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Rethinking globalisation in the lightof Contraction and CONVERGEnce
Kristin Vala RagnarsdottirUniversity of Icelandwww.convergeproject.orgBalaton Group Meeting, September 20-25, 2012
The Converge Project
• How, given the current situation, do we today manage and allocate Earth's limited resources so the projected global population of 9 billion people in 2050, and their offspring, will flourish – sustainably?
• Equity within biophysical planetary boundaries – by way of convergence
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Convergence
ConvergingDiverging
Contracting – living within limits
Expanding – disregarding limits
Transitions
Equality & Frugality
Inequality & Profligacy
All initiatives – Initiatives Map
Green Dependent
Community Engagement vs Social Movements
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M1 = Dissemination of information to the publicM2 = Collection of information from the publicM3 = Knowledge & energy exchange for collaborationM4a = Shallow behaviour changeM4b = Deep behaviour change
Rowe & Frewer; McKenzie-Mohr; Stern
Level of Citizen Engagement & Ownership
Level of Complexity & Systemic Focus
Not fight a change
Support a change
Coordinate progress toward a goal
Develop new social norms
Mechanism for Community Engagement
M1 always present, M2 should also be present, M4a may be present
M1 & M2 always present, M3 should be present, M4a may be present
M1 & M4b might be present, M2 & M3 are present
M3 most strongly present, M1, M2 & M4b may be present
Community Engagements
Social Movements
Engagement Variability
The Natural Step
Unit of Influence & Boundaries of Context
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Unit of influence
Cases
Individuals Bakor, SCAD, Greenways
Institutions LCSW, Eco-SchoolsKony 2012
Society/ Community
Håga, Totnes, Wekerle
Boundaries of context
Cases
Geographic LCSW, Håga, Totnes, Wekerle
Issues of a population
Eco-Schools, Greenways, SCAD
Global Bakor, Occupy, 350
Engagement Variability
The Natural Step
The Converge Framework – Principles
• Convergence for sustainability is the progress towards equal opportunities for all people, within biophysical planetary boundaries1. In a converging society, every global citizen has the
right to a fair share of the Earth’s biocapacity and social resources, to enable him or her to live a fulfilling life
2. A converging society uses its resources efficiently, recognizing the critical value of services from natural systems and limiting its harmful impacts upon them. It recognizes interdependence amongst human societies and between human societies and nature
3. A converging society invests positively in human, social and environmental resources; and cares for them, maintains them and restores
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CONVERGE approach
• Contraction and ConvergenceTM, Converging World• Planetary boundaries, Ecological footprints, Resource
depletion• Systems thinking, analysis, dynamics (CLDs)• The Natural Step• AtKisson compass• Action research, World Café, stakeholder involvement
• Focus on food security
The Framework tested – communities
• Full study
– Iceland– Bristol, UK– India: SCAD
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• Framework introduction
– Lund, Sweden– Gödöllö, Hungary
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Food value chain
Stakeholder choice
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Food system group modelling in Iceland
• Mostly women…•
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Group modelling in Bristol
The Framework tested – Causal Loop Diagram
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Some preliminary results - Iceland
• Sustainability education for all• Systems thinking at national level• Link fish farming/geothermal heat/vegetable growing• Make a disaster plan for Iceland• Foster collabaration between
private/academia/government/academia• Establish a seed bank• R&D for more food diversity• Prepare for oil free society• Produce organic fertiliser (use fish bones)• Stop government corruption
Bristol preliminary results
• Raise awareness to affect behaviour• Buy British and local• Use leisure time to cook• Reduce oil dependency – bike delivery – use
biofuels• Reduce food waste• Stop supermarket tax avoidance• Stop corruption
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What has worked and what has not?
• What has worked• Include people from all
aspects of food industry• Mapping of the food
system
• Networking
• What has not worked• The issue of planetary
boundaries and social equity not at the core of participants thinking
Thank you!
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