How Realistic Is a Sustainable World?

Abstract

When Javier Morales, then the deputy mayor of the island El Hierro, part of the Canary Islands Region of Spain, asked me to support the design of a local economy that one day will be independent in water and fuel, it did not take long to propose a strategy based on wind energy, hydro-power and flywheels. The goal was to provide renewable energy and abundant water to stimulate agriculture and local industries. The total investment for this project at the outset in 1997 was estimated at €67 million. The response from the political and financial world was that if this little island of no more than 10,000 inhabitants would require an investment of so much money to achieve self-sufficiency, then we were out to build a “white elephant”.

Quand les hommes se trouvent dans une situation nouvelle, ils s’adaptent et changent. Mais aussi longtemps qu’ils espèrent que les choses pourront rester en l’état ou faire l’objet de compromis, ils n’écoutent pas volontiers les idées neuves.

As long as mankind finds itself in a new environment, all will adapt and change. But as long as they hope that things will remain as they are, or that there is a change to compromise, then they will not readily listen to new ideas.

Jean Monnet, Honorary Citizen of Europe

One of the major tenets of Gunter Pauli’s philosophy is that the nature responds to basic needs of everyone and then evolves from sufficiency to abundance. In this chapter, Pauli identifies workable examples that reflected the essential systems used by nature. Pauli argues that his nature-inspired approach to doing business is both profitable and sustainable.