Useful Links
BioRegional Development Group
Information
- Date submitted: 1 Nov 2011
- Stakeholder type: Major Group
- Name: BioRegional Development Group
- Submission Document: Download
Full Submission
One Planet Living ‐ a Proposal for Rio+20 UNCSD 2012
submitted by BioRegional and Partners
This submission is structured in three parts:
1. Introduction and background
2. Executive Summary of the Proposal
3. Detail of the Proposal and Signatories
Comments and questions should be addressed to freya.seath@bioregional.com +44 (020)8404 4884
1. Introduction and background
This practical proposal is submitted by BioRegional Development Group and thirteen other civil society
partners who have been working to implement sustainable communities and businesses around the
world using the one planet living framework. There is increasing support for this proposal with a further
eleven organisations expressing their support as part of this submission.
One planet living ? a proven framework
One planet living is a simple way to communicate and implement sustainability. It is based on ten
guiding principles and can be used cross-sectorally and at different scales. It has been proven to get
results and is being used by the partners in this proposal in 11 countries: Australia, Canada, China,
France, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, UK, United Arab Emirates and USA . These
organisations employ more than 80,000 people and have annual revenues of $25 billion. Sustainable
communities to a value of £30 billion are in development using the approach. In addition, a free toolkit
has been used in 51 countries.
Many people find that one planet living is an easy way to understand and implement sustainability
because it encompasses messages and concepts to which they can relate:
a) Equity and the scale of the problem; we are currently producing pollution and consuming
resources at a rate forty per cent higher than the planet can absorb or replenish annually and
exceeding planetary boundaries. In addition, resources are not being consumed equitably. If
everyone lived the global middle class lifestyle we would need three planets to support us, but
millions live on less than a tenth of this and don?t have enough.
b) A positive vision One planet living is a positive, appealing and easy to understand vision of
what a green economy should aim to deliver; a world in which we live happy, healthy lives
within the natural limits of the planet, wherever we live in the world, and leave sufficient space
for wildlife and wilderness.
c) Sustainable Development Goals, with targets and indicators, which guide action; based on
contraction and convergence of ecological and carbon footprint, clean production and zero
carbon (in building energy use), zero waste, transport, materials, food, water, land use &
wildlife, culture & community, equity, fair trade & the local economy, health & happiness.
d) A process which engages people and implements sustainability and a green economy. The
science based and participatory process highlights major impacts and what should be prioritised.
Outputs include Action Plans to implement sustainability with time‐bound trajectories and
creative solutions e.g. resource Efficiency, new products, technologies and business models.
e) A common language for sustainability which is cross-sectoral and scaleable. Originally
designed for planning sustainable communities in 1998, it has been found to be scaleable and
adaptable to different sectors and audiences e.g. London 2012 Olympics, home retail store
customers, food, products, an individual, a local authority, a city, a country.
f) Real‐life examples of a next generation, resource‐efficient lifestyle for 7‐9 billion people. The
sustainable communities and businesses of the partners submitting this proposal are starting to
show how we can achieve one planet living, technically and cost effectively.
At Rio+20 we will showcase the one planet living case studies and launch an open‐source toolkit and
training. The concept of one planet living and ten principles are freely available for anyone to use.
We propose that at Rio+20 the simple concepts and approaches of one planet living could be adopted
or adapted, in conjunction with existing proposals, as an effective way to renew political and civil society
commitment to sustainable development and implement a Green Economy in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication. The paper explains our practical proposals to this end.
2. Executive Summary - One Planet Living, a Practical Proposal for Rio+20
Submitted by BioRegional and Partners and informed by their experiences of implementing sustainable
communities and businesses around the world using the well‐proven one planet living framework.
