Extension Education for Sustainable Communities

1
Extension Education for Sustainable Communities

• North Central CRD
• Program Leaders Meeting
• September 8-9, 2008

2

• JERRY HEMBD
• State Specialist
• Community and Economic Development
• University of Wisconsin-Extension
• Associate Professor of Economics
• Department of Business and Economics
• University of Wisconsin-Superior

3
Overview

• Context
• Community Economic Development
• Systems View
• UWEX Sustainability Team
• Evolution
• Current Priorities
• Challenges . . . Looking Ahead

4
Personal Context

• State specialist (Wisconsin, starting year
  twelve)
• Program leader (Iowa, three years)
• UWEX Sustainability Team co-leader (third year)
• Foundations of Practice (Community
  Sustainability)
• NNSLE (ANREP)
• Sustainable Management Degree (On-line, adult
  students)
• Local/applied commitments
• Coalition for Eco-Industrial Development
  (industrial ecology)
• Sustainable Twin Ports/Early Adopter Project (The
  Natural Step)
• Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board
  (green jobs)
• Wisconsin Arts Board (creative economy)
• Past editor, Journal of the Community Development
  Society

5
Four Challenges Posed by the Transition to
Sustainability

• We need more accurate models, metaphors, and
  measures to describe the human enterprise
  relative to the biosphere.
• It will require a marked improvement and
  creativity in the arts of citizenship and
  governance.
• The publics discretion will need to be informed
  through greatly improved education.
• It will require learning how to recognize and
  solve divergent problems, which is to say a
  higher level of spiritual awareness.

Source David Orr. The Last Refuge Patriotism,
Politics, and the Environment in an Age of
Terror. Washington, DC Island Press, 2004.
6
The Three Waves of Community Economic Development

• Plus One

Three Waves Portion Derived from Blakely,
Edward J., and Bradshaw, Ted K. Planning Local
Economic Development Theory and Practice. 3d ed.
Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications,
2002. Drabenstott, Mark. Rethinking Federal
Policy for Regional Economic Development.
Economic Review, Vol. 91, No. 1 (First Quarter
2006). Eberts, Randall W. Overview of State and
Local Economic Development Policies and Practice
in the United States. In Local Governance for
Promoting EmploymentComparing the Performance of
Japan and Seven Countries, pp. 87-102. Edited by
Sylvain Giguere, Yoshio Higuchi, and the Japan
Institute for Labour Policy and Training. Tokyo,
Japan The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and
Training, 2005. Shaffer, Ron Deller, Steve and
Marcouiller, Dave. Rethinking Community Economic
Development. Economic Development Quarterly,
February 2006.
7
First WaveIndustrial Recruiting1950s to early
1980s

• Driver
• Export base
• Goal
• Attract outside firms
• Strategies
• Financial incentives
• Industrial parks

• Keys to success
• Government funds for subsidies and tax breaks
• Industrial infrastructure

8
Second WaveCost CompetitionEarly 1980s to
early 1990s

• Driver
• Efficiency and scale economies
• Goal
• Retention and expansion of existing firms
• Strategies
• Reduce taxes
• Deregulation
• Industry consolidation and cost cutting

• Keys to success
• Health of existing firms
• Training programs
• Social and physical resources

9
Third WaveRegional CompetitivenessEarly 1990s
to present

• Driver
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Goal
• Enhance regional resources to promote industrial
  clusters
• Strategies
• Entrepreneurship
• Clusters
• Building regional collaboration

• Keys to success
• Distinct regional assets such as
• Human capital
• Higher education
• Amenities
• Creative economy
• Leadership and development of quality environment
• Bridging economic and community development

10
The Fork in the Path

• Current trajectory
• Technical tinkering
• Incremental adjustment

• Paradigm change
• Sustainability revolution
• Radical overhaul

11
Fourth or New WaveSustainability Revolution
and Paradigm ChangeEarly 1980s and still evolving

• Drivers
• Sustainable development and systems thinking
• Goal
• Sustainability
• Emerging Strategies
• Eco-municipality movement (The Natural Step)
• Localization

• Valuing ecosystem services
• Precautionary principle
• Local food systems
• Sustainable (eco) tourism
• Triple bottom line business
• Industrial ecology
• Alternative and renewable energy sources

12
The Five Characteristics of the Sustainability
Revolution

1. Remarkable similarities among sustainability
   groups in overall intentions and objectives
2. A large and diverse number of such groups
3. A wide range of issues addressed by such groups
4. Leadership by a group of decentralized
   visionaries rather than a single charismatic
   figurehead
5. Varying modes of action oppositional and
   alternative

