⛺Tent 1: A look at Planet Earth

Our planetary system & a definition of sustainability

Introduction to Tent 1

Hello fellow traveller - Welcome to tent 1!

Let’s start with zooming out & having a look at our planet & life on earth from an eagle’s perspective. In tent 1, we will explore the planetary system and how it is built to understand what allows life to thrive. As a nested system in the biosphere, humanity is also trying to evolve in harmony with other living beings on our beautiful planet. From this perspective, sustainability is the key to maintaining the functioning of our systems in the long term. But how can we define it in a concrete, systemic way? Learn more about it in this chapter!

Let's dive into the first know - act - reflect cycle! Here's what you will learn

Learning Goals Tent 1

❗In this tent, you will...

• be introduced to the science that helps us understand our planetary system, leading to a systemic sustainability definition

• explore the importance of a shared language around sustainability

• connect the course-material to sustaniability knowledge and experience you already have

• reflect and align among each other about what is different/new in the shared definition of sustainability

Just move along the various content elements in your own time and share with the community through the discord channel.

💡Know

What is sustainability all about? Let us take a step back and see how our planet functions. We will explore helpful perspectives that can be helpful to find holistic & powerful ways to address our sustainability challenges.

But first: How does humanity fit in the bigger picture? How do we perceive ourselves & what is the sustainability challenge all about? These 3 videos will broaden your understanding:

.. Human beings haven't been around for a long time ..

🎦 Timeline of evolution (4 min)

... and yet do we have a major influence on planet earth! Let's get to know a scientific, systemic definition of sustainability!

🎦 Our planet & sustainability (7:30 min)

This includes the important step to change our perspective 🎦 From triple bottom line to a nested system understanding (4:10 min).

Now, what is the current reality on planet earth? Have a quick read here: 📖 A new planetary reality (5 min)

One well-known and scientifically-proof definition of sustainability (mentioned in the first video) looks at sustainability as the systemic boundary conditions to maintain life on planet earth. They are described in 8 principles:

📖 The definition of the eight sustainability principles based on the "Sustainability Handbook" (6 min)

🎦 Ecological Sustainability Principles 1-3 (4:10 min)

🎦 Social Sustainability Principles 4-8 (8:30 min)

Further reading/watching/listening

🎦Planetary Boundaries: another essential concept to understand our planetary development

📖 "Mid-Course Correction": the creation of the sustainability principles

⭐Act

1. Explain the eight sustainability principles and the idea of the planetary system to a friend or family member who does not know about it and/or explain it in a voice-message/video, which you can post in the tent 1 channel on discord. If you are taking the course as a (peer-) group, you can find a way to present the principles to each other (+-15 min)

2. Discuss with them how those models connect to your former knowledge of the planetary system and definitions around sustainability. What is new/different/surprising? Especially for your local context? (5 min)

BONUS: Visualize the sustainability principles and post them in discord!

🧠Reflect

1. Why is it important to have a shared language around sustainability? Share on discord in the #tent1 channel and/or with your peer group! Don’t forget to add your thoughts to your playbook! (+-10 min)

2. Respond to at least one other reflection on discord (pro-tip: create a thread when responding) (+-5 min)