Books

Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability

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Karl-Henrik Robert and others

This book has been prepared primarily for the International Master's Programme entitled: "Strategic Leadership toward Sustainability" being offered by the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden. It has been prepared through the cooperative efforts of a group of authors that include: physical scientists, social scientists, educators, sustainable business consultants, engineers and researchers associated with the Blekinge Institute of Technology and/or The Natural Step, a charitable organization with a mission of education for sustainable development.

This book follows a whole-systems, structured approach to "strategic leadership towards sustainability." It is based on systems thinking, and revolves around a five level framework for planning and decision-making in complex systems - Backcasting from Principles. From a thorough understanding of the (i) system, in this case, human society within the biosphere, follows a (ii) principle understanding of success, in this case sustainability, which allows for a (iii) systematic planning methodology that informs (iv) actions as well as the (v) tools for monitoring and managing the actions.

The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices

Sarah James and Torbjörn Lahti

Sustainability may seem like one more buzzword, and cities and towns like the last places to change, but The Natural Step for Communities provides inspiring examples of communities that have made dramatic changes toward sustainability, and explains how others can emulate their success.

Chronicled in the book are towns like Övertorneå, whose government operations recently became 100 per cent fossil fuel-free, demonstrating that unsustainable municipal practices really can be overhauled. Arguing that the process of introducing change -- whether converting to renewable energy or designing compact development -- is critical to success, the authors outline why well-intentioned proposals often fail to win community approval, and why an integrated approach -- not "single-issue" initiatives -- can surmount challenges of conflicting priorities, scarce resources, and turf battles.

The book first clarifies the concept of sustainability, offering guiding principles -- The Natural Step framework -- that help identify sustainable action in any area. It then introduces the sixty-plus eco-municipalities of Sweden that have adopted changes to sustainable practices throughout municipal policies and operations. The third section explains how they did this, and outlines how other communities in North America and elsewhere can do the same. Key to success is a democratic "bottom-up" change process, and clear guiding sustainability principles such as The Natural Step framework.

The book will appeal to both general readers wishing to understand better what sustainability means and practitioners interested in introducing or expanding sustainable development in their communities.

The Natural Step Story: Seeding a Quiet Revolution 

Karl-Henrik Robèrt (Founder and Chair of The Natural Step)

It may be unlikely that a Swedish karate champion, family man, and cancer scientist could be at the center of developing a systems approach to life on Earth that could revolutionize the way humans operate in the world, but this is the story of just that: the idea, and the man behind it.

As a cancer specialist, Karl-Henrik Robèrt faced a stream of parents who would sacrifice anything to save their children. Yet that same selflessness did not seem to extend to saving the environment. For debate on how to achieve sustainability was divided, with no agreement on universal principles. But Robèrt's experience convinced him that consensus on how to meet the most basic requirements of life should be possible.

Thus began a long process of consultation among scientists and others that eventually led to the definition of four system conditions essential for the maintenance of life on Earth: conditions that have now been agreed upon world-wide and encapsulated as The Natural Step framework. Supported by the King of Sweden, Robèrt's original ideas were mailed to every household in Sweden. Exported around the world, they were elaborated, refined and eventually adopted by companies like IKEA and McDonald's, and business leaders such as Ray Anderson, CEO of US carpet company Interface, and Paul Hawken, successful entrepreneur and author who later headed the US The Natural Step organization.

Dramatic, visionary and inspiring, The Natural Step Story will appeal to all with a passion for sustainability including business leaders, academics, journalists, activists, and students.

Karl-Henrik Robèrt is a cancer scientist and Professor of Resource Theory at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. Having initiated The Natural Step movement in 1989, he was awarded the Green Cross Award for International leadership in 1999, and the Blue Planet Prize (the environment Nobel) in 2000. 

Dancing With the Tiger: Learning Sustainability Step by Natural Step

Brian Nattrass and Mary Altomare

Making social and ecological change happen is not easy. At both the planetary and organizational levels, it is a dance that is fraught with danger for both the change agents themselves and their organizations. It is like dancing with a tiger.

For corporations, communities and other organizations, the choreography of the dance towards sustainability has been systematized by The Natural Step: a framework that provides the science, analysis, methodologies and tools to use in the quest for sustainability. Dancing with the Tiger presents the stories of individuals, teams and organizations learning about change and sustainability, and then acting on that learning. Case studies include some of the most successful companies and communities in North America:

• Nike: its struggles, victories and setbacks on the road to sustainability
• Starbucks: the tension of modeling corporate responsibility with alarming growth
• CH2MHill: its gradual evolution from environmental to sustainability engineering
• Whistler: grappling with the paradox of sustainability in a high profile resort town

Following on the success of The Natural Step for Business, this book takes a deeper look at the real business impacts of sustainability. It will be of special interest to business people, government officials, and students of business, organizational development and the environment.