A. Objective of the Conference
In order to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, implement remaining
gaps and address new challenges, at Rio+20 the UN and civil society will:
‐ Make a statement recognising environmental limits and planetary boundaries in a world with a
large, growing human population;
‐ Present a simple ambitious vision of a green economy in the context of sustainable development
and poverty eradication that citizens can get behind and feel motivated to achieve. ?One planet
living? is suggested as that vision. That is, a world in which people can live happy, healthy lives
within the natural limits of the planet, wherever we live in the world, and leave sufficient space for
wildlife and wilderness? together with a set of Sustainable Development Goals.
‐ Commit to take action to enable the world to deliver one planet living and a fair and green economy
within the timeframe that science and morality tell us is necessary.
B. Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication
1. Roadmaps with Action Plans at a global, national and civil society level. We support existing
proposals for flexible and simple Roadmaps, Action Plans and Sustainable Development Goals as a main
operational outcome of Rio+20. It is proposed that Action Plans or Roadmaps include:
a) A Vision - in line with the Objective of the Conference - to enable citizens to achieve one planet
living and a green economy and live happy, healthy lives within the natural limits of the planet,
wherever we live in the world, and leave sufficient space for wildlife and wilderness.
b) Principles drawn from existing international agreements, see Principles for a Green Economy.
c) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Indicators. Based on Sustainable Consumption and
Production, what citizens need and contraction and convergence of resource use to one planet
living. SDGs could include: sustainable energy; sustainable transport; zero waste to landfill
through circular economies; sustainable materials; food security ? sustainable and humane
agriculture and fisheries; sustainable water; biodiversity and land use; culture & community;
Green Economy ? equity, fair trade and the local economy; and health & happiness.
d) Process to develop them in partnership with civil society.
e) Education and training based on Vision & SDGs. One Planet training will be launched at Rio+20.
f) Support of ?Intergovernmental Panel(s) on Resources? to provide scientific evidence of
resource availability, resource consumption and safe planetary boundaries and a ?Solutions
Bank? of peer reviewed solutions for sustainability.
2. Prototyping of Roadmaps by pioneer nations and civil society in 2012 for adoption in 2015.
3. Sectoral proposals necessary if we are to achieve the SDGs:
a) Renewable energy ? proposals to encourage uptake include grid connection, diverse ownership,
actuarial based carbon price, removal of subsidies for fossil fuels and Feed in Tariffs;
b) Human settlement and urbanisation Planning policies to promote walk-able & cycle‐able cities;
c) Circular economies ? incentives towards circular resource efficient and zero waste economies;
d) Biodiversity and natural capital ? agreements and financial and regulatory mechanisms to
enable net zero deforestation and protection of peat bogs;
e) Economic and Monetary Policies including an expert UN Economic and Monetary Panel;
supranational reporting and enforcement mechanisms under the IMF; treaties to avoid liquidity
and capital flow crises and local currencies.
C. Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
We support proposals to strengthen this in particular; a Council on Sustainable Development; the
elevation of UNEP as a specialised agency; Framework Conventions on Corporate Social Responsibility
and on Access to Information, Participation and Decision‐Making Process; and for the Ombudsperson for
Future Generations.
3. One Planet Living ? Detail of Practical Proposal for Rio+20
A. Objective of the Conference
In order to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, implement remaining
gaps and address new challenges, we propose that at Rio+20 the UN and civil society:
‐ Make a statement recognising environmental limits and planetary boundaries in a world with a
large, growing human population.
‐ Present a clear, bold, simple, ambitious vision of a green economy in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication which it is easy to see if it is on track or has succeeded, that
politicians and citizens can get behind, feel pride in and feel motivated to achieve. We suggest ?one
planet living? a world in which people can live happy, healthy lives within the natural limits of the
planet, wherever we live in the world, and leave sufficient space for wildlife and wilderness? and a
set of simple Sustainable Development Goals.
‐ Commit to take action to enable the world to deliver one planet living and a fair and green economy
within the timeframe that science and morality tell us is necessary.
B. Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication
We support existing proposals for Roadmaps, Action Plans and Sustainable Development Goals as a main
operational outcome of Rio+20, including those of the European Unioniii Switzerlandiv Columbia and
Guatemala, and Kazakstanv and the WBCSD?s Vision 2050vi proposal. We agree that the framework be
flexible and simple to enable nations to adapt to their own circumstances and develop their own
approaches in line with the proposals of The People?s Republic of China.
1. We support Roadmaps with Action Plans and propose that they are taken up at a global, national and
civil society level and include the following elements based on our practical experience in the one
planet living initiativeviii:
a) Vision as per the Objective of the Conference; to enable all citizens to achieve one planet living
and a green economy where they live happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the world?s
resources, wherever they live in the world and leave sufficient space for wildlife and wilderness.
b) Guiding Shared Values and Principles drawn from existing international agreements, we
suggest the fifteen Principles for a Green Economy published in March 2011ix.
c) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Indicators. We propose that the SDGs and
indicators be based on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), on Clean Productionx,
on what citizens need for a good quality of life and contraction and convergence of resource
consumption based on ecological and carbon footprint and scientific advice of
Intergovernmental Panels (point e). One planet living is the same goal for all, for some it means
becoming more resource efficient, for others it means growing in a sustainable way. This also
supports the Millennium Consumption Goals proposal. SDGs could include:
1. sustainable energy ?including zero carbon emissions from building energy use
2. sustainable transport and reducing the need for transport
3. zero waste to landfill through circular economies
4. sustainable materials
5. food security ? sustainable and humane agriculture and fisheries
6. sustainable water
7. biodiversity and land use
8. culture and community
9. Green Economy ? equity, fair trade and the local economy
10. health and happiness
d) Process to develop plans in partnership with civil society. National good living, consumption‐
based roadmaps will provide visibility to individuals and business that Governments are
committed to creating a better life for their citizens in a resource‐efficient green economy. With
national commitments in place, business will respond by working with its suppliers to improve
resource Efficiency and help consumers to lead one planet lifestyles.
e) Education and training based around the implementation of the Vision and SDGs for decision‐
makers in the UN, nations and civil society. This could be linked to the adoption of the Ten Year
Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP on SCP), which
we would like the UN to ratify at Rio+20. One Planet Partners will launch training at Rio+20.
f) Be supported by resources which could include:
i. ?Intergovernmental Panel(s) on Resources? to provide advice to decision‐makers based
on scientific evidence of resource availability, resource consumption and safe planetary
boundaries. The IPCCxii and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services IPBES xiii could be expanded to include all Resources such as
minerals.
ii. A ?Solutions Bank? of peer reviewed solutions for sustainability, measured against the
SDGs, with clear explanations of the solution, how to implement it, progress, measured
results and impacts. This could begin with case studies showcased at Rio+20.
2. We propose that Roadmaps be prototyped in 2012 for adoption in 2015. Pioneer nations from the
developed, emerging and least developed countries can prototype Action Plans or Roadmaps in the
coming months and showcase the idea at Rio+20. They could develop the detail during 2012‐2015 for
other nations to adopt.
3. Sectoral Proposals relevant to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
There are some sectoral issues at a multilateral level which partners in the one planet living initiative
find stops us from implementing the SDGs and one planet living and need to be addressed at a national
or multilateral level. This could be informed by science‐based Intergovernmental Panels on Resources.
a) Renewable energy ? fossil fuels used for energy account for half of our ecological footprint. Our
experience is that national regulations make introducing renewable energy difficult in many
countries. Suggested measures, based on our experience are:
1. enable new renewable energy to connect to the national electricity grid
2. enable more diverse and local ownership of energy companies
3. introduce an actuarial based carbon price
4. remove subsidies for fossil fuels, if necessary adjust fiscal policies to avoid fuel poverty
5. Feed in Tariffs to incentivise uptake of renewable energy.
b) Human settlement and urbanisation ? we propose all nations introduce planning guidance to
promote walk‐able and cycle‐able cities with good public transport and which discourages cars,
car‐parking and construction of roads for cars.
