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Sustainability
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Sustainability

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources are key to transitioning into a new economy and for sustainable development goals. 100% renewable energy targets ensure that we are providing for our future and generational safety and prosperity. Resilient and clean energy sources will be a testament to our longevity and the success of not only the planet, but society and the economy. They also provide for global stability and overall health of the human population.

SDG - Goal 7

There are key elements to the transition. The United Nation’s Sustainable Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy looks to expand and increase the use of renewable energies by the year 2030 by cooperation and access to all. We are in great support of this goal, however the opportunity to increase the share of renewable energy mix could be at a 100% by 2035, and would increase decarbonisation rates more expediently, lessen toxic damage and increase innovation and economic endurance in doing so. Strong leadership in energy transition is sound economic and political policy; competing for outdated models in fossil production is costly, unhealthy, inefficient and destabilizing.

A pathway to 100% renewable energy includes:

  • Transition the electricity sector to clean, renewable energy.
  • Equitable and fair access by ensuring that renewable energy is accessible to all members of society.
  • Carbon and pollution free energy provided from wind, solar, tidal and geothermal sources.
  • Inclusive participation of community and small businesses.

Conversion is sound economic policy as well. Transition would prevent an estimated $3.3 trillion per year in the year 2050 global warming costs from U.S. emissions alone.

“Converting would further eliminate $3.3 (1.9–7.1) tril. per year in 2050 global warming costs to the world due to U.S.
emissions. These plans will result in each person in the U.S. in 2050 saving $260 (190–320) per year in energy
costs ($2013 dollars) and U.S. health and global climate costs per person decreasing by $1500 (210–6000) per
year and $8300 (4700–17 600) per year, respectively” (Jacobson, Mark et al. Energy Environ. Sci., 2015, 8, 2093).

Renewable energy increases resiliency, helps decrease social inequalities by providing healthy ecosystems, provides stronger and leaner companies and ensures a brighter future and economy.

Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development

Regenerists believe in conservation, recognizing that humans are part of the ecosystem. The approach is one of incorporation rather than focusing on preservation, which segregates wild areas from human habitat.

Sustainable design aims to provide for fundamental human needs, whereas regenerative design goes further in that it plans for the future co-existence and co-evolution of humans and other species.

Systems Design

Regenerative design promotes systems thinking. Systems thinking is a whole systems approach, where we recognize that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Systems design is non-linear, feedback-rich, and interdependent.  This design approach is as close to closed systems as possible, increases longevity and resilience, and has the potential to encompass regeneration and evolution in living systems.

Systems thinking emphasizes stocks and flows since replenishment of stock is inherent in feedback-rich systems. Six notable themes in systems thinking:

  • Interconnectedness
  • Circular
  • Emergence
  • Wholes
  • Synthesis
  • Relationships

Feedback loops

Feedback loops are a design aspect in circularity, and how nature’s own ecosystems operate. In design, there are two types of feedback loops: reinforcing and balancing.

Reinforcing elements in a system are abundant of one element and can continue to refine itself, which often leads to it taking over.

Balancing elements in a system, such as predatory/prey situation in nature, does exactly that- balances things out.

Efficiency

How does that ascribe in business modeling? Systems thinking in business context is adaptive and modular, lending itself to innovation and diversified value chains and less dependence on short-term strategies. Understanding flows in complex systems tell us about trade-offs between efficiency and resilience.

Efficient systems incorporate less nodes, less connections, and increases throughput. However, increasing efficiency systems become brittle, vulnerable to price volatility or interruptions of chain.

Circularity in Supply Chains

Circular procurement focuses on closing energy and material loops within supply chain. There are two pillars:

Pillar One:

Promoting circular supply chains by procuring more circular products, materials and services.

  • Embed approach in circular supply chain by procurement criteria
  • Promote product lifetime extension

Pillar Two:

Promoting new business models based on innovative and resource-efficient solutions.

  • Resource-efficient solutions

Social Dimensions in Sustainability Models

Our beautiful planet is a complex set of systems managed by society and people. A critical aspect to a balanced and sustainable model in circular economy are human and societal dimensions. In order to successfully measure economic performance, a quantifiable measure of social progress is critical. The OECD quality of life index is modeled after Stiglitz, Sen, Fitoussi (2009) and includes the following dimensions:

Quality of Life indicators for current well-being

  • Health
  • Work-Life balance
  • Education and skills
  • Social connections
  • Civic engagement
  • Environmental quality
  • Personal security
  • Subjective well-being

Material Conditions

  • Income and wealth
  • Jobs and earnings
  • Housing

Future Resources for Well-Being

  • Natural capital
  • Economic capital
  • Human capital
  • Social capital

Conceptual Approaches to measuring Quality of Life

Subjective well-being- enabling people to be happy and satisfied is a universal goal of human existence.

Capabilities- conceives a person’s life as a combination of various “doings and beings” (functionings) and of his or her freedom to choose among these functionings (capabilities).

Weights- the various non-monetary dimensions of quality of life (beyond goods and services that are traded in markets) in a way that respects peoples preferences. “Fair allocations approach” tries to overcome by explicitly referring equity criteria.

Education and health matter for quality of life independently of its effects on people’s earnings and productivity. Measuring these benefits is important. How people spend their time, and features of activities, is important as well- irrespective of income they generate. Political voice is an integral dimension in quality of life. It helps evaluate the functioning of democracy and universal suffrage, degree of decentralization in government decisions, sense of participation, and freedom of media and civil and other participatory organs.

Star Systems is committed to incorporating social and natural dimensions and capital for the prosperity of our planet and society. By regenerating nature and promoting equity we can design our very own futures in novel ways. Understanding the symbiotic relationship of our planet and society increases longevity, health, and the evolution of our planet- for the advancement of society, environment, and economy.

This is our future.

Future by Design