. It’s a long series to watch, but incredibly detailed and insightful. If you are serious about wanting to change the way things are, study and reflect on these videos.

As the old adage goes, “Turn the problem into the solution.” In this case, the answer is getting consumerism to quickly consume and snuff itself out. Will it be another banking crisis that does it? Some other social movement rooted in the masses? Some other driver yet undetermined? Who knows, perhaps you will be the one coming up with the next golden idea on that one.

The Century of the Self Part 1

The Century of the Self Part 2

The Century of the Self Part 3

The Century of the Self Part 4

Economy and jobs seem to be on people's mind a lot lately.  Here are some really great articles to help reframe your reality:

• First, to set the stage, our colleague John Thackara has some useful thoughts on the way the world is going, emerging trends, and some promising news-- we are in fact on the cusp of a major shift in business as usual.  He's quite a worldly man, and we tend to trust his instincts and observations.  Check out his keynote speech from a recent event in Japan for some inspiration and a glimpse into our future, starting now.
• Secondly, there's been a lot of swirling discussion about "green jobs" and "green shoots" in the "new" economy (that's a lot of air quotes for one sentence!).  GoodWork Canada has some interesting food for thought on actually creating green jobs/opportunities for yourself, rather than just milling about waiting for something to come your way ... or not. 
• And if you're thinking one step wider about lifestyle issues as well as career, well then Half Farmer/Half X might just be for you.  Created by a Japanese man interested in rebalancing his life and cutting out the fast paced, consumption-focused norm, he engineered his own lifestyle and then made it a mandate to help others do likewise. 

From awareness around carbon footprints, to light sensors, to slow fashion, there's a lot to keep aware of in the year ahead.   Keep these 20 trends on your radar.

The online portal for New Zealand's eco-system has arrived!  Join us online today: www.celsias.co.nz  (and keep an eye open for Celsias Magazine bundled with Idealog coming out August/September!)

I've been reading John Thackara's "In the Bubble" book lately (it is an amazing read BTW).  It discusses many design considerations in society, and among them, issues of speed and growth.  Luckily, I also came across two really thought provoking articles online that also help round out new visions of how economies and businesses can function in the years ahead... and it's far from the gloom and doom you'd expect. 

First, check out this article by Herman E. Daly that was featured on The Oil Drum.  He naturally has to spend some time describing what's going wrong in our economic system, but then presents some really worthwhile solutions for how we can make some essential reforms.  It's a long article, but well worth the read and gives a brilliant "macro view" of the world economic system.

On the micro side, I came across this article on Treehugger by a business consultant.  He identifies how many "slow movements" (e.g. slow food, slow travel) are now making some people consider if one of the next "slow" pertains to business.  He describes slow business as follows:

• Who you are matters. Work should be a meaningful expression of individuals. And any job description that doesn't allow this should be rewritten.
• The rest of your life matters. When people bring their Blackberries everywhere and work until 10pm, it creates the sense that work is the most important aspect of our lives. When you slow down, you enable others to do the same.
• Relationships matter. Being businesslike doesn't mean being less human. Let's acknowledge work is a part of life and start savoring the opportunities we have to develop real friendships (beyond small talk).
• Joy matters. It's 2009, we're supposed to be evolving. Why should any humans be expected to spend large amounts of time not enjoying themselves?
• Love matters (i.e., let's stop letting money drive our experiences as human beings) Work is more than a means to an end -- it is part of how we relate to our lives. That's why it means something to buy a hammer at a neighborhood hardware store that's staffed by people who love fixing things. The only reason businesses that don't create their own products or provide their services with love survive, is by being cheaper.
• The planet matters. It's absurd that people acknowledge environmental threats like global warming as being real, then oppose remedies to fix them as being "too expensive." What the heck are we going to do with all our money come Armageddon? 

Seems like some pretty worthwhile insight.  I 

mean, if you're not in business to enjoy yourself, enjoy the people you work with, and not look after the world that gives you the opportunity for commerce to begin with, what is the point really?

As humans, we have a tendency to try and take a simplistic view of big issues like climate change.  There is no one fuel, one technology, or one fix that is going to get us out of this one.  The good news is: there are lots of solutions that can get us out of this mess, and many of them readily available today. 

Technology, while not a cure all that many proport it to be, certainly is part of the equation.  For someone coming to learn more about the climate change technology, it might seem daunting to learn all about the different approaches we can take. 

