[Vision2020] Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. "Towards a sustainable future: reasons for urgency and hope"

[Ted Moffett]

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110405_clarkspeech.html

Towards a sustainable future: reasons for urgency and hope

Opening keynote address as delivered on April 5 by Jane Lubchenco,
Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA
administrator as part of the Albert, Norma, and Howard Geller ‘77
Endowed Lecture at Tilton Hall, Clark University

April 5, 2011

[You will be introduced by: David Angel, President of Clark
University; Robert Johnston, Director of the Marsh Institute; James
Gomes, Director of the Mosakowski Institute]

[Slide 1: Title Slide]

Thank you, President Angel and Directors Johnston and Gomes. I bring
greetings from CSGL and the 12,800 employees of NOAA, and thanks  to
Clark University, and the Marsh and Mosakowski Institutes, for your
leadership on environment and sustainability. It is an honor to
deliver the Geller Endowed Lecture today.
Your dedication to fostering leaders in sustainability and advancing
use-inspired science is of vital importance. Your faculty and students
have pioneered advances in the human dimensions of sustainability
science.  It’s been a treat to spend a little time with them today,
and to learn about some of Clark’s sustainability initiatives, such as
the Climate Action Plan and the creative “green building” projects.

[Slide 2: Outline]

Today, I wish to share how you and others’ efforts are influencing the
Federal Government, and how we view some of the daunting challenges of
transitioning to sustainability.

[Slide 3: Challenges for sustainability]

As you are well aware, the environment is changing rapidly and
radically, with profound consequences for humanity.  The accelerating
pace of change presents serious challenges – and opportunities – for
individuals, communities, universities, businesses, nations, and the
global community to make a transition toward more sustainable
practices and policies.

The magnitude of this challenge requires an unprecedented level of
coordination, cooperation, and creativity from all sectors.  I am
encouraged by the progress that has been made to address
sustainability challenges through the actions of business leaders,
government agencies, scientists, non-governmental organizations,
journalists, and individual citizens.

However, far too many Americans still view concerns about the
environment as a barrier to economic progress.  Choosing between the
economy and the environment is a false dichotomy.  Long-term economic
prosperity will require healthy ecosystems.  We need solutions for
achieving economic growth, while maintaining and recovering the
life-supporting services provided by ecosystems.

[Slide 4: Loss of ecosystem services]

Through advances in science, we know that the depletion and disruption
of our ecosystems is leading to the loss of valuable services on which
humans depend – services such as water purification, control of pests
and pathogens, buffering of coastal areas from storms and tsunamis,
and the provision of food.

 [Slide 5: Deepwater Horizon tragedy]

One need look no further than the Deepwater Horizon tragedy for stark
evidence of the interconnected nature of humans and ecosystems.  We
witnessed heart-wrenching proof of how the vitality of coastal
communities and economies depend on the health of their coasts and
oceans.

I am proud of the role that NOAA played to provide scientific guidance
to the response, ensure seafood safety, protect habitats and wildlife,
and now assess damage and enable restoration.  The oil has stopped
flowing, but our work continues.  We remain fully engaged and
committed to a complete recovery of the Gulf ecosystem and its
communities and economies.

[Slide 6: Gulf Coast: microcosm for sustainability challenges]

The Deepwater Horizon disaster dealt a serious blow to Gulf Coast.
However, a transition to full recovery and sustainability must address
not only impacts of the spill, but a plethora of other problems that
began long before the DWH diaster began.

The Gulf of Mexico is a microcosm of the global sustainability
challenges we face today.  Prior to Deepwater Horizon, chemical and
nutrient pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, climate change,
and invasive species had already taken their toll on the health and
resiliency of Gulf Coast ecosystems.  Depleted and disrupted
ecosystems cannot provide the suite of benefits that people want and
need – in this case, seafood, opportunities for recreation,
inspiration, and education, speed bumps for hurricanes, and more.

[Slide 7: Fierce urgency of now – but reasons for hope]

Now is a pivotal time not only for the Gulf Coast – but indeed for the
entire planet.  Actions taken now and in the next few years will
determine the future health, prosperity, and well-being of people
around the world – whose lives and livelihoods depend on healthy,
productive, and resilient ecosystems.

