Merel Segers
Merel Segers is an independent professional in Sustainability Analysis & Communication. She is based in the Netherlands.
A systemic perspective
Sustainability is a state of a complex system
Complicated
Complex
Complex system
Non-linearity
A great number of interacting components
Self-organisation
Look for patterns & the big picture
Tragedy of the commons
Subtitle
Garret Hardin, 1968
How to gain insight into system dynamics?
System
indicators
Resilient
Socially just
Autonomous
Resilience is the capacity of a system to deal with change and continue to develop
Stockholm Resilience Centre
Floating pavilions, Rotterdam
Rehabilitating Mangroves in the Philippines
How to increase resilience?
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Maintain diversity & redundancy
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Manage connectivity
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Manage slow variables & feedbacks
Stockholm Resilience Centre
Often, the enemy of resilience is efficiency (!!)
How can you make 'het Vierhavensgebied' more resilient?
Social Justice is the way in which human rights are manifested in the everyday lives of people at every level of society
Just Comment – Volume 3 Number 1, 2000
Chapultepec Park, Mexico
Metrocable Caracas, Venezuela
How to increase social justice?
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Broaden participation
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Deal with power issues and potential conflicts
-
Listen, and extend your judgment
How can you make 'het Vierhavensgebied' more socially just?
Autonomy is the level of independence of the system
Gujarat, India
Grow food, not lawns movement
How to increase autonomy?
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Increase independence of:
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Food (urban agriculture)
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Energy (renewable energy)
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Water (rainwater, reuse grey water)
-
How can you make 'het Vierhavensgebied' more autonomous?
Develop a systemic vision
Inspirational
Time bound
Systemic
Performative
We want our neighborhood to be sustainable in 30 years, meaning resilient, autonomous, and equitable
All the buildings of this neighbourhood should use solar panels to provide the neighborhood with its own electricity.
In 2020 our neighbourhood is the most sustainable area in the Netherlands
To increase the sustainability of the city Rotterdam by means of our neighbourhood
Flip the goal
Assignment
- Brainstorm and write down the systemic goal for your project;
- Apply the criteria, is your goal:
- Systemic
- Time-bound
- Performative
- Inspirational
- Adapt your goal.
You have until 13:30h, then you will present your goal to the group.
Want to contact me?
info@merelsegers.nl
Systemic Thinking & Goal Setting
By Merel Segers
Systemic Thinking & Goal Setting
Lecture for Art Academy Willem de Koning