Well, thankfully the people at the Pew Center for Global Climate Change have come up with a helpful online guide called "Climate Techbook". It breaks down the different technologies available by industry sector, and discusses how each plays a part in reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.  It gives in depth information, but in layman's terms.  Whether you're planning policy or a term paper, this will be a cool resource to check out!

While there's a lot of hype around "green" jobs, careers, economies, etc., there's the case for stopping and doing something RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE... presuming you haven't been downsized in the crap economy.  Revamping your current company or organisation from the inside is a great way to make a difference in the world, and thankfully there is now a guide to doing it.  Called "Making Your Impact at Work", this handy little (FREE!) book puts together a lot of useful tips, resources, and case studies of people who have made it happen.  According to the Net Impact website, it "is designed to empower current and aspiring social intrapreneurs to find ways to integrate sustainability into their day jobs."  Take it to work baby! 

(cross-posted from Celsias.com):

Future Scenarios -  David Holmgren

The co-originator of permaculture is back with his latest book discussing how communities can adapt to the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil.  He illustrates four main scenarios: brown tech, lifeboats, green tech, and earth stewards. 

Each takes into consideration the choices we make (or don't make) today and their implications for the future. What is especially useful about this book is that Holmgren packs a smart synopsis of the issues along with well-informed projections for the future, does it in plain English, and tops out at 115 pages.  It is a handy, concise little reference.  We're hoping to have an interview with Mr. Holmgren available shortly here on Celsias, so stay tuned.

Climate Change: Picturing the Science - Gavin Schmidt and Joshua Wolfe

Handling the issue of climate change more in depth, this is a bit more robust resource.  Compiling essays by many leading scientists and climate experts, you get not only the science side in easy-to-understand terms, but also some stunning visuals that help further bring the science to life. 

From symptoms and diagnosis, to possible cures for the impending changes brought by a shift in our climate, this book ties the big picture together for anyone struggling to understand the complexity of climate change.  It is also hefty enough that one might also give a climate change denier a stiff whack upside the head if they continue with their silly arguments.  Either way, we love this book!

The Gort Cloud - Richard Seireeni

If you liked Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken, you'll love this too.  It's sort of the commerce-y continuation of the community discussion.

Discussing how "green" has gone mainstream, branding guru Seireeni shows how some cutting edge, green-minded businesses (from the likes of Dr. Bronner's to Nau to Seventh Generation) have built a steady following, kept their integrity, and made a good living by harnessing the power of the green community. 

By illustrating the relationships of many green institutions, the book provides readers with a comprehensive look at the invisible network of NGO's trendspotters, advocacy groups, business alliances, social networks, and certifying organizations of the green community that can make or break brands.  If you are launching a new product or service, understanding this space is critical to your success.  While the book *is* business focused, many general readers might appreciate its definition of the larger community we are all involved with, as well as some intimate stories of companies and brands they already love.  We found it quite a clever read and very informative.

... and in other news...

Real Goods Solar Living Source Book - John Schaeffer

If you're into solar, wind power, or other forms of alternative energy, want to live off-grid, or learn the basics of the clean tech industry, this one is for you!  This is probably one of the most comprehensive guides out there-- and -- they're celebrating their 30^th Edition by having a limited time free offer: a digital copy of the 70 page section entitled "Renewable Energy 101- Solar, Wind, and Hydro Electric" available to the general public.  Visit http://www.freesolarebook.com   and sign up on the site.

First, from WBCSD recently came a report entitled "Water, Energy, and Climate Change: A Contribution from the Business Community".  According to Greenbiz.com:

The business community wants solid water, energy and climate change data and analysis tools from policy makers to help them manage risks and make smarter strategic decisions, according to a new report published Thursday.  They also advised policymakers to integrate water, energy and climate change policy in a holistic way that both acknowledges and weighs the synergies and trade-offs existing between the three interconnected issues.

The report encourages more research and information sharing among academics, governments, nonprofit organisations and the private sector to address the challenges that threaten the future of many industries.  It also presents 25 international best-practice case studies of effecient water and resource use. 

Accountants play a vital role in analysing business processes and informing decision making within a business.  Recently introduced by the Professional Accountants In Business was the IFAC Sustainability Framework.  This online toolkit enables accountants and management to make intelligent, sustainability-minded decisions, promote good leadership, improve business strategy, and enhance reporting on performance to all stakeholders.  The text based toolkit is easy to use, graphically well-designed, and quite informative, and we are glad to see accountants taking a step up on important issues and using their influence for the better.