Despite the many challenges we currently face, there are reasons for
hope, including:

Advances in our scientific understanding – natural and social sciences
Improved incorporation of science into policy
Creative new solutions and partnerships
Increased public awareness of sustainability issues
Engagement of the business community, faith leaders, and youth – you students!
You know full well of many of the scientific advances, so I’ll touch
on them only briefly before transitioning to some federal actions
underway.

[Slide 8: Advances in scientific understanding]

Twelve years ago, the National Academy of Sciences published its
landmark report Our Common Journey: A Transition Toward
Sustainability.  I had the pleasure of speaking at the symposium to
launch the report, and I used the occasion to make a birth
announcement: the birth of a new science: sustainability science.
That baby has grown and thrived, and is now flexing her muscles and
influencing her surroundings.

Six years later, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment provided an
international assessment that continued to connect the dots between
environmental change, ecosystem services, and human well-being.

Over the past decade, thanks in part to leaders like some here at
Clark University, there has been an explosion in the field of
“sustainability science,” with significant developments on multiple
fronts:

The Resilience Alliance, an international and interdisciplinary
research organization dedicated to developing scientific advances, as
well as guidance and best practices for decision makers.
The National Academies’ Science and Technology for Sustainability
Program, established to encourage the use of science and technology to
achieve long-term sustainable development.
A new section of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
on sustainability science.
A new home for sustainability science at AAAS.
New academic programs and curricula.
International networks of scientists and practitioners developing
methodologies and models, and much more.
These efforts, have contributed to heightened awareness and
understanding, including a Nobel Prize to Lin Ostrom, as well as
on-the-ground action.

[Slide 9: Strengthening science-policy interface]

One new initiative for strengthening the science-policy interface at
the international level is the Intergovernmental Science-Policy
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (or IPBES).  IPBES
provides an ongoing mechanism for a Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment-like international scientific assessment.  It is being
designed to enable the translation of scientific knowledge into
specific policy actions for conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and ecosystem services.

So is all of this science changing anything at the national level? A
resounding yes!

[Slide 10: Sustainability is a priority for the Obama Administration]

Sustainability – and improved integration of sustainability science
into policy-making – are priorities for the Obama Administration. Here
are five specific actions that demonstrate this commitment. The newly
renamed White House Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources,
and Sustainability, is one reflection of this emphasis.  The phrase
“and Sustainability” was added to the name of this existing Committee
in order to reflect the understanding that sustainability provides the
goal and the overarching umbrella for all activities under the
environment and natural resources portfolio.

[Slide 11: National Ocean Policy]

A specific action that will have far reaching consequences relates
directly to NOAA’s mission. Last July, the President signed an
Executive Order establishing the Nation’s first-ever Ocean Policy,
which clearly states that healthy oceans matter and that policies must
focus on long-term sustainable use, not just short-term exploitation.
The Policy outlines a bold vision for more holistic, ecosystem-based
management of our oceans – management that reflects our scientific
understanding of the multiple and interacting impacts – and
dependencies – of humans on coastal and ocean ecosystems.  The Policy
establishes an interagency mechanism to implement this vision,
coordinating the 26 different agencies and offices that use or affect
oceans. I’ll say more about how we are implementing this Policy
shortly.

[Slide 12: Sustainability Executive Order]

A third example: in October 2009, the President signed an Executive
Order known as “the Sustainability Executive Order.”  This document
reflects the critical role of the Federal Government in “leading by
example” through reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy
efficiency, and reducing waste.
The Department of Commerce (DOC) and NOAA are changing practices
accordingly.  For example:
A 21% reduction target has been established for direct and indirect
greenhouse gas emissions by Fiscal Year 2020, relative to a Fiscal
Year 2008 baseline.
By Fiscal Year 2013, 7.5% of DOC’s electricity will come from
renewable resources.

[Slide 13: Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future]

This sense of commitment was also reflected last week, when the
President released his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future.  In the
Blueprint, he reiterates the State of the Union energy challenge to
grow clean energy sources, with the goal of 80% of the Nation’s
electricity coming from renewable sources by 2035.  The President has
emphasized that as we work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and
build investment in renewable energy, our overarching goals are
security and sustainability.

