Block 3: Inhibitors

Well, what is stopping us?

Sometimes we hit a wall and it seems insurmountable.

Sometimes it is absolutely imperative to get over the wall.

Sometimes we humans do extra-ordinary things to succeed….

…. especially when we are threatened….

You will have considered your contribution to global warming and sustainability in general, having done the Carbon Footprint Tests and considered your actions in the ‘Can the Planet Afford Me’ assignment..

Like me, I suspect you will have concluded that you are not doing or achieving enough, often despite concerted efforts.

So where are the problems, the ‘log-jams’?

• Where is the ‘wall’?
• Can we get over it ourselves?
• Do we need help?
• What help (‘carrot’ or ‘stick’ … or both?) might we need?
• How do we move forward from here?
• Is it a problem of not knowing:
  • that we should do something?
  • what we could best do in our particular situation, subject to our specific constraints/limits?
  • how we might achieve it?

If we can focus on what is holding us back, then perhaps – just perhaps – we might be able to do something about it from our ‘side’ and suggest things that others (government, schools, universities, society etc) may be able to do to help encourage and support us in moving forward.

YOUR TASK.

This is THE difficult bit – pulling it all together and coming up with workable solutions AND a realistic implementation programme. As the American Marine Corps motto says  (and yes, I know, the Billy Ocean song!):

« When the going gets tough – the tough get going!’.

So, go on, ESS, get tough!!

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• NOW, as a whole group, undertake the following by means of an intensive group brainstorm and perhaps task teams where appropriate. :
  • identify, cluster and categorise (arrange in logical, coherent clusters) the inhibitors that you & your peers are facing.
  • consider each cluster in turn:
    • Where exactly lies the problem at the root?
    • What could be the potential solutions?
    • Analyse and evaluate the potential solutions: which is the ‘best’ in terms of:
      • feasibility (is it technically possible to achieve it?)
      • effectiveness (likely degree of success in achieving the required objective)
      • efficiency (how well does it use resources like time, political capital, the planet’s resources? Is it simple or too complicated?)
      • economy  (how costly – financially – is it compared to other options
      • equity (will it be perceived to be fair to all parties / stakeholders)
  • How might the best solutions be put into practice (to support private citizens and businesses)?
  • Produce a REPORT (in your best English) to be sent to the Minister with responsibility for Sustainable Development and the Environment (Mme S. Royale).  It has to:
    • be thought-provoking,
    • clearly identify the inhibitors and identify & justify the solutions needed
    • offer an implementation programme
    • offer, wherever possible, a ‘win-win‘ situation to encourage her to actually implement your recommendations.
    • finish with a heartfelt ‘call to action‘ and confirm your willingness to be involved in the implementation programme.

NB. The University has ISO 50001 accreditation – the first Green Campus in France.  So, I may also invite you to present your findings to our UHA Green Campus Manager and the Dean of  our Faculty … perhaps even the VP for Développement Durable .

  [This is entirely realistic – one would never dream of submitting something to a Minister from a University unless the ‘powers that be’ at the University were in accord.]

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