Brought to you by SBN and Ecobob, the Greenlist launched this week.  According to them, this nifty website will feature the "best offers on the most sustainable, healthiest, and safest products and services in New Zealand.  It's the world’s first online directory of green products and services where listings are compared against basic principles of sustainability."

While the credit crunch has taken its toll, 2009 will still be a great year for clean technologies-- this, from the 2009 Clean Energy Report just released this week.  Some key findings according to Clean Edge Research:

• Biofuels (global production and wholesale pricing of ethanol and biodiesel) reached $34.8 billion in 2008 and are projected to grow to $105.4 billion by 2018. In 2008 the global biofuels market consisted of more than 17 billion gallons of ethanol and 2.5 billion gallons of biodiesel production worldwide. For the first time, ethanol leader Brazil got more than 50 percent of its total national automobile transportation fuels from bioethanol, eclipsing petroleum use for the first time in any major market.
  
  
• Wind power (new installation capital costs) is projected to expand from $51.4 billion in 2008 to $139.1 billion in 2018. Last year's global wind power installations reached a record 27,000 MW. In the U.S., which accounted for more than 8,000 MW, wind installations represented more than 40 percent of total new electricity generating capacity brought online in 2008 – and moved the U.S. ahead of Germany as the world's leading generator of wind energy.
  
  
• Solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and installation) will grow from a $29.6 billion industry in 2008 to $80.6 billion by 2018. Annual installations reached more than 4 GW worldwide in 2008, four times the total set just four years earlier, when the solar PV market reached the 1 GW milestone for the first time in 2004
  

Together, we project these three benchmark technologies, which equaled $75.8 billion in 2007 and expanded 50 percent to $115.9 billion in 2008, to grow to $325.1 billion within a decade.

Total Investments Reach $155 Billion

If you've been looking for a good read, or some really great background material to understand the "sustainability" space and the era going forward, check out this really fantastic booklist. 

As seen on Springwise:

Breaking a bad habit is never easy, but a little support can help. Much like Green Thing, which we wrote about back in 2007, Green Groove is a site that aims to help consumers create and stick to a plan to eliminate their unsustainable ways and embrace new, greener habits.

Green Groove's goal is to help consumers make "a phased withdrawal on catastrophic climate change." Toward that end, the Idaho-based site invites visitors to take three initial steps to create their own, personal withdrawal plan. First, they choose their desired plan type, length and level of difficulty, including whether it's just a personal plan or one that incorporates a household or family. Next, the site guides visitors to select specific weekly goals in four categories: auto, diet, home and lifestyle. Within the "home" category, for example, weekly goals might include replacing one old lightbulb with a compact fluorescent, or hang-drying at least one load of laundry. Third, visitors are then invited to put their weekly goals into the order they'd like to follow in accomplishing them, thereby creating their step-by-step action plan. A downloadable "Goal Tracker" widget is available both for Mac and PC, as are "Green Groove Participant" and "Green Groove Certified" website badges for those who are in the midst of or have finished their plans.

With all the many external demands on consumers' time and attention today, the need for support in making lifestyle changes seems greater than ever. Deliver that help in bite-sized portions, and you may just win some lasting support yourself! (Related: Nagging service for dieters — A public incentive to stick to one's goals.)

Website: www.greengroove.org
Contact: support@greengroove.org

From Joel Makower and his crew at Greenbiz.com, find the annual summary of green business here for download.  This useful progress report highlights the ups and downs over the past year, as well as speculates on where the issues may take industries in the year ahead. 

From the introduction:

"Last year, when we launched the inaugural State of Green Business
report, we set out to measure the environmental impacts of the growing
green economy. We were sobered and encouraged by what we found.
Our efforts to measure, for the first time ever, whether and how companies
were reducing their environmental impacts revealed mixed results:
More companies were doing more things, but moving the needle of
environmental progress only slightly, if at all.

(continues)

This week we have a rather comprehensive array of helpful resources to feature.  From greening the family, to the bird's eye view on all things carbon trading.  Here we go...