[Slide 14: Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force]

The fifth example: In addition to championing efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, the Federal Government is also advancing
efforts to prepare for the impacts of climate change.  In 2009, the
Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, including over 23
Federal agencies and White House offices, was created to strengthen
the Nation’s capacity to understand and prepare for climate change.

Through topic-based working groups, and over 35 listening sessions and
outreach events, the Task Force developed a set of recommendations
that were communicated to President Obama and to the Nation in its
Oct. 2010 Progress Report.

As a result of the Task Force’s work, all Federal agencies are now
required to develop, implement, and evaluate climate change adaptation
plans.  In addition, the US Global Change Research Program has
established a new Adaptation Science program to strengthen science in
support of adaptation decisions at all scales.
Let me now transition to NOAA-specific actions.

[Slide 15: NOAA’s role in sustainability]

NOAA’s roles in sustainability reflect the priorities of the Obama
Administration, our agency’s mission of science, services, and
stewardship, and our vision of building resilient ecosystems,
communities, and economies.  NOAA contributes to sustainability in
three primary ways:

NOAA scientists, in concert with our partners, advance scientific
understanding through research, observations, monitoring, modeling,
and assessment efforts.
We communicate scientific knowledge broadly and provide science-based
services to inform societal choices.
We use our knowledge to “lead by example” through our own
sustainability initiatives and to be good stewards of oceans and
coasts and through our policies and management practices.

[Slide 16: NOAA’s Role in Sustainability]

Here are several areas where NOAA is providing leadership in informing
or implementing sustainable practices: climate services, spatial
planning, and on-the-ground sustainability initiatives.

[Slide 17: NOAA’s Climate Services]

Few environmental changes affect our economies, ecosystems, and
livelihoods more than climate variability and change.  At least
one-third of the U.S. gross domestic product is directly influenced by
weather and climate.  Information about climate change is essential to
smart planning.  As we seek to grow our economy and achieve
sustainable use of ecosystems, we must make decisions based on the
likely conditions of tomorrow, not yesterday or today.

2010 was tied with 2005 for the warmest year on record.  More and
more, Americans are witnessing the impacts of climate change in their
own backyards.  These impacts include longer growing seasons,
increases in heavy downpours, drought, earlier snowmelt, changing
patterns of precipitation, and many others.
As a result of these impacts, individuals across widely diverse
sectors – from agriculture, to energy, to transportation – are
increasingly asking NOAA for information about climate change in order
to make the best choices for their communities and businesses.

[Slide 18: Proposed Climate Service line office]

Last year, Commerce Secretary Locke and I announced the intent to form
a Climate Service within NOAA to meet the rising tide of requests by
bringing together the agency’s strong climate science and service
capabilities.  The Climate Service, modeled in part after NOAA’s
National Weather Service, would allow NOAA to provide a single,
reliable, and authoritative source for climate data, information, and
decision-support services and to more effectively work with our
Federal and non-Federal partners.

The President’s FY 2012 budget includes a detailed reprogramming
proposal to establish this Climate Service.  Building upon our
accomplishments and momentum gained over the last year, we will
continue to engage with Congress in the coming year to seek approval
of the proposed reorganization.  Following Congressional approval,
NOAA will move quickly to implement the proposed re-organization.
In the meantime, NOAA is working with our partners and stakeholders,
and operating within our existing organizational structure, to provide
the critical information and services that support efforts to reduce
the impacts of climate change to infrastructure, ecosystems, and human
health and welfare.
For example, NOAA currently works with a diversity of local business
partners - from commercial oyster hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest,
to Kona coffee farmers, to ranchers in the West - to provide timely
climate science and services in support of decisions that minimize
risk and maximize opportunity in the face of climate change.

[Slide 19: Climate Services in Action: Digital Coast]

Three years ago, NOAA’s Coastal Services Center launched the “Digital
Coast” initiative to address timely coastal issues, including climate
change.  One of Digital Coast’s tools, the Sea Level Rise Impacts
Viewer, creates visualizations of the potential physical, ecological,
and socioeconomic impacts of sea level rise in order to inform the
planning efforts of community officials and coastal managers.
These tools are currently being applied in Texas and Mississippi and
are serving as the basis of a new partnership with the Department of
Housing and Urban Development to better understand and prepare for the
potential impacts of sea level rise on vulnerable populations,
infrastructure, and ecosystems in Galveston, Texas.

