Shifting Mindsets for Sustainability Transformations

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1 Sustainability Lecture, Leuphana University Shifting Mindsets for Sustainability Transformations Exploring a Development Paradigm fit for Purpose Dr. Maja Göpel 19 October

2 Structure of lecture 1. The Sustainable Development Goals 2. The role of mindsets in transformation processes 3. The limits of the economic lens 4. A Great Mindshift for sustainability? 2

3 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Transforming our world: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

4 Universal Post2015 Agenda All countries commit to radical changes Since 2015 all countries are developing countries Revision of existing sustainable development strategies Global search process for future development model

5 Transforming Our World Transformation or transformability in social-ecological systems is defined as the capacity to create untried beginnings from which to evolve a fundamentally new way of living when existing ecological, economic, and social conditions make the current system untenable. Stockholm Resilience Centre 2012

6 Transforming Our World 1. If the changes envisioned by the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda are supposed to be transformational in quality, how do we work towards this quality? 1. If the transformations envisioned are supposed support sustainable development, what are the key leverage points to unlock unsustainable path dependencies?

7 1. The Sustainable Development Goals 2. The role of mindsets in transformation processes 3. The limits of the economic lens 4. A Great Mindshift for sustainability? 5. Transformative Literacy for strategic interventions 7

8 Transformation as an ongoing process embed co-create Sense-Making Actors Values Beliefs Knowledge Worldviews Productive Processes Relationships: Human-human Human-nature Human-technology Human infrastructure Socio-Ecological- Technical Systems Path Dependencies: Infrastructures & technologies Political institutions Natural resources Economic institutions Socio-cultural norms embed embed form into impact Earth System *Göpel, The Great Mindshift, 2016 Humans make their own history... but under circumstances transmitted from the past. -Karl Marx 8

9 There will be different histories... 9

10 ... depending on our worldviews 10

11 The role of mindsets in transformations Radical incremental change Meta / Narratives Macro / Landscape Meso / Regime Socio-Ecological-Technical Systems Mind Worldviews, Visions, Paradigms Earth System Science Policy Market Patterns Social Practice Technology Micro / Niche Mini / Me & You Mind *Based on Geels Multi-Level Perspective;Göpel

12 1. The Sustainable Development Goals 2. The role of mindsets in transformation processes 3. The limits of the economic lens 4. A Great Mindshift for sustainability? 5. Transformative Literacy for strategic interventions 12

13 Purpose of the Economic System Today: Gain Imaginary Indicating Development Aspirations Success Progress Development Return on Investment Economic Success Quarterly Reporting * Google Image Search

14 Where else do we detect this pattern? 14

15 Emergence of the System s Purpose Stark Utopia of the last Great Transformation 1. Now normal but has once been an innovation: nineteenth century civilization ( ) chose to base itself on a motive only rarely acknowledged as valid in the history of human societies, and certainly never before raised to the level of a justification of action and behavior in everyday life, namely gain. (Karl Polanyi, p.30) 1. The matrix of the self-regulating market : the control of the economic system by the market is of overwhelming consequence to the whole organization of society: it means no less than the running of society as an adjunct to the market. (Karl Polanyi, p.57) 15

16 What does the Stark Utopia tell us about reaching sustainable development? Source: Göpel, The Great Mindshift,

17 Assessing Economized Language What is Hiding behind Dematerialized Growth?

18 Assessing Economized Language What is Hiding behind Wealth and Productivity Gains?

19 Assessing Economized Language Growing Output Delivers Growing Wellbeing and Happiness?

20 Assessing Economized Language Forest as Substitutable Capital 20

21 Assessing Economized Language Can Wellbeing and Happiness at all Grow Forever? Easterlin Paradox: Income and Happiness Decouple More important: health, income security, relative rank in society, social relations, OECD report How s Life?