The Natural Step for Business: Wealth, Ecology and the Evolutionary Corporation

Brian Nattrass and Mary Altomare

The Natural Step for Business examines how four very successful "evolutionary" corporations in Sweden and the United States - including IKEA and Scandic Hotels in Sweden, and Collins Pine and Interface in the U.S. - are positioning themselves for long-term competitiveness using The Natural Step as a central part of their corporate strategy. Nattrass and Altomare puncture the myth that a company must choose between profitability and care for the natural environment, and present a timely and practical application of this exciting model for global sustainability.

Ants, Galileo, and Gandhi: Designing the Future of Business through Nature,Genius and Compassion

Edited by Sissel Waage (The Natural Step USA)

The Natural Step Toward a Sustainable Society

David Cook

In this book, David Cook tells the story of the evolution of The Natural Step organization from its start in Sweden to the present day. Whilst the fundamentals of TNS remain the same, it has responded to the ever-evolving sustainability debate.  Based upon science and systems-thinking, the basic components of the TNS framework are laid out in the text. 

Sun Living: Developing Neighbourhoods with a One Planet Footprint

Wil Mayhew and Elisa Campbell

If everyone in the word lived as most North Americans do, we would need five planets to support us. SuN LIVING demonstrates a practical approach to creating sustainable neighborhoods. This beautifully illustrated, full color guide shows how a collaborative planning and design process can produce dynamic, livable communities which support lifestyles that minimize our ecological impact.

SuN LIVING is an inclusive methodology that can be used in planning, designing, and implementing a sustainable neighborhood. It is a five-step process that links broad concepts of sustainable development and sustainable living to detailed neighborhood-scale design decisions.

About the Contributors:

Wil Mayhew developed the sustainable neighborhood (SuN) process and is the sustainability coordinator for  Natural Resources Canada's first SuN Pilot Project, the Emerald Hills Urban Village in Strathcona County, Alberta. His company, Howell-Mayhew Engineering, specializes in sustainable housing technology, renewable energy systems and a one planet living approach to neighborhood development.

Elisa Campbell is the Director of the Design Centre for Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, a group which develops and applies knowledge, tools and processes that facilitate the integration of sustainability concepts into our cities and communities. A LEED accredited professional, she works with designers, developers, and government agencies to implement green buildings and sustainable communities.

The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook: How to Transform your Company

Bob Willard

Bob Willard, a long-time supporter, partner and board member of The Natural Step, has published a new book - The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook: How to Transform your Company. The book is available now from New Society Publishers in both print and as an ebook.

Bob is an expert on leadership, culture change, and organizational development and author of two previous books - The Sustainability Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave. These first volumes made a compelling business case for embracing sustainability. His latest book details lessons learned about cultural transformation and provides guidance on how to imbed sustainability into corporate cultures.

This practical, easy-to-follow guidebook helps sustainability champions at any level in a company lead a transformation to a smarter, more successful, and more sustainable enterprise. The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook outlines the transformational steps to take, tips and techniques to use, and derailers to avoid.

More information about Bob Willard, his books, and his other resources for sustainability champions is available at www.sustainabilityadvantage.com. 

What others say:

Bob Willard has written a stunning compilation of experience-based wisdom: his and that of other leaders who have done real things to work towards organizational change and sustainability in business. The Sustainability Champion's Guidebook is spot on for all levels of an organization, from high-level vision right down to individual, personal behavior. Read this book to jump-start or speed your journey to a better future. 

― Ray Anderson, Founder and Chairman, Interface Inc., and author of Mid-Course Correction

If you don’t understand the big system on which your own organization is dependent, you are probably not a leader. To step up to leadership requires competence rather than a change of values. Most people would like more skills on managing innovation, mitigating risk, and community building to address the dominant unsustainability challenges of our time.  Bob Willard doesn’t turn to those who still haven’t got it but to those who need to know how to get on with it ― from envisioning to structuring, through elegant transition processes, all in an easy-to-get hands-on manual.  It’s the best out there.

― Karl-Henrik Robèrt, Founder of The Natural Step and author of The Natural Step Story