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The Natural Step is a non-profit organization founded in Sweden in 1989 by scientist Karl-Henrik Robèrt. Following publication of the Brundtland Report in 1987, Robèrt developed ''The Natural Step framework'', setting out the ''system conditions'' for the sustainability of human activities on Earth; Robèrt's four system conditions are derived from a scientific structured understanding of the socio-ecological system, including the laws of thermodynamics and social studies. The Natural Step has also pioneered a "Backcasting from Principles" approach meant to advance society towards greater sustainability.〔Holmberg, J. and Robèrt, K-H. (2000). ("Backcasting from non-overlapping sustainability principles – a framework for strategic planning." ) ''International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology'' 7:291-308.〕 The systems thinking and backcasting from sustainability principles form the basis for numerous applications and tools to plan and (re-)design organizational strategy, organizational processes, product/service innovation and business models. Currently The Natural Step has offices in 11 countries and numerous associates and ambassadors around the world. The Natural Step's Theory of Change is at the core of its activities and is the breeding ground for individual, organizational and multi-stakeholder programs like Adding Sustainable Value and Sustainability Transition Labs. ==Towards sustainability== Sustainability essentially means preserving life on Earth, including human civilization; meeting human needs is thus vital in creating a sustainable society. Meeting fundamental human needs (Manfred Max-Neef) is essential. However, the way we go about satisfying those individual needs is a root cause of many of the challenges we face today. It follows that one of The Natural Step's principles of sustainability is to avoid subjecting people to conditions which undermine their capacity to meet their own needs. The other three principles focus on interactions between humans and the planet. They are based in science and supported by the analysis that ecosystem functions and processes are altered in the following ways: * Society mines and disperses materials faster than they are returned to the Earth's crust (examples include oil, coal, minerals such as Phosphors and metals such as mercury and lead). * Society introduces and produces substances faster than they can be broken down by natural processes — if they can be broken down at all (examples of such substances include dioxins, DDT and PCBs). * Society encroaches on ecosystems faster than they can regenerate (for example, over-harvesting of trees or fish), or by other forms of ecosystem manipulation (for example, paving over fertile land or causing soil erosion). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Natural Step」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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