To Explore Boundary Conditions Imposed on Man by Nature

Tällberg Forum 2008

This concept paper, in draft form, from the Tällberg Foundation, was written in December, 2007 in anticipation of an international Forum to be held in June, 2008 on the topic, “How on earth can we live together? In search of the common sense.” Its purpose was threefold:

-to explore ‘boundary conditions’ imposed on man by nature

-to identify and prioritize ‘counter-tipping points’ and

-to generate concrete ideas and proposals for policy, strategy, and institutional development initiatives that work in the best interests of the whole.

Five general problems were identified in this paper:

1. We do not currently have the structures for governing ‘the commons’. Our governance is build on the principal of national sovereignty. We believe that those natural resources that lie within the borders of any nation-state are its own property.

2. We find it difficult to care for the interest of the whole. Each nation-state values its own particular interests over those of the whole.

3. Our interference with nature is occurring at a pace which outstrips the evolutionary process, making it impossible for our relationship with nature to adapt harmoniously.

4. We are nearing the limits of the natural resources required to satisfy human need.

5. In the past, we have not ever been able to craft a single truly successful international agreement, convention, treaty or protocol in the field of the common management of natural resources.

Three general solutions were proposed:

1. Acknowledge that the typical reductionist, linear, compartmentalized approach will not work, since it always produces solutions that ‘maximize profits’ of one sector over another.

2. Agree that a total systems approach is required.

3. Develop deeper insights about the following four systems of human activity:

-Economic system, whose purpose is to produce economic growth and material wealth

-Energy production system, whose purpose is to fuel human activity

-Community and equity system, whose purpose is to develop political, cultural and social systems, and

-Security systems, whose purpose is to safeguard both relationships between humans, and between humans and the rest of nature.

The Tällberg Forum 2008 hopes to accomplish the following:

1. Define key boundary conditions, imposed by nature, which must not be crossed if the health and integrity of the whole is to be safeguarded today and in the future;

2. Identify the moral boundary conditions, imposed by man, that are morally acceptable to all, such as minimum levels of food, water, energy and security;

3. Identify “counter-tipping points” in terms of proposed initiatives, ideas, technologies, designs, etc., and prioritize them in terms of their potential;

4. Develop prototypes that R&D experts can be inspired to turn into new products; and

5. Present a strategic position paper that recommends concrete new policy initiatives.

Bottom line: “We cannot negotiate with nature: we can only strike deals among ourselves.”