The World Conservation Union

IUCN Future of Sustainability Initiative

An emerging new paradigm

Dr. Sally JeanrenaudCoordinator / Future of Sustainability Initiative

May 2008

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MANDATE & OBJECTIVES: Decision from 63rd IUCN Council 2005

• Develop a statement which would capture the conceptualization of conservation and sustainable development as it stands today.

• The statement should attempt to bridge the human and environmental agendas, set the direction for the evolution of the field and serve as a clarion call for the Union, the environmental movement and society at large.

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Sustainable DevelopmentBruntland 1987

« Development that meets the needs of the present without comprimising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. »

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Changing World……

…..Changing Conservation

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First Global Forum 2006Initial Partners

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IUCN E-Discussion Forum

(1) Global Challenges to Sustainability in the Twenty-First Century – role of Science

(2) Human Wellbeing and Sustainability

(3) The New Economy and Biodiversity

(4) Shaping the Future – role of Communications, Governance

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Main Issues

Jeanrenaud, S. 2007

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Sustainability Sciences

« cooperation among different sciences can lead to a sort of intellectual hybrid vigour that could contribute substantially to sustainability » (USA)

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De-linking Growth and Development

« Capitalism may collapse because it does not allow the economy to tell the ecologic truth ». Lester Brown

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Cultural and Spiritual Values

“I think sustainability is more to do with social and spiritual awareness.” (India).

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Collaborative Governance

“Mindsets and governance frameworks are not keeping pace with twenty-first century challenges” (Germany)

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New Communications

“We have been preaching to the converted for too long. We have to reach out in new directions” (Pakistan)

Get Your Own Social Network!

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Rethinking Production

“After 3.8 billion years of evolution (or of research and development) nature has learned what works, what is

appropriate and what lasts.” (Janine Benyus)

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«Environmentalists are seen as priests warning people of hell » Mohammad Yunus

Inspiration and Sustainable Solutions

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Next Generation

“There are millions our there, especially among the youth, who want to do something tangible”. (Kenya)

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The Concept ...........Keep it - but fix it! 

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Next-Step Change for Conservation?

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3rd Generation Conservation?•1st Generation: species; protected areas; habitats. STILL CRITICAL TO IUCN

•2nd Generation: sustainable use; conservation and development. STILL CRITICAL TO IUCN.

•3rd Generation: taking environment / biodiversity to where decisions are being made, in a language people can understand; rising to the challenge of sustainable lifestyles.

Same agenda but different approach.

Is this a way forward for the environmental movement; IUCN?

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IUCN Initiative in 2008

• 2nd Global Sustainability Forum (Jan 08)

• Co-hosted Regional Sustainability Forums 2008 (Peru April 08; Egypt June 08)

• World Conservation Forum October 2008

• connect2earth.org . Joint on-line platform with with WWF, supported by Nokia, from March 2008.

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2nd Global Sustainability Forum Jan 08Agenda• Shifting to a Low Carbon Economy

– Climate change & energy security top issues.– Does envirionment sector have right strategies, systems, tools?

• Prospering with Justice and Equity– 21C challenges link economy, enviroment and social justice in profound

ways.– How do we prevent increasing gaps between rich and poor in transition

to low carbon economy? – What needs to be put in place to respond to unavoidable devolution of

society casued by rapid change?

• Policy and Governance – Collaborating for Change– Mindsets and governance frameworks not keeping pace with 21C

challenges– How can we achieve major alliances for sustainability? – What should global environmental governance look like in 21C?

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Thank you!