Source Edwards, Andres. The Sustainability
Revolution. New Society Publishers, 2005.
13
Defining Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is development that
meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
Intergenerational equity
Source World Commission on Environment and
Development. Our Common Future. The Brundtland
Report. Oxford University Press, 1987, p. 43.
14
Defining Sustainable Development
It contains two key concepts the concept of
needs, in particular the essential needs of
the worlds poor, to which overriding priority
should be given and the idea of limitations
imposed by the state of technology and social
organization on the environments ability to
meet present and future needs.
Intragenerational equity
Limits
Source World Commission on Environment and
Development. Our Common Future. The Brundtland
Report. Oxford University Press, 1987, p. 43.
15
Evolving Views of the Community
Unconnected or silos view
Interconnected or linkages view
Interdependent, nested, or systems view
16
Community Capitals Framework
Financial Capital
Built Capital
NaturalCapital
PoliticalCapital
Healthy EcosystemVital EconomySocial Well-Being
CulturalCapital
Social Capital
HumanCapital
Source Cornelia Butler Flora, North Central
Regional Development Center, 2004
17
The Five Capitals Framework
Natural Capital
Human Capital
Manufactured Capital
Economy
Society
Financial Capital
Social Capital
Natural Capital
Source Forum for the Future
18
Empty World
Full World
Finite Global Ecosystem
Natural Capital (Ecosystem)
Source Daly, Herman. Ecological Economics.
Island Press, 2004
Manmade Capital (Economy)
19
Eight Global-Scale Challenges Where Progress Has
Been Lacking

• Climate disruption
• Losing the forests
• Losing the land
• Losing freshwater
• Losing marine fisheries
• Toxic pollutants
• Losing biodiversity
• Over-fertilizing with nitrogen

Source Speth, James Gustave. The Bridge at the
Edge of the World. New Haven and London Yale
University Press, 2008.
20
Conceptual Reform in EconomicsSeven Big Ideas

• Adjust economic scale
• Shift from growth to development
• Make prices tell the ecological truth
• Account for natures contributions
• Apply the precautionary principle
• Revitalize commons management
• Value women

Source Gardner, Gary, and Prugh, Thomas, Project
Directors. State of the World 2008 Innovations
for a Sustainable Economy. New York W.W. Norton
Company, 2008.
21
Authors Sherrie Gruder, UW-Extension, Madison,
Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center Anna
Haines, UW-Stevens Point, Center for Land Use
Education Jerry Hembd, UW-Superior, Northern
Center for Community and Economic
Development Lisa MacKinnon, 1000 Friends of
Wisconsin Jane Silberstein, UW-Extension, Ashland
County
22
Impetus for Development of Toolkit

• Finding Extensions educational role
• Maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing
  environment
• Responding to questions from clientele and
  clientele groups that cut across program areas
• Emerging team interest and community-level
  requests
• Deciding to do somethingtake a first
  steprather than do it all at once

23
Intent and Content of Toolkit

• Premise ? Local government can lead by example
• Focus on the internal workings of local
  government
• Energy
• Buildings
• Procurement
• Transportation
• Human resources
• Investment
• Provide ideas and specific actions
• Local government transformation
• Models of sustainable practices

24
Structure of Toolkit Chapters

• Purpose
• Strategy
• Actions
• Case Studies
• Resources

25
Wisconsin Eco-municipalities

• City of Washburn
• City of Ashland
• City of Madison
• City of Bayfield
• Town of Bayfield
• Douglas County
• Johnson Creek
• City of Marshfield
• City of Manitowoc
• City of Neenah
• City of Menasha
• Town of Cottage Grove
• La Crosse
• La Crosse County
• City Beloit
• City of Baraboo
• City of Sheboygan

26
The Natural Step Framework

• A science- and systems-based definition for
  sustainability
• A decision-making framework and process to help
  organizations and communities plan for
  sustainability
• A shared language provides a compass to help us
  know if were moving in the right direction

Source material from TNS Canada
27
UWEX Sustainability Team

• Earlier effort in late 1980s
• New effort initiated in late 2006
• State specialist and county faculty co-chairs
• Twenty-nine members on roster
• Thirteen county-based faculty
• Ten state specialists
• Six non-CNRED Extension
• Five external members
• Two-thirds active members
• Handful of lurkers

28
Evolution of Sustainability Team

• Sustainability Toolkit
• Rendezvous I August 2006 Organize
• What is being done already, as far as we know, to
  advance the principles and concepts of
  sustainable community development?
• What needs to be undertaken that is not already
  occurring?
• What are the barriers and opportunities related
  to the identified needs?
• Wrap-up and commitment to remain involved

29
Evolution of Sustainability Team

• Rendezvous Redux November 2006 Action
  Planning
• Communication
• Tools
• Products
• Team wellness
• Team Protocols, Scoping Form, Plan
• Engineering Sustainability in the Global
  Enterprise Forum Nov/Dec 2006
• Peak oil, climate change, carbon constraints,
  liquid assets, ecodesign, life cycle analysis,
  Wall Street view of sustainability