[Slide 20: Coastal and marine spatial planning]

A second arena in which NOAA is focusing its sustainability efforts
concerns fostering sustainable uses of coasts and oceans.  The
Nation’s economic vitality depends on healthy oceans.  America’s
productive coastal regions and waters contribute tens of millions of
jobs and trillions of dollars to the national economy each year.

To improve understanding and decision-making in coastal and ocean
areas, the Federal Government is currently pursuing a systemic and
comprehensive approach for effective ocean management under the
National Ocean Policy.

A major priority of the Policy is a framework for coastal and marine
spatial planning (or CMSP), a stakeholder-driven management tool for
minimizing conflicts among users and reducing impacts on ecosystem
functioning.  Increasing demands on ocean space for diverse uses,
including tourism, recreation, fishing, shipping, national security,
oil and gas exploration, and wave and wind energy, have led to more
and more conflicts among users, as well as additional impacts on
already stressed ocean ecosystems.  CMSP is a process that enables
integrated, forward-looking decision making through an
ecosystem-based, spatially explicit approach.
The focus on stewardship is intended to enable a vibrant suite of
sustainable uses for generations to come.  In short, while it is OK to
use oceans and coasts, it is not OK to use them up.

[Slide 21: Spatial planning in Massachusetts]

Massachusetts is a national leader in CMSP.  Three years ago, Governor
Patrick announced the Oceans Act of 2008 to initiate the development
of a comprehensive spatial plan.

The planning process involved 18 public listening sessions across the
state and hundreds of meetings with stakeholders, including fishermen,
NGOs, and academic scientists.  On Dec. 31, 2009, the Commonwealth
became the first U.S. state to release a comprehensive ocean
management plan for its 1,500-mile coastline.
The creativity and initiative shown by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts inspired other states and the Federal Government to
pursue marine spatial planning.

[Slide 22: Interdisciplinary tools]

The importance of partnerships is a theme that carries over to the
science necessary for successful implementation of CMSP.  A promising
new tool called Marine InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem
Services and Tradeoffs) has been developed by the Natural Capital
Project, in partnership with NOAA, to facilitate scientific
understanding of ecosystem services in support of CMSP.
InVEST is used to model and map the delivery, distribution, and value
of ecosystem services in a specific place.  This tool allows users to
run multiple scenarios associated with potential decisions and
management alternatives, visualizing tradeoffs among environmental,
economic, and social benefits.  InVEST offers a promising new approach
for incorporating scientific information about ecosystem services into
decision-making, spatial planning, and resource management.

[Slide 23: Marine InVEST application for wave energy siting]

Here’s an example of how the Marine InVEST tool is helping coastal
communities understand trade-offs in ecosystem services.  Communities
in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, are considering options for
siting a wave energy facility to harness power using the Pelamis wave
capture devices pictured here.  These communities wanted to evaluate
three different locations to determine which site would best meet
their desired outcomes. Their concerns were twofold: maximizing energy
yield and minimizing impacts on existing important activities,
specifically fishing.
Using data on wave potential along the coastline (green depicts the
lowest wave potential, and orange the highest), Marine InVEST models
how much energy generation is possible at each site, as well as the
value of that power in dollars.  The first finding was that Site #1
generates the most power.

[Slide 24: Marine InVEST – informing decisions]

Using InVEST, we can now overlay the major commercial and recreational
fishing areas to determine which sites would have the least impact on
fishing areas.  The combined findings indicate that Site #1 may be the
best site for achieving the dual ecosystem services goals of
maximizing energy potential and minimizing impacts to fisheries.

This is one example of how tools such as InVEST are helpful for
visualizing scenarios and minimizing user conflicts as we implement
CMSP.  I also want to mention another scenario-generating tool
(developed here in the Clark Lab) called IDRISI, which models land use
change and will soon be linked to InVEST.  Tools such as IDRISI and
InVEST are key to informing sustainable planning and management.

