The Brundtland Report, published 25 years ago, described sustainability as a three-legged stool with people, planet and profit taking equal importance in the equation. Mark Blunden introduces this month’s discussion topic by revisiting our common future in 2013 and how we might apply six essential characteristics to our businesses in relation to the local economy, population and environment.

1. Good morning…
• Mark Blunden – Sales and Marketing Manager
• President of Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce
• Previously at Intersolar, ICP Solar and Global Solar in Tucson, AZ
• Interest in the environment and earth matters…and trees

2. Our Common Future
The Brundtland Report (former Norwegian Prime Minister
Gro Harlem Brundtland), published 25 years ago.
•It has been successful in forming international ties
between governments and multinational corporations.
•Described sustainability as a three-legged stool with
people, planet and profit taking equal importance in
the equation.
•The report led the production of Agenda 21, an
action plan of the UN with regard to sustainable
development
•Agenda 21 entailed actions to be taken globally,
nationally, and locally in order to make life on Earth more
sustainable

3. Our Common Future
Bruntland Report - can be defined as…
‘A [Development that] meets
the needs of the present
without compromising the
ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.’

4. The 3 Legged stool
The Brundtland Report highlighted the three fundamental components of
sustainable development, the environment, the economy, and society
Environment
We should conserve and enhance our resource base, by gradually changing
the ways in which we develop and use technologies.
Social Equity
Developing nations must be allowed to meet their basic needs of
employment, food, energy, water and sanitation. If this is to be done i
n a sustainable manner, then there is a definite need for a sustainable
level of population.
Economic Growth
Economic growth should be revived and developing nations should be
allowed a growth of equal quality to the developed nations.

5. The 3 legs
So lets take a look at the 3 legs of the stool….
Sustainability
Social Equity
Env
my
iro
no
nm
o
Ec
ent

6. Environment
The Bruntland Report says…
We should conserve and
enhance our resource
base, by gradually
changing the ways in
which we develop and use
technologies.

7. The environment – a few facts
One in 25 homes in England and Wales is at
risk of coastal flooding, and this is
expected to increase with a changing
climate and rising sea levels.
In 1953 over 30,000 people were evacuated
and 24,500 houses were damaged as the
tidal surge inundated coastal communities
from Spurn Point to Kent; 307 people were
also tragically killed
The Thames Barrier was built in response
to the floods in 1953.

8. Global Warming
Flooding May Change the World Map
If global warming continues areas less than 30 feet above sea level
will be vulnerable to flooding.
Those areas most at risk of flooding, due to the rising sea level
would be island nations like the Maldives….and the UK!
10% of the worlds population live in areas likely to be affected by
rising sea levels such as Shanghai, and Lagos and The Atlantic Gulf
Coasts of the USA.
Scientists project as much as a 3 foot sea level rise, by 2100.
Also threatened are Holland, Belgium, Denmark, & parts of China
and India.

9. Rising sea levels – Take a look
A = Move to Portland?!

10. The environment – Energy Security
UK Government report states:
‘a secure energy system is one that is able to meet the
needs of people and organisations ……..in a reliable and
affordable way both now and in the future’
Just three countries supply the vast majority of EU gas
imports—Russia (40%), Algeria (30%) and Norway
(25%).
The UK will need to replace around 25% of its firm capacity over the next
decade if it is to continue to meet demand
There is a risk that not enough gas capacity will be built in the UK as investors
seek more certain returns elsewhere. Government is therefore concerned that
the UK will not have enough ‘firm’ capacity over the coming decade to ensure
that the UK’s electricity supplies remain secure.

11. Economic Growth
The Bruntland
Reports says..
Economic growth should
be revived and
developing nations
should be allowed a
growth of equal quality
to the developed
nations.

12. The economy
China’s economy is projected to grow by about 8% a year, with India
averaging 7.8% annual growth and Brazil 4.9%. By contrast, North
America will experience annual growth of about 3%, Europe, 2% and
Japan about 1%.
• Where will this stop?
• Do you want it to?
• What are the consequences to us all and the planet?
• Is what’s good for business, good for planet?
• Is it sustainable?

13. Resources - Food
Some facts to consider…
In recent years the world's food production has increased by 24 per cent,
outpacing the rate of population growth.
However, this increase was not evenly distributed throughout the world. For
example, in Africa, food production decreased, while population increased.
Most experts agree that there is no shortage of food, and that equitable
distribution should be sufficient to meet all needs for the future.
Lack of money to buy food is the problem of malnourishment.
Source - Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute

14. Resources - Water
Water - An increasing number
of countries both developed
and developing are
approaching the limits of
sustainable water use based
on their own renewable
resources.