30
Evolution of Sustainability Team

• Institutional Response 2007 to 2008
• Team Retreat June 2007 Regrouping
• Zoomerang survey results
• Resources? (fact sheets, web, PowerPoints)
• Growing eco-municipality movement and interest in
  The Natural Step
• Eco-municipality Gathering and Sustainable
  Business Conference April 2008 ? Extension
  identified as best partner for eco-municipality
  clearinghouse
• Vision for Relevance White Paper April 2008

31
Evolution of Sustainability Team

• Team Funding for Sustainability In-service May
  2008 (additional funding from Dean)
• Face-to-face with Momentum June 2008 Focus on
  Commitment
• In-service development
• Capacity center/clearinghouse
• Start with eco-municipality resources
• Expand to support in-service and add other
  resources
• Fact sheets/products/curriculum development
• Building Community Series request Focus on
  Sustainability
• Evolving Partnership with Energy Independent
  Communities program

32
Building Community Series 2008-2009
Sustainability

• Community SustainabilitySetting the Stage
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Comprehensive Community Planning and
  Sustainability
• Sustainable Business Practices
• Green Collar Jobs
• Local Food Networks
• Sustainability Indicators and Measures
• Community Organizing for Sustainability

33
Building Community Series on Sustainability Topic
Preference Survey

• Energy efficiency renewable energy 69
• Sustainable business practices/strategies 59
• Community organizing for sustainability 59
• Local food networks 53
• Green collar jobs 53
• Ecological economics 53
• Sustainability indicators 47
• Full cost accounting life cycle analysis
  44
• Comprehensive planning and sustainability 41
• Ecological and carbon footprints 34
• Systems thinking 34
• Green building 31
• Science of rapid climate change 25
• Sustainable agriculture 22
• Sustainable forestry 19
• Industrial ecology 16
• Peak oil 12

34

• How would you rate your knowledge of
  sustainability?

35

• Interest in Sustainability in Your County

36
A Vision for Relevance

• Question Should Cooperative Extension galvanize
  and lead a public shift to sustainability in
  response to climate change?
• Answer The time is NOW for Extension to engage
  individuals and communities for environmental
  stewardship, through Sustainable Living Education.

Source A Vision for Relevance by Members of the
National Network for Sustainable Living Education
(an initiative of the Association of Natural
Resource Extension Professionals) February 14,
2008.
37
Essential Steps to Engage with Sustainable Living
Education

1. Educational programs must be multidisciplinary.
2. Educational programs must holistically address
   the total energy, water and carbon footprint of
   the lifestyle choices of our stakeholders.
3. Educational programs must take place now with
   in-service and other professional trainings for
   our existing workforce.

Source A Vision for Relevance by Members of the
National Network for Sustainable Living Education
(an initiative of the Association of Natural
Resource Extension Professionals) February 14,
2008.
38
Essential Steps to Engage with Sustainable Living
Education

1. Educational programs must focus on how choices,
   decisions and behaviors affect natural resources,
   equity, and economic development at the local,
   regional, national and global scales.
2. Extension must be the model for others to
   emulate. We have to walk our talk.
3. With success at the personal and family level,
   and a constituency ready to effect community
   change, Extension can help communities rethink
   their municipal systems that constrain our
   options for living sustainably.

39
Challenges

• Disciplinary/programmatic silos versus
  organizational initiatives (and institutional
  inertia)
• Reductionist versus systems thinking (holistic
  science)
• Incremental versus radical changes (and
  opportunities for innovation)
• Behavior change versus engaging at the level of
  values
• Technological optimism versus precautionary
  principle
• Community responses versus global problems

40
Challenges

• Short- versus long-term thinking/strategies
• From carbon footprint to ecological footprint
• Following versus leading
• Predictable choices versus becoming agents of
  change
• Technical tinkering versus radical overhaul
• Dealing with effects versus underlying causes
• Working within the system versus transformative
  change of the system
• Weak versus strong sustainability

41
Challenges

• The world economy will double in size in fifteen
  years
• Growth is the enemy of environment
• The globalization of market failure
• Moving beyond the psychology of previous
  investment
• Delinking social welfare with output

42
More Than There Is Time For

• Sustainability science focuses on the dynamic
  interactions between nature and society
• Ecological economics addresses the
  interdependencies between human economies and
  natural ecosystems
• Systems thinking component parts of a system
  can best be understood in the context of
  relationships with each other and with other
  systems, rather than in isolation
• Sustainability frameworks like The Natural Step
  and Natural Capitalism

43
First they laugh at you, then they ignore you,
then they fight you, then you win.
Mahatma Gandhi
44
Comments? Questions?
45
Northern Center for Community and Economic
Development
Jerry Hembd, Director University of
Wisconsin-SuperiorBelknap Catlin, PO Box
2000Superior, Wisconsin 54880Phone
715-394-8208 Fax [phone]E-mail
jhembd_at_uwsuper.eduWebsite http//www.uwsuper.ed
u/ncced