Triple bottom line

The three- pillar model of sustainable development is based on the idea that sustainable development can only be achieved by the simultaneous and equal reaction of environmental, economic and social objectives. Only in this way can ensure and improve the ecological, economic and social performance of a company. The three aspects necessitate each other mutually.

• 5.1 Integrated sustainability approach
• 5.2 Integrating representation
• 5.3 Example of implementation

Definition

Following the Brundtland Report of the World Commission on Environment and the United Nations Development describes the Study Commission of the German Bundestag "Protection of people and the environment " Sustainability as the concept of a permanently sustainable development of economic, environmental and social dimension of human existence. These three pillars of sustainability are interdependent and require long term a balanced coordination.

With these three dimensions of sustainability are the main concerns:

• Environmental sustainability: It is based on the most original idea to operate any exploitation of nature. Ecologically sustainable would be a way of life that claims the natural foundations of life only to the extent that these regenerate.
• Economic Sustainability: A company should not live beyond its means economically, as this would inevitably lead to a loss of future generations. Generally, an economic manner shall be considered as sustainable if it can be operated continuously.
• Social Sustainability: A State or society should be organized so as to keep the social tensions within limits and do not escalate conflicts, but can be discharged in a peaceful and civil way.

Emergence of the three-pillar model

The exact origin of the three-pillar model is not exactly identify.. Oldenburg Professor Bernd Heins claims for himself the authorship of the model from the year 1994 the other hand, a comparable understanding of sustainability in 1994 demonstrated in the international debate; the above-mentioned Enquete Commission of the German Bundestag describes a similar integrative understanding of sustainability already for the Brundtland Commission report.

The three-pillar model or the magic triangle of sustainability was introduced by the German Chemical Industry Association ( VCI) in the discussion of the above- mentioned commission of inquiry. Back in 1996, called this that " economic, ecological and social aspects are considered equal. We consider Sustainable Development ie, not as a one-sided ecological, but as a holistic concept for the future. For each of these three areas contributes to the fact that a long-term and sustainable development is possible. "

The VCI clarified his model in the 1997 study presented building blocks for a sustainable Germany. This study was the subject study the famous study Sustainable Germany. A contribution to global sustainable development of the Wuppertal Institute and based on a concept of weak sustainable development.

Wide entrance into the public then found the three-pillar model by the above cited 1998 final report submitted by the Enquete Commission " Protecting People and the Environment". For the Commission, it was attractive because it an oriented the criterion of feasibility picture of sustainable development was possible.

The Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU ) notes in his report in 2008 that the three-pillar concept has been internationally and that the formerly " restrictive understanding of environmental policy " has given way to an integrated and synergistic understanding.

Use and effect

From 1998 to the three -pillar model of sustainable development rather widespread. Internationally, the accent was more set on development issues, for example in the Final Declaration of the World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002:

"Thirty years ago, in Stockholm, we Agreed on the urgent need to respond to the trouble of environmental deterioration. Ten years ago, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, we did Agreed the protection of the environment, and social and economic development are fundamental to sustainable development, based on the Rio Principles. To achieve achievement seeking development, we ADOPTED the global programs, Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration, to reaffirm our commitment Which We. The Rio Summit was a significant milestone did set a new agenda for sustainable development. "

The three pillars of sustainable development are often about a fourth - the policy implementation level - extended. In German politics the educational perspective is emphasized. A Bundestag request of all parties reinforces the priority of education in this context.

For the discourse on sustainable development, the three-pillar model was " influential ". It demanded of the environmental, economic and social actors, the mutual acceptance of the respective interests. Result, the focus of the sustainability discourse was directed " to the linked with the sustainability debate institutional innovations, the importance of consensus-oriented, dialogischpartizipativer method for the specification and implementation of the sustainable development principle. " Thus, its development also contributed to an " appreciation of the environment " when, as it determines their equality with respect to economic and social issues.