[Slide 25: CMSP fosters sustainable uses of coasts & oceans]

The investments and improvements articulated in the National Ocean
Policy, and implemented through CMSP, will advance the Nation’s
economic and environmental interests through:

Advancing sustainable and productive ocean uses;
Fostering partnerships at all scales (e.g. Regional Planning Bodies)
Improving capacity to address the long-term impacts of climate and
other environmental changes;
Providing a lasting foundation for improved stewardship; and
Enhancing the many vital benefits that the Nation derives from coastal
and ocean ecosystems.

[Slide 26: “Walking the talk” at NOAA: green infrastructure]

The third and final way that we advance the sustainability agenda at
NOAA is by using our knowledge to “walk the talk” through integrating
sustainability into our daily operations.

For example, the construction of the new Southwest Fisheries Science
Center Laboratory in La Jolla, CA is rapidly progressing with funding
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This facility is
expected to earn a LEED Gold Level Certification through the design
that includes photovoltaic cells, elaborate water retention systems,
recycled materials and green roofs planted with California coastal
chaparral.

[Slide 27: “Walking the talk” at NOAA: Green Fleet]

NOAA also spearheaded a Green Ship Initiative to convert all of our
research vessels in the Great Lakes from petroleum-based fuels and
lubricants to biofuels and bio-lubricants.  This initiative produced
the first Federal vessel to run completely on non-petroleum products,
leading to an award from the Department of Energy.  The entire Great
Lakes fleet is now “100% petroleum-free” (operating on soy biodiesel)
and has lowered emissions, decreased costs, and created healthier
conditions for the ships’ crew and scientists.  Similar innovative
approaches will be necessary for making progress on sustainability.

Let me review the items I’ve highlighted concerning what the Obama
Administration and NOAA, in particular, are doing to enable
sustainable practices and policies.

[Slide 28: Outline]

The Administration has made sustainability an overarching theme in its
White House Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and
Sustainability, declared the first National Ocean Policy, issued an
Executive Order on Sustainability and a Blueprint for a Secure Energy
Future, and created a Climate Change Adaptation Task Force. Progress
is being made as part of a transition to sustainability.

[Slide 29]

NOAA, too, is embracing sustainability across its science, services
and stewardship roles. The process is encouraging and is durable.

 [Slide 30: Reasons for urgency]

However, the challenges loom large:

While international and Administration actions and public
understanding of sustainability opportunities and challenges have
grown . . . they have not grown quickly enough.

While we have made progress on sustainability efforts . . . further
progress could be hindered by the current economic crisis, the looming
deficit, pending Congressional budgetary decisions, and lack of
awareness of the problems, consequences, and opportunities for
alternatives.

Continued progress is key to future sustainability and for economic
recovery.  Innovative approaches to find and enable environmental and
economic synergies are needed as the new “business” model. But despite
these challenges – and they are very real, there are strong reasons to
be hopeful.

[Slide 31: Reasons for hope]

Social change is highly non-linear – it is characterized by thresholds
and tipping points. Witness the 180-degree shift in public attitude
toward smoking or drunk driving. Witness the fall of the Soviet Union
or the regime change in Egypt. Change often comes in bursts of
activity. Seemingly small changes can interact and multiply and
trigger abrupt and significant change. So take heart that progress is
being made through the efforts of many – communities, universities,
faith-based groups, businesses, NGOs, and governmental agencies.
Inspiring actions are occurring at local-to-global scales:

As industries develop commitments to source only sustainably caught or
farmed food
As consumers make more informed choices
As creative endeavors seek to achieve the “triple bottom line” of
“people, planet, and profit” – not just “profit.”

[Slide 32: Thanks!]

I’ve witnessed significant changes in the attitudes and actions of
federal agencies and if they can change, anything is possible.
Seriously, though, change is afoot. Restoring the health and bounty of
our planet’s life-supporting systems and transitioning to
sustainability are some of the greatest challenges of our lifetime.
Your challenge – you students – is how to accelerate and harness that
change. New knowledge, new tools, new demonstrations of potential are
needed. So, too, is new energy and passion. The world needs you.
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett