Can we create “happiness for all” while preserving the planet? Will humanity manage to create “green economies”, and convert our current economic systems from destructive forces to sustainable and indeed restorative processes, in time? The new report Life Beyond Growth — issued on March 1, 2012, by the Tokyo-based Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy, … Continue reading NEW: Green Economy + National Happiness = ?
Life Beyond Growth—download free report
New report traces revolution in how we think about "progress" Is there Life Beyond Growth? The new report by that name declares decisively yes, citing more and more countries that are seriously questioning the "Gross Domestic Product" (GDP) and traditional economic growth as their default definition of "progress." Despite all the economic and political turmoil … Continue reading Life Beyond Growth—download free report
Why Russia Should Invest in Sustainability
Seven Reasons why Russia Should Invest in Sustainability — Three of Them Unconvincing by Alan AtKisson CEO, AtKisson Inc. & Author, The Sustainability Transformation On Wednesday, 10 February, I made the second keynote presentation (after Ashok Khosla's opening) to a conference in Moscow called "Innovative Russia: Responding to Global Challenges." The other participants on the … Continue reading Why Russia Should Invest in Sustainability
What’s So Unexciting about Being “Sustainable”? Consider the Alternative
One of my colleagues and associates, Roberta Fernandez (ISIS Academy USA), started an excellent discussion thread on ISSP/LinkedIn about the meaning of the word sustainability. It drew a lot of comments, as people proposed alternative "brandings" for sustainability and spoke for or against their favorite alternatives, such "Balanced Living" or "BaLi" for short (!). At … Continue reading What’s So Unexciting about Being “Sustainable”? Consider the Alternative
How I Created (Not) a UN Campaign
This article is about how I became obsessed with trying to create, or catalyze into being, an international campaign to dramatically increase renewable energy investment in the developing world — and why I now feel ready to let go of that obsession. The short version is this: The campaign is happening, and the UN is … Continue reading How I Created (Not) a UN Campaign
Reflecting on Life, Sustainability, and Star Trek
How different would my life be if I had never seen Star Trek? The question occurred to me because recently — in a fit of nostalgia, or out of a simple desire to have something to watch on the TV at 11 pm, when I’m too tired to read, and not quite sleepy enough to … Continue reading Reflecting on Life, Sustainability, and Star Trek
Labeling Sustainability: Is Certification Working?
The answer from this small seminar group of world experts on assessing the impact of sustainability standards -- gathered by IVL, IISD, RFF and others to review the work of a big international research program called Entwined -- is a qualified yes. The "Yes" is interesting (and thanks to Erika Svensson of IVL for inviting … Continue reading Labeling Sustainability: Is Certification Working?
Blogging from Balaton, Part 2: “Worth It”
Blogging at Balaton is always difficult. First, what is “Balaton”? I am referring to the annual meeting of the Balaton Group, a uniquely small annual gathering of sustainability researchers and networkers. We keep the meeting size to around 50, which creates intellectual critical mass and allows for fabulous diversity -- over 30 countries, just as … Continue reading Blogging from Balaton, Part 2: “Worth It”
Success, Failure, and Sustainable Development
I attending the 30th Balaton Group Meeting ... and we are off to a roaring start. Big topics, big questions. What is a successful society? What is a failed state? What does sustainability have to do with all that? I've already tweeted a range of quotes from Dennis Meadows, who was typically provocative, realistic (if … Continue reading Success, Failure, and Sustainable Development
How to Keep Doing Sustainability in an Absurd World
A professional colleague of mine recently resigned from the sustainability movement. Seriously ill from years of overwork, and despairing of the movement’s chances for success, this person had no choice but to quit. Trying to change the world’s destructive energy technologies, protect the rights of future generations to enjoy functioning ecosystems, and/or save the world … Continue reading How to Keep Doing Sustainability in an Absurd World
Alan AtKisson 