First from Worldwatch comes The State of the World 2009. What must we do in the 21st century—especially in 2009 and the years just following—to make a future possible, and to head off the kind of climate catastrophe that many scientists now see as likely?  This question inspires the theme of the Worldwatch Institute's State of the World 2009 report: how climate change will play out over the coming century, and what steps we most urgently need to take now.  The year 2009 will be pivotal for the Earth's climate. Scientists have warned that we have only a few years to reverse the rise in greenhouse gas emissions and help avoid abrupt and catastrophic climate change. The world community has agreed to negotiate a new climate agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009. Early that same year, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th U.S. President. The United States, one of the world's largest producers of greenhouse gases, will have its best chance to provide global leadership by passing national climate legislation and constructively engaging with the international community to forge a new consensus on halting emissions.

As part of the equation comes carbon markets and offset programmes.   If you've been wanting a macro picture on the subject, the exhaustive SEI Review of Offset Programs: Trading Systems, Funds, Protocols, Standards and Retailers is a perfect background document.  The goal of this review is to provide an up-to-date analysis and synthesis of the most influential offset programs and activities.  It reflects on lessons learned to inform participants and designers of current and future offset programs. The intention is to periodically update this review to stay abreast of ongoing developments, and to develop a website portal to make this information more accessible.

And finally, if you're looking to take practical action closer to home, we'd like to recommend the Green and Save Family Guide to Going Green.  Alongside their Return on Investment Table, you get a comprehensive look at actions and how they will save money in the household.  The resources are created for the US market, but indicative of savings in other markets as well.  The big picture is rather amazing: take action on things like thermostats and water saving to the tune of US$69,590 up front, and enjoy a savings over 20 years of a whopping US$182,170-- that's an 11.8% return just for being smart around the house.

A new resource is available from the UK's Public Interest Research Centre.  "Climate Safety" is a concise, 49 page, one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about climate change.  Neatly arranged, the guide has 5 sections: Summary, Science, Targets, Solutions, Action.  Easy as pie.  We think you need to download a copy here. 

In other sources of educational amusement, check out World Clock.  If you are interested in seeing the numbers behind what happens in the world, from meat consumption, to carbon emissions, to birth an death rates, this is for you.  Warning: Americans might want to have a stiff drink before you see the national debt.   

And finally, some inspirational thoughts from young people in New Zealand, the winners of this year's The Outlook For Someday competition were just announced.  Check out the point of view from young kiwis, and what sustainability means for them and the world.

Eric Dorfman has written a fantastic summary of the implications of climate change for New Zealand.  It is probably the most rubust resource we've found to date on the subject, and thankfully written in laymans tems.  An easy read without clubbing one upside the head with science.  It's captivating to have a cohesive picture of the possibilities that await the country in the years ahead, and useful for personal action and planning.  Covering both changes in nature and their knock on effects in the economy and social spheres, the book is concise and well rounded.  Best part of it is-- not all of is scary.  Afterall, knowledge is power.  A must read.

Some great online resources from the book are worth sharing here.  If you're keen to know how far under water your area might be with rising sea levels, have a play with this simulator.  To stay keep informed of changes in the climate over time, visit the NIWA National Climate Change Centre website or Climate Science.

This week we feature a really great magazine out of the U.S. with a rather mysterious name: Mother Jones.  Nothing to fear though, the publication covers a wide range of ecological, social, economic, governmental, and social issues.  This month they explore in detail how green tech may or may not be a saviour.  Worth a cover-to-cover read!

Also, if you would like to stir some of the creative juices, need a conversation point, or are just plain bored and sick of mentally deranged people dancing in their bedroom on YouTube, check out the more high-brow Ted.  From technology to arts to design, pretty much everything you can (or should) care about is covered.  Blow out the bandwith and expand your mind with some worthwhile internet television.

To update our earlier post on genuine progress indicators, check out Redefining Progress.  And there you have it, enough to keep you entertained for at least 5 minutes!

Yes, it's a DIY bonanza this week in the Resource Roundup.  Available from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority are a multitude of grants to improve energy efficiency.  If you have thought about installing solar hot water or putting in more insulation, log on their website to find out what funding you might be eligible for in your home.  You can also give them a call on 0800 749 782.   Also, while you are sprucing up the place in spring, check out Ecobob.  This fantastic product directory will have you using only the best of environmentally safe materials for your household jobs.  Nice.  And hey, while you are in the DIY spirit, take the quiz on MyFootprint and learn how to make positive changes to your ecological footprint. 

This week's resource roundup focuses on three useful books for adjusting one's approach to money, work, and lifestyle.  The end result?  You might no longer be a wage slave, in debt, or stuck in an office.  Triple win for personal sustainability.  Read on... (continues)