All Recent Updates – Page 27 – Stephen Hinton Consulting

Why I am starting consulting again

After leaving Ericsson in 2001 I started exploring alternatives to the Industrial Society. During recent years, volunteering for the Water and Food Award, and helping start an Eco -Village were profound experiences. Among others things I had the opportunity to step back and look at what is happening.

Many businesses in going about their business are actually undermining the conditions needed for people to live well. Albeit inadvertently.

No-one means it to be this way, I am sure, but the planet is becoming crowded, our financial systems are leading to uneven wealth distribution and our energy systems are depleting non-renewable energy and climate systems. Several boundaries have already been breached and more are on their way to being exceeded. We are entering into times when we are living outside the safe zone. Continue reading “Why I am starting consulting again”

Case Study: investigating fees on phosphorus to usher in the circular economy

PLACE: Baltic Islands, Sweden

SITUATION: The Baltic sea is close to a tipping point, where phosphorous trapped in sediment may well start to be released. Regardless of whether emissions stop completely, there is a risk that the living eco-system will be threatened by this influx of nutrients. It may completely destroy all food chains through a massive algal blooming, for example. Continue reading “Case Study: investigating fees on phosphorus to usher in the circular economy”

Speaking of Sustainability in the Future Perfect

Reflections on experiences at this year’s Future Perfect festival, designed to bring together sustainability thinkers and doers…

The Future Perfect Festival, held on the Stockholm archipelago Island of Grinda, wrapped up recently. The event, now in its third year, is designed to provide a space for those engaged emotionally and professionally in sustainability; a space where they can gather, engage in dialogue and co-create.

Future Perfect, the brainchild of John Manoochehri, is a unique kind of festival, and it is badly needed. Even if, like myself, you are engaged in sustainability on an almost daily basis, the topic is far too wide for any one mind to take in. We need to listen to each others perspective. If we as a species are going to successfully transition away from the present counter-sustainable culture we live in we need to do it together. This means talking, listening to each other, sparking ideas off each other, trying ideas out, coming up with ideas together, and developing our perspective by reflecting in the company of those who both agree and disagree with us. Continue reading “Speaking of Sustainability in the Future Perfect”

Case Study: Walking maps

PLACE: Huddinge Municipality, part of Greater Stockholm, Sweden

SITUATION: The Municipality had decided to set up a circular “walk for your heart trail”. The problem is that the municipality is so large, and has so many places that make fine walks it looked like the trail would not have the impact intended, as too few would use it, either because it was too far away or because the options were better and so many. Continue reading “Case Study: Walking maps”

White paper explains how pollutant fees can finance transition

coverff — Stephen Hinton
Anders Höglund
Published online 17 June 2013

How Flexible Emissions Fees Can Drive Transition to Fossil-free and Sustainable Living

whitepaperFE_V4.02

June 2013 Version 4.02

The latest version of the white paper connects the need to exert control of the economy’s handling of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen as well as ecological maturity with price. Updated from previous versions, this version now connects emissions fees with the transition to the circular economy and offers more in-depth coverage of ecological maturity and the process of introducing the fee mechanism.

Read the abstract below, or download for free Continue reading “White paper explains how pollutant fees can finance transition”

Evidence mounts that the good workplace is extremely good for business

Writing in Fast Company, journalist Mark C. Crowley observes that American workplaces are seen in particularly destructive to the human spirit by employees. Has the negativity reached a low point? Mark C Crowley things so. For the last few months he has been looking at companies who actively work to create a good workplace. Pointing to firms like Google and software giant SAS, he says:

If you hold any position in leadership today, you should know this: Companies that authentically value their employees will be (and already are) the big winners in the 21st-century economy.

And he has amassed a truck load of evidence to support his point. Take a look at the article in Fast Company!

Sustainable Economic Growth Presentation

På Svenska

Den 16 april samlades 300 personer på Folkets Hus i Stockholm på Stora Tillväxtdagen, som arrangerades för fjärde gången. Cirka 500 personer följde också konferensen via livesändning på webben. Under dagen varvades övergripande utmaningar med ny fakta och konkreta tips på hur vi alla kan bidra till en hållbar utveckling. Stephen Hinton presenterade TSSEF’s (The Swedish Sustainable Economy Foundation) ekonomiska styrmedels mekanismer.

In English

On April 16, 300 gathered at the Folket’s Hus conference center in Stockholm for the “Economic Growth Day”, held for the fourth time. About 500 people followed the conference via live streaming on the web. During the day, challenges, new facts and practical tips were presented on we all can contribute to sustainable development. Stephen Hinton presented, TSSEF’s (The Swedish Sustainable Economy Foundation) economic control mechanism for control of pollutants.

Presentation in Swedish: which future are we preparing for?

In English

This presentation was prepared for Swedish municipal school accommodation planners, and presented at the launch of a new, sustainable range of school buildings by the company CRAMO.

På svenska

En powerpoint from mötet med kommun folk som ansvarar för byggnader för förskolor och andra skolor. Presentationen pratar om fur vi måste planera för framtiden med mindre tillgång på energi och vad det kan innebär.

Whitepaper: Power Down

This white paper is written to give decision-makers and policy-makers an overview of the 16 most import things to know about the significance of the modern economy’s reliance on non-renewable energy.

Written in 2009, we republish it

Especially in focus are the likely effects of the impact of liquid fuels on communities as oil prices hike and availability wanes. For officers in the public and private sector alike, this paper describes 16 main aspects of the coming energy situation. Organisations need to consider these 16 in order to begin to craft energy depletion management strategies. Download the pdf here.

Briefing: Go Sustainable Now

This e-book will explain the five major reasons I see why you need to start re-thinking your business and your way of life.
You might be thinking: “ Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Well, you have. It’s just that it has been a long time coming and you are probably like most people, bound up in daily life, with your own causes and issues and distractions. And the situation is complicated. That’s why I have tried to boil it all down to five aspects you can monitor and work out for yourself.

You might be thinking: “Why now?” Well, it’s been coming a long time. In 2005 the peak of oil production, or production of easy oil, was reached. Three years for the effects to work their way through supply chains and the World sees the first shocks – rapid rise of prices followed by economic instability. Comparatively small supplies of oil from, for example, shale oil, may postpone the inevitable – but for how long?

Understanding these five simple things will get you started on rearranging and rethinking the way you do things in your work, in your business and in your daily life. Specifically you will need to think about where you are investing your time and money as an employee, investor, business owner and consumer.

Whatever you do, don’t just believe me, think about it and find out for yourself. Download here 5_guide