The Art of Sustainability in the Age of Digital Disruption

 

By Ken Hickson

 

Presented at the National Sustainability in Business Conference,

Brisbane, Australia

8 March 2018

 

A global overview of how sustainability measures and management in companies and countries have evolved, often in parallel with the emergence of “age of digital disruption”. 

 

The new Industrial Revolution, largely observed as a technological or digital revolution, has been matched by the transformational megatrend of sustainability, along with what can only be called the Clean Energy Revolution and a gradual move to a Low Carbon Economy.

 

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative, set up in 2007,  is a non-profit group of eco-conscious consumers, businesses and conservation organisations dedicated to cutting the energy consumption of computers in half.

 

Case study: Intel, for example, continually strives to improve its operations and minimise its impact on the environment. It’s commitment to sustainability involves  a broad portfolio of efforts:

• to reduce emissions
• improve energy management through conservation,
• renewable energy,
• efficient building design
• environmental performance goals throughout our operations.

 

It can be argued that Sustainability in itself – along with the Circular Economy (also labelled the Blue Economy) – is in reality as “disruptive” as the digital revolution.

 

 

Gunther Pauli of the Blue Economy          Ellen MacArthur of the Circular Economy

 

Case study from the Blue Economy: A coffee company can generate income from the coffee, its core business, and now can also generate revenue from the mushrooms farmed on the coffee waste, and whatever is left over after harvesting, the protein rich fungi is excellent animal feed. One revenue model is now transformed in a three revenue model.

Why talk of the Art of Sustainability?

 

Surely it’s a Science or a Process,  putting a Theory into Practice?

 

Art and Sustainability, as defined by German Sociologist Sacha Kagan:

 

Engages us in a fundamental rethinking of our ways of knowing and seeing the world. We must learn not to be afraid of complexity, and to re-awaken a sensibility to patterns that connect. With an overview of ecological art over the past 40 years, and a discussion of art and social change, he assesses the potential role of art in a much-needed transformation process.

 

Looking at global and regional industry players, as well as in some countries, states and cities, we can see that sustainability and digital disruption are unlikely, but significantly compatible, bedfellows! 

 

• Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan:

Our vision is a new way of doing business – one that delivers growth by serving society and the planet.

 

• Costa Rica has achieved 100% reliance on renewable energy.

 

• RE100: 127  companies have made a commitment to go ’100% renewable’.

 

         

Energy is one of four key factors which make up sustainability, the others being

Environment, Economy and Ethics. (“Race for Sustainability”)

 

This is an advance on John Elkington’s Triple Bottom Line – People, Planet and Profit -  to provide a more balanced and stable position for Sustainability.

 

A four-legged table or chair is much more stable than a three-legged stool!

 

In the age of digital disruption and the new industrial revolution, the presence and practice of sustainability provides the every necessary “future-proofing” that’s needed.

 

 

 

This is consistent with the 1987 UN Brundtland Report that sustainable development involves “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

 

Her Excellency Gro Harlem Brundtland, founding chair of the world commission that launched the concept of sustainable development to the centre of the global stage.

 

Likewise, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can also be seen as “disruptive” as they distinctively counter the “business as usual” approach which countries and industries have applied for some time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every one of the 17 goals, necessitate disruption of some kind. No longer business as usual:

 

* Avoided deforestation

* Switch off Fossil Fuels

* Keep Coal in the ground

* Cut plastic pollution of oceans

* Sustainable fisheries

* Sustainable forestry

 

Climate Change necessitates a change in mind-set.

• Change our ways
• Mend our ways
• Prepare for the worst
• Become resilient

 

Sustainability provides many – if not all – the measures needed to manage the planet.

 

University of Hawaii Study (2013):   Climate Departure:

When the coldest year is warmer than the warmest year on record.

Tropical regions will be hardest hit first. The Caribbean. South East Asia.

 

Technology isn’t the complete answer, but with….

• Human intervention, and….
• Effective management of all resources: 
• Energy, Water, Food, Waste and People included,
• It’s Possible to Provide a Future for the Earth and its People.

 

 

Elon Musk – the ultimate disruptor

 

Three examples from Singapore, with a little help from the UK and Australia:

 

• Singapore Declares 2018 the Year of Climate Action – a Government initiative – and as chair of ASEAN it hopes its leadership will influence some of the other 9 countries in the region. Supported by private sector – MNCs & SMEs – NGOs, Civil Society and community organisations.

 

• Armstrong Asset Management’s Clean Energy Fund for Southeast Asia, launched in Singapore in 2012, completed its five years of investing in projects in the region, all expected to produce a return on investment of at least 20%. Founded by Andrew Affleck from the UK.

 

• International Sustainability Education Initiative in Singapore by Australian Centre for Sustainability Studies & Training (ACSST) and the London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) – in partnership with SASA – introducing the tried and tested Diploma of Sustainable Operations. Initiated by Adrian Ward, Brisbane.

 

Case study: Disruption closer to hand at the University of the Sunshine Coast

• Carbon Management Plan to become carbon neutral by 2025
• Introducing 5794 solar panels to provide thermal energy for chillers and as a source of electricity for campus.
• No capital outlay and an expected A$100 million saving over 25 years life of system.

 

Conclusion:

 

• Sustainability was described in 2010 as the next transformational megatrend, comparable to, and up there with, mass production, manufacturing quality movement, the IT revolution and globalization, by the Harvard Business Review (David Lubin and Daniel Esty).

 

• Sustainability is disruptive by necessity and to meet the challenges of climate change and to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, is the only way forward. Business as usual is not an option.

 

• In the age of digital disruption and the new industrial revolution, the presence and practice of the art of sustainability provides the every necessary “future-proofing” that the world needs. 

 

 

 

References:

 

Cannibals with Forks (1998) by John Elkington

The Weather Makers (2005) by Tim Flannery

Living in a Hothouse (2005) by Ian Lowe

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) by Al Gore

The Stern Review (2006) by Nicholas Stern

The Short History of Hot Air (2007) by Peter Doherty

The ABC of Carbon (2009) by Ken Hickson

The Blue Economy (2010)  by Gunther Pauli

Race for Sustainability (2013) by Ken Hickson

Art and Sustainability (2014) by Sacha Kagan

Vision 2100 (2015) by John O’Brien