DESIGNING

RESILIENT REGENERATIVE
SYSTEMS

FROM SUSTAINABILITY TO REGENERATION

ETH MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE (MOOC)#1 IN DRRS
FROM SUSTAINABILITY TO REGENERATION

Part 1/4
Sustainability roots

Tobias Luthe, PhD

ETH Zurich, AHO Oslo, MonViso Institute
 Sustainability
An inflationary used term. Overused, contested.

So should we get rid of it?

And overuse the next term?

Really?
Let’s take the effort and recap what the term’s and concept’s meanings may entail.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 2

 Sustainability
-
Sustainable Development
UNESCO formulated a distinction as follows:

"Sustainability is often thought of as a long-term goal

(i.e. a more sustainable world),

while sustainable development

refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve it.

https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/what-is-esd/sd

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 3

 In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as

“Meeting the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.”

Brundtland, G. (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. United Nations General Assembly document A/42/427.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 4

 Sustainability Origins?

FORESTRY?
SYLVICULTURA OECONOMICA
1713 Carl von Carlowitz

Gottschlich D, and Friedrich B. The legacy of sylvicultura oeconomica. A critical reflection on the notion of sustainability. GAIA 2014;23/1:23-29.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 5

 Digression by artifical intelligence (03/23)
What is the origin of sustainability as term and concept?

The concept of sustainability emerged in the 20th century as a response to growing concerns about the impact of human activities
on the environment and society. The term itself has its origins in the field of forestry, where it was used to describe the
management of forests in a way that ensured their continued productivity and health.

The modern concept of sustainability gained widespread attention in the 1980s, with the publication of the Brundtland
Commission's report, "Our Common Future". The report, commissioned by the United Nations, defined sustainable development
as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.»

This definition emphasizes the importance of balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations in decision-making,
and of ensuring that resources are used in a way that allows for their continued availability and use over time.

Since the publication of the Brundtland report, the concept of sustainability has gained increasing prominence in discussions of
environmental and social policy, and has become a key focus of many organizations, businesses, and governments around the
world. The concept has also evolved to encompass a broader range of issues, including issues of social justice, equity, and
human rights.

Source: https://chat.openai.com/ powered by https://openai.com/research/gpt-4 / Accessed March 2023.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 6

 Digression by artifical intelligence (05/23) - two months later
What is the origin of sustainability as term and concept?
The term "sustainability" and its conceptual roots can be traced back to various historical developments and influential thinkers. The
concept emerged as a response to concerns about environmental degradation, resource depletion, and the need for long-term societal
well-being. Here's a brief overview of the origin of sustainability:
1.Roots in Environmentalism: The environmental movement of the mid-20th century played a crucial role in shaping the concept of
sustainability. It drew attention to the negative impacts of industrialization, pollution, and the exploitation of natural resources. Key
events like the publication of Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" in 1962, which highlighted the dangers of pesticides, and the first
Earth Day in 1970 sparked widespread environmental consciousness.
2.The Brundtland Report: In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development, chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland,
released a landmark report titled "Our Common Future." The report defined sustainable development as "development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It emphasized the
interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic factors and called for a global commitment to sustainable development.
3.United Nations Conferences: The concept of sustainability gained further recognition through United Nations conferences on
environmental issues. The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, resulted in the adoption of Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of
action for sustainable development. Subsequent conferences like the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg
and the Rio+20 Summit in 2012 reinforced the importance of sustainability and encouraged global cooperation.
4.Evolution of Sustainable Practices: Over time, sustainability has expanded beyond the environmental realm to encompass social and
economic dimensions. The concept now encompasses the idea of meeting present needs while ensuring the well-being of future
generations. It promotes responsible resource management, biodiversity conservation, social equity, and economic resilience.
Today, sustainability is a widely recognized and multi-faceted concept, influencing policies, practices, and decision-making processes
in various fields, including business, government, and academia. Its origins lie in the recognition of the interconnectedness between
human well-being, the environment, and long-term societal progress.
Source: https://chat.openai.com/ Accessed May 2023.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 7

 Digression by artifical intelligence (03/23)
Where and by whom was the term of sustainability used or
mentioned first time?
The term "sustainability" was first used in the context of forestry management in the 18th and 19th centuries in Germany. The
German concept of Nachhaltigkeit, which translates to "sustainability," referred to the practice of harvesting trees in a way that
ensured their continued regeneration and productivity, rather than simply exploiting them for short-term gain.
Source: https://chat.openai.com/ powered by https://openai.com/research/gpt-4 / Accessed March 2023.

Digression by artifical intelligence (05/23) - two months later

The term "sustainability" was used and popularized for the first time in the context of environmental conservation
and development by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), also known as the
Brundtland Commission. The WCED was established in 1983 by the United Nations General Assembly and was chaired
by Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway.