c) Create circular economies towards resource efficient and zero waste economies: Materials
must be dealt with more efficiently by designing products to ensure waste becomes raw
material for new products ? completing the cycle. We ask governments to embrace the closed
loop model and take action by providing the right incentives.
d) Biodiversity and natural capital
1. Net zero deforestation - deforestation rates are not slowing down, with 12-15 million
hectares of forest lost each year. Forest loss is not just an environmental issue, as
pressure on the availability of timber over the next 5-10 years is one of businesses
biggest supply chain challenges. Deforestation and illegal logging distort global markets
and timber prices. Despite many excellent initiatives there is little or no firm
international agreement. We propose an agreement at Rio+20 to net zero
deforestation.
2. Protect peat bogs through financial or regulatory mechanisms to make the sustainable
choice the affordable choice. The experience of business is that trying to move away
from using peat as a base for compost towards a lower impact alternative is hampered
by the economics of an established mining industry against those incurred by a new
entrant.
e) Economic and monetary policies - sustainable development and the eradication of poverty is
threatened by the failure of markets and restricted flows of capital as in recent and continuing
global economic crises. The just management of the finite natural capital of the planet also
requires the just regulation of the economic capital of the international financial markets. There
is a need for regulatory frameworks and reporting mechanisms to ensure monetary
transparency and avoid over‐exploitation of both natural and economic capital. We agree with
the underlying analysis of the globalised financial systems and the need for their reform
outlined in the ?Note on financial reform? from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
issued 24th October 2011. This identifies that:
In its annual Report of in 2007, the International Monetary Fund recognized the close
connection between an inadequately managed process of globalization on the one
hand, and the world?s great inequalities on the other.
Already implicit in the Statutes of the International Monetary Fund is a commitment to
create some form of global monetary management.
To this end, we therefore propose:
1. A reinforced commitment to global monetary management and the establishment of its
mechanisms.
2. A new expert ?UN Economic and Monetary Panel?, to monitor and inform international
financial and regulatory frameworks, by which transparency can be assured within the
mechanisms of international monetary and liquidity transactions.
3. Establish Supranational reporting and enforcement mechanisms under the IMF for
regulatory and systemic breaches on monetary management, capital and liquidity ratios
and the illegal use of international tax havens and associated special purpose vehicles.
4. UN and IMF encouragement of legally binding international treaties to avoid liquidity
and capital flow crises and ensure both developing and developed nations can access
opportunities to grow economically within planetary boundaries.
5. Allow regional and local authorities to issue their own local currencies to promote local,
sustainable trade and enable greater liquidity in a time of capital constraints.
C. Institutional Framework
With our strong belief in good governance, where accountability, participation, transparency and access
are central and important elements, BioRegional do support a number of efforts to strengthen the
institutional architecture at the intergovernmental and governmental level. BioRegional would like to
lend its support to the many proposals that call for strengthened and reformed structures around
environmental, social and economic issues and in that the UN Conference on Sustainable Development
in Rio decides to:
1. Establish a Council on Sustainable Development as a subsidiary organ of the UN General
Assembly, on par with the newly established Council on Human Rights.
2. Elevate the United Nations Environmental Programme to a specialised agency and give
the new specialised agency a strong mandate.
3. Agree on developing a Framework Convention on Corporate Social Responsibility.
4. Agree on developing Principle 10 of the Rio Principles into a Framework Convention on
Access to Information, Participation and Decision-Making Process.
5. Agree to develop the intergenerational principle on environmental issues and establish
an Ombudsperson for Future Generations.