15. Resources - Housing
More than half of the developing world's population will be living in
urban areas by the end of the century. This growth outstrips the
capacity to provide housing and services for others. In some
countries, finding a place to live is hard, especially for women.
Britain is heading for a property shortage of more than a
million homes by 2022

16. Over population
The world's current and projected population growth calls for an increase in
efforts to meet the needs for food, water, health care, technology and
education. In the poorest countries, massive efforts are needed to keep social
and economic conditions from deteriorating further; any real advances in well-
being and the quality of life are negated by further population growth.
Many countries lack adequate supplies of basic materials needed to
support their current population. Rapid population growth can affect both
the overall quality of life and the degree of human suffering on Earth.
Over-population and continuing population
growth are making substantial
contributions to the destruction of Earth's
life support systems.
It is essential to achieve a balance
between population and the available
resources.

17. Resources Vs. Population Growth
According to a report by the United Nation Population fund, total
population is likely to reach 10 billion by 2025 and grow to 14
billion by the end of the next century unless birth control use
increases dramatically around the world within the next two
decades
There are about 3 births for each death –
•Where will they live?
•Can the earth feed them?
•How much water will they need?
•How much ‘stuff’ will they want/need?

18. World population clock
TIME INTERVAL NUMBER OF YEARS WORLD POPULATION
___________________________________________________________
?-1850 to 1 Billion 1850 years +
___________________________________________________________
1850-1930 2 Billion 80 years
___________________________________________________________
1930-1975 4 Billion 45 years
___________________________________________________________
1975-1987 5 Billion 12 years
___________________________________________________________
1987-2000 6 Billion 13 years
2013 – 10:50 AM Wednesday 27th Feb – 7.1 Billion…and rising
___________________________________________________________
*We currently are adding 90 million annually and will continue to do
so through to 2015 and beyond.
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

19. The poverty trap
Poverty is a condition of chronic Access
Povert
deprivation and need at the family level.
to land
y
Lack of
Poverty, is a major concern of humankind,
because poverty everywhere reduces Poor
&
needs
human beings to a low level of existence.
health
income
to poor
•Poor people lack access to enough land
and income to meet basic needs. to
health
Povert
•A lack of basic needs results in physical inability
weakness and poor health. y
•Poor health decreases the ability of the
to work
poor to work and put them deeper into
poverty.

20. Priorities
The priorities for getting rid of
poverty, improving food
supply, ending malnutrition,
and providing adequate
housing coincide at all points
with those required for
balanced population growth.
United Nations

21. Global inequality
Global inequality has been
declining, but the world is
still extremely unequal,
with the richest 1% of the
world’s population owning
40% of the world’s wealth
and the poorest 50% owning
around 1%

22. Some final thoughts…
The throw away society…

23. Society
The Age of Obsolescence and Abundance
One lucrative marketing and manufacturing concept, Planned
Obsolescence, changed everything after WWII, when products began
being specifically designed with disposability and limited life span or
functionality in mind.
Shorter life span in your home means more frequent shopping sprees
to the store.
Growth was being driven by a new sense of
convenience and disposability. Paper plates and
cups, frozen foods, TV dinners, foil and plastic
pouches, aerosol cans, and squeezable tubes were
the way of the future, bringing a new convenience
and ease to everyone's lifestyle

24. Society
Changes in styles and new technologies have given way to new and
improved products that were increasingly affordable to more people
• Seeking Sound Alternatives
In 1987, the Mobro barge, filled with 3,100 tons
of garbage, traversed the globe stopping at 5
countries looking for a place to dump it's load.
• At an estimated cost of $1 million, it returned to
NYC, having failed to find a final resting place.
• It became a symbol of the true cost of our
disposable society,
• The upside was it encouraged the expansion of
recycling programs and brought pressure on US
Congress to pass the 1990 Clean Air/Clean Water
Act.

25. Society – BIG BUTS!
Beyond the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We want the rest of the world to have what we have as its good for business…BUT
…we can't allow the rest of the developing world to emulate our negligence in
methods of acquiring wealth and abundance, and then of disposing of it.
‘insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting
a different outcome.
Negligence is described as doing the same thing over and over even though you know
it is dangerous, stupid, or wrong." Now that we know, it's time for a change’
No matter what type of business you are in, you can make a difference

26. A question for you…
Is everything you do SUSTAINABLE?