Comparative extrinsic value orientation reduces quality of life

22 Assessing Economized Language Homo Economicus Culture Effects on Humans? Comparative extrinsic value orientation reduces quality of life and increases anxiety and depression Cost-benefit lens reduces social-environmental responsibility and creative performance

23 Calls for Paradigm Shifts Mounting

24 This is a massive window of opportunity: Hegemony of the economic development model is broken #1 Pre-Development #2 Take-off #3 Acceleration #4 Stabilisation at a New Level or Relapse Support most needed for Degree of System Change Pioneer Activity Tipping point Coalition Building Regulatory Change Anchoring of Societal Acceptance Time

25 How to Transform Unsustainable Systems? Change Mindsets and Indicators on What Systems Should Deliver Feedback and adjustments Rules and incentives Surface layer: listening to system feedback and adjusting environmental pressures maintains progress Mid layer: using the right rules and incentives can create structural change and significantly influence key drivers Mindsets Deep layer: shared mindsets translate into vision, goals and collective action Source: Donella Meadows, Leverage Points, here UNEP GEO5, p.422

26 Structure of presentation 1. The Sustainable Development Goals 2. The role of mindsets in transformation processes 3. The limits of the economic lens 4. A Great Mindshift for sustainability? 5. Transformative Literacy for strategic interventions 26

27 21st Century Mindshift: Re-coupling human and natural wellbeing Environment Sustainability Society Social Environmental Economy Economic

28 Recoupling Economic Systems I Imaginaries of future sustainability paradigm land use change climate change ENVIRONMENTAL CEILING freshwater use biodiversity loss SOCIAL FOUNDATION the safe and just space for humanity health gender equality social equity food water income education resilience phosphorus cycles nitrogen and ozone depletion energy jobs voice INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ocean acidification atmospheric aerosol loading chemical pollution * Kate Raworth, Doughnut Economics 28

29 Recoupling Economic Systems II Imaginaries of future sustainability paradigm Ellen McArthur Foundation

30 Recoupling Economic Systems III Imaginaries of future sustainability paradigm Commoning Principles BALLE Principles (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies)

31 Recoupling Economic Systems IV Imaginaries of future sustainability paradigm

32 Recoupling Economic Systems V Imaginaries of future sustainability paradigm Societal Happiness E. Happiness Skills A. Needs All human beings, regardless of the environment in which they live, require adequate satisfaction of their need for food, water, shelter, security & respect. All this, in turn, is dependent upon a sustainable environment B. Holistic Development Agenda A transformative agenda with interconnected solutions: ble & equitable socio-economic development ervation & promotion of culture C. Responsible use of resource Natural, social, human and economic resources to ensure present and future sustainability Drawn creatively from human historical experience, wisdom traditions and modern science D. Outcome: Equitable and Sustainable Society Progress assessed through indicators, including: resilience Living standards Source: Bhutan 2013 Happiness: A New Development Paradigm Planetary Boundaries

33 Recoupling Economic Systems VI Imaginaries of future sustainability paradigm

34 1. The Sustainable Development Goals 2. The role of mindsets in transformation processes 3. The limits of the economic lens 4. A Great Mindshift for sustainability? 5. Transformative Literacy for strategic interventions 34

35 Futures Literacy The complexity of these processes of transformation raises a number of questions, most notably about people's capacity to imagine futures that are not based on hidden, unexamined and sometimes flawed assumptions about present and past systems ( ) allowing us to experiment with novel frames for imagining the unknowable future, and enabling us to critically reassess actions designed in the present. ISSC and UNESCO 2013: 8

36 Transformative Literacy Radical Incremental Sustainability Transformations *Göpel, The Great Mindshift

37 Thank you! Göpel The Anthropocene: Politik Economics Society Science Maja Göpel The Great Mindshift The Great Mindshift How a New Economic Paradigm and Sustainability Transformations go Hand in Hand With Forewords by Simon Dalby and Uwe Schneidewind OPEN ACCESS Link for free ebook: maja.goepel@wupperinst.org

United Nations Environment Programme 12 February 2019* Guidance note: Leadership Dialogues at fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly

United Nations Environment Programme 12 February 2019* Guidance note: Leadership Dialogues at fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly A key feature of the high/level segment of the 2019 UN Environment