Contact Details: BioRegional Development Group, BedZED Centre, 24, Helios Road, Wallington, Surrey,
SM6 7BZ ,UK www.bioregional.com +44(0)20 8404 4880
Freya Seath freya.seath@bioregional.com or Sue Riddlestone sr@bioregional.com
References
i
Global Footprint Network, Ecological Footprint of Nations 2010 http://tinyurl.com/6dyw8y and Stockholm
Resilience Centre, Nine Planetary Boundaries 2009 http://tinyurl.com/yeezya6
ii
Principles for a Green Economy, Stakeholder Forum, BioRegional & Earth Charter http://tinyurl.com/69esr56
iii
Council of the European Union Rio+20 10 October 2011 http://tinyurl.com/6e4utk8
iv
Switzerland?s statement at the 2nd Preparatory meeting of the UN CSD http://tinyurl.com/6fhscop
v
Kazakstan?s green economy proposals for Rio+20 http://tinyurl.com/6ckbv3s
vi
World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Vision 2050 http://tinyurl.com/lmn6fq
vii
Chair?s summary, High Level symposium on the UN CSD, 8‐9 Sept 2011, Beijing, China. http://tinyurl.com/66u6rlv
viii
BioRegional Development Group, One Planet Living http://tinyurl.com/66k9x6n
ix
Principles for a Green Economy, Stakeholder Forum, BioRegional & Earth Charter http://tinyurl.com/69esr56
x
Clean Production http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=o4460
xi
Millennium Consumption Goals http://www.mohanmunasinghe.com/pdf/Island‐MCG‐1Feb20112.pdf
xii
Remit of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) http://tinyurl.com/6kawahd
xiii
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services (IPBES) http://ipbes.net/about-ipbes.html
Signatories
BioRegional Development Group submit this Proposal on behalf of the following organisations
who are all implementing one planet living through their businesses or in sustainable
communities:
1. Asani LLC ? real estate and green construction http://www.asanillc.com/ (USA)
2. B&Q plc ‐ home improvement and garden retailer http://www.diy.com/ (UK)
3. BioRegional Development Group (UK) & BioRegional organisations and offices in Australia,
Kenya, Mexico, North America and South Africa ‐ social enterprise
http://www.bioregional.com/
4. BioRegional Quintain Ltd - property developer http://www.bioregional-quintain.com/ (UK)
5. China Merchants Property Developers Ltd ‐ property developer http://www.cmpd.cn/ (China)
6. Codding Enterprises real estate, construction and energy http://www.codding.com/ (USA)
7. Cundall Engineering Services http://www.cundall.com/ (International)
8. Imbera Ltd - refrigeration supplier http://www.alpunto.mx/en/imbera/about-us (Mexico)
9. Kingfisher plc - home Improvement retailer http://www.kingfisher.com/ (International)
10. London Borough of Sutton - local authority http://www.sutton.gov.uk/(UK)
11. Pelicano - property developer http://www.pelicano.pt/ (Portugal)
12. A.G. Spanos - real estate http://agspanos.com/ (USA)
13. Stedone Homes - real estate and construction http://www.stedonehomes.co.za/ (South Africa)
14. Windmill Development Group - real estate & green construction http://www.build-green.com/
(Canada)
This Proposal is also supported by:
15. BNIM Design http://www.bnim.com/ (USA)
16. Centre for Environment & Development http://centreforenvironmentdevelopment.blogspot.com/ (Sri
Lanka)
17. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios - architects http://www.fcbstudios.com/ (UK)
18. Foster & Partners - architects http://www.fosterandpartners.com/ (UK & International)
19. Global Footprint Network http://www.footprintnetwork.org/ (International)
20. Kema ‐ engineering services http://www.kemabrasil.com/ (Brasil)
21. One Earth http://oneearthweb.org/ (Canada)
22. Professor Mohan Munasinghe, MIND http://www.mohanmunasinghe.com/ (Sri Lanka)
23. Population and Sustainability Network http://www.populationandsustainability.org/(International)
24. Stakeholder Forum http://www.stakeholderforum.org/sf/ (International)
25. World Society for the Protection of Animals http://www.wspa.org.uk/(International Federation)