Hello,
I am a l eden this summer to study Sweden's environmental policies and the attitudes of Swedes towards sustainable behavior and the environment. I am trying to focus my study in a way that will be the most beneficial so that I don't duplicate work and so my time can be used well. Does anybody know if there have been any comparative studies done on Swedish sustainable behavior vs. American sustainable behavior? If no, how would you recommend that I design the study? I have spoken with Doug McKenzie-Mohr and I would like to look into how his ideas relate to the topic. Any information you have on this would be helpful because I am a beginner at this. Thank you so much for your input.
-Erik Brinkerhoff
Sustainable Behavior
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I've never been to Sweden, but I've taken a couple of Natural Step training programs and have admired what I've read about their sustainability efforts. Sweden has companies, communities, governmental bodies and individuals following Natural Step sustainability principles, the fourth of which has something to do with economic/social equality or justice. I've always felt Sweden was lucky to be a relatively small country with a homogeneous population, which contributed to it being able to get everyone on board around sustainability. I think it would be interesting to look at that aspect in the success they have had with sustainability...and then figure out how a large and diverse country like the U.S. that seems to be divided 50-50 on so many issues could accomplish the same thing. You can learn a lot in a short time about sustainability in Sweden by talking to Swedes involved with the Natural Step, which started in Sweden.
Good luck and have a wonderful summer!
Nancy Adams
...
Hi Erik,
Interesting opportunity! Sweden has instituted some remarkable energy-saving projects, and claims that it has *reduced* its GHG emissions by 4% since 1994 (whereas in Canada they have risen by 24%, and they may not be alone on that score). And this despite the fact that Sweden is a northern country; in December it gets dark at 2:30 pm. Things are designed on a local scale; the power-station pipes its waste hot water throughout the local township, while the excellent project, described in a talk called "Modern Alchemy", not only converts sewage into compost but also runs the local buses on biofuel extracted from it. However, what will be of particular interest in this context is to examine, or discover, the extent to which CBSM has played a role - if any. Because of the scale of Sweden's district-community projects, they are not voluntary but are clearly mandatory. How were they first started, and why? Was it sheer economics that drove them in the first place, or have more altruistic drivers been part of the incentive, even since quite long ago? How were the consumers consulted - if at all? Were the schemes first accepted as a sensible, forward-thinking plans by city councils, and sold to residents as the best hope of keeping down costs, or were there Town Hall meetings and debates and referenda, and - if so - what sort of arguments were put up, especially against? How do residents feel about those projects today? Are they proud to be a world leader in such things, or do they grumble that what was foisted on them never works as well as if each house had control over its own heating, etc. etc.? The distinction is important if other countries are to be encouraged to follow suit, and also because consumer attitude governs the longevity of such schemes.
Enjoy your visit!
Elizabeth Griffin
(Victoria, BC)