Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) is a strategic approach to sustainable development and is a field of study that exists within the public domain. A number of authors, researchers and practitioners identify with this approach. Both the Blekinge Institute of Technology and The Natural Step, along with many leading experts in the sustainability arena, are contributors to it.

[edit] Advantages

SSD has the advantages of being:

Scientific - basic concepts from physics, natural and social systems provide a foundation;

Based on systems thinking – to support decision making in situations of high complexity recognizing the interdependence of the natural world and society;

Structured - there is a clear distinction between: (1) the principle functioning of the system, (2) a principled view of sustainability, (3) strategic decision making, (4) actions and (5) various support methods & tools (e.g. Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Management Systems);

Based on sustainability principles derived from scientific consensus;

Strategic - a clearly principled view of a future sustainable society creates a perspective on which we can base our decisions (i.e. backcasting);

Tested by application - theories and concepts are continually applied and tested in concert with business & society; and

Encouraging Creativity - a vast range of possibilities within broad but concrete constraints.

The SSD approach combines a number of concepts that are published independently (e.g. backcasting as a general approach, strategic planning, systems thinking, etc.) and it is the combination of these elements that give it strength.

[edit] References

Robèrt, Karl-Henrik. (2002). The Natural Step Story: Seeding a Quiet Revolution. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.

Robert, Karl-Henrik et al. (2002). Strategic Sustainable Development: Selection, Design and Synergies of applied tools. Journal of Cleaner Production 10(3):197-214

[edit] See also

• The Natural Step
• Sustainability
• Sustainable Development

[edit] External links

• Masters of Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability [1]
• The Natural Step [2]