Source: https://chat.openai.com/ Accessed May 2023.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 8

 Unlearning (some of) what we learnt

Unlearning is the process of abandoning or giving up knowledge,

values or behaviour either unconsciously or deliberately.
Source: litfl.com

Coombs C, Hislop D, Holland J, Bosley S, Manful E. Exploring types of individual unlearning by local health-care managers: an original empirical approach. Health Services
and Delivery Research. 1(2):1-126. 2013.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 9

 We may understand the original meaning of sustainability as a matter of
responsibility, of fairness, of preserving the fundaments of life, a world
heritage, inherently interwoven with humankind.
Ehrenfeld JR. Sustainability by Design: A Subversive Strategy for Transforming Our Consumer Culture. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2008.

Grober U. Die Entdeckung der Nachhaltigkeit. Kulturgeschichte eines Begriffs. (The Discovery of sustainability. Cultural History of a Term). Antje Kunstmann Publishing, Munich, Germany, 2013.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 10

 A verse from one of four Vedas, the primary texts of Hinduism:

“What of thee, oh earth, I dig out, let that quickly grow over, let me not hit the
vitals, nor the heart.
So can man himself be vital and of good heart and conscious of his responsibility.”
Bloomfield M. Translation of the Mantras 1-63, Sukta 1, Kanda XII, by A. Veda. In: Sacred Books of the East. Oxford University Press, 1897, p. 42. http://sacred-
2500-1200 BC texts.com/sbe/ index.htm (last accessed 04/15/2022).

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 11

 „Man must cultivate and preserve the Earth.“
The Book of Genesis 2,15
1500-1300 BC

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 12

 The Seventh Generation Principle
Indigenous People and Sustainable Development

Think 7 generations ahead

The Seventh Generation Principle is an Indigenuous concept. It means that the current generation
should live and work for the benefit as well for the seventh generation to come in the future.
It is based on an ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) philosophy that the decisions we make today
should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future.
https://theseventhgeneration.org/blog-the-seventh-generation-principle/

The first recorded concepts of the Seventh Generation Principle date back to the writing of The Great
Law of Haudenosaunee Confederacy, although the actual date is undetermined, the range of conjectures
place its writing anywhere from 1142 to 1500 AD. The Great Law of Haudenosaunee Confederacy formed
the political, ceremonial, and social fabric of the Five Nation Confederacy (later Six).
(https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/seventh-generation-principle)

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 13

 The Seventh Generation Principle
Indigenous People and Sustainable Development

Think 3 generations ahead, and 3 generations back

Another interpretation that stresses stewardship owed to generations past and future sometimes
arises in popular culture and discourse. Rather than pointing to seven generations counted from one's
own and looking toward the future, there is an awareness of a legacy to honor or a debt to bear in mind
to those three generations before one's own, as well as an awareness of one's own legacy bequeathed
to the three generations to follow one's own. By reckoning 25 years per generation, the span of lifetimes
stretches 75 years before one's birth and 75 years beyond one's death. (Wikipedia)

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 14

 Revocation of the separation between man and further
creation in the Canticle:

Sustentamento
(maintain and preserve any fundaments of life and existence)

„Thanks for the phenomena of the atmosphere.“

1279 AD. Monk St. Francis from Assisi.

Grober U. Die Entdeckung der Nachhaltigkeit. Kulturgeschichte eines Begriffs. (The Discovery of sustainability. Cultural History of a Term). Antje Kunstmann Publish- ing, Munich, Germany, 2013.

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 15

 1560 Forest- and wood regulation by the Prince Augustus of Saxony

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 16

 1682 Abraham Colv, University of Wittenberg, Theologist

Providentia (Capability to think into the future)

Conservatio und Sustenare (Preservation)

Gubernatio (Management and control of all processes)

Concursus (Interaction of various causes of action)

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 17

 „... baked bread is tasty and filling for a day;
but flour cannot be sown, and the seed crops must not be
ground.“
Goethe, J. W. (1796)

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 18

 A wake up call

1958
No birds singing - DDT/mosquitoes - leaves - earthworms - singing birds

1962
Book „Silent Spring“ by Rachel Carson

„Are natural phenomena an element of our emotional

well-being and thus our prosperity?“

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 19

 A visual of Earth and creation

1968: seeing Earth from space

Whole Earth Catalog

Button of Californian Hippies as message to NASA
„Why haven't we seen a photograph of the whole Earth yet?“

Poet Archibald MacLeish:

"To see the Earth as it truly is ... that means that we see
ourselves together as passengers of the Earth, as
brothers...“

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 20

 Major political milestones on global sustainability

1992
Sustainable Development as attainable goal for all

2012
Task to develop SDG’s

Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich 21

 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
was launched by a UN Summit in New York in 2015

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