Criticism of the three-pillar model

Operationalizability

The three- pillar model is controversial in the scientific world. Critics especially that it 'll be operationalized bad and hardly could be derived practical consequences of it. Thus, the Enquete Commission of the German Bundestag has not determined whether the model of sustainable development continues primarily serves the preservation of natural capital or those long-term goals are always coupled with actually feasible short-term goals, so as to obtain the current development model.

The Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU ) said in its report in 2002 the three-pillar model, the orientation function from because it degenerate into a three-column Wishlist, could enter his concerns to the each actor. However, this would lead to a "hyper- complexity, which overwhelmed the division of labor political system ".

Unclear weighting in the objective: Strong and weak sustainability

In the view of many critics, the model describes the economic, ecological and social sustainability equally with one another; actually, however, the objective of environmental sustainability must be a priority, since the protection of natural conditions is a prerequisite for economic and social stability.

The scientific debate on sustainability is different in the relationship between "weak " and "strong" sustainability. " Weak sustainability " refers to the idea that can outweigh environmental, economic and social resources against each other. So it would be in the context of weak sustainability as acceptable that natural resources and natural capital would be exhausted if the proper amounts for face to internally generated human capital or physical capital. Economy and ecology are equal here.

Strong sustainability means that natural capital is very limited or even not replaceable by human or physical capital. This approach corresponds, for example, the environmental space concept, the well-known ecological footprint or the " barrier model ". According to him, are the ecological parameters that ensure long-term stable living conditions on Earth, a development corridor, which must be strictly followed. Only within this corridor there is scope for the implementation of economic and social goals.

In the view of critics, the three- pillar model of weak sustainable development speaks the word. So criticized the Advisory Council that the three-pillar model call for the mutual integration of economic, environmental and social issues. It stands thus in conflict with the so-called cross-cutting principle of environmental policy, which has been enshrined in the Treaty of Amsterdam and the first call for the integration of environmental concerns into all policy areas.

The SRU therefore recommended in 2002 a farewell to the three-pillar model and instead use the " more manageable " principle of integration of environmental concerns. This wearing of the fact that environmental protection compared to the implementation of economic and social objectives, there was the largest pent-up demand and in view of the long-term stabilization of the ecological foundations were available the largest deficits.

The SRU also criticized the fact that the isolated application of the concept of sustainability on the part fields of ecology, economy and social sparked the idea that ecological, economic and social sustainability could be realized independently of each other and so undermine the integrative function of the idea of ​​sustainability will ( cf. SRU 1994 note 19 ).

Lack of global dimension

In a study at the Research Centre Karlsruhe the concept of the Commission of Inquiry has been added:

" In contrast to the Operationalisierungsansatz the Commission of Inquiry limited from the outset to Germany would first try in HGF project to formulate minimum requirements for sustainable development, which are independent of the national context. Since these minimum conditions should be globalizable, they must use consequently two objectives of the mission statement, ie both for conservation as a development perspective invoice "

Fundamental criticism of the sustainability discourse

In general, sustainability is the fact that human activity greater breadth not only on intergenerational equity, but also on global justice towards; whether it is in view of this alignment really appropriate to speak of "three pillars" (and whether non-essential parts of the " economic " and " social " side have nothing to do with sustainability ), this is not the only point at issue; as well as the popular debate is accused of iris too much background question of why at all future generations and people should be more found in other parts of the world attention.

Persistent base

Despite the multiple criticism of the three-pillar model so far prevailed no other model. In almost all definitions of sustainable development are the three pillars as well as the inter-and intra-generational justice is the greatest common denominator. Also, many important reactions aimed at the three pillars from, for example, the global community with point I.2 of the Johannesburg Implementation Plan (World Summit on Sustainable Development ) or the European Community, in Article 1 of the EC Treaty ( Treaty establishing the European Community). Thus, it should be noted that the three pillars still constitute an important starting point for many discussions of sustainability, as they are pragmatic and find great consensus as a magical set of objectives of sustainable development. The goals are to be always columns according to the Johannesburg Conference ( World Summit on Sustainable Development), which are independent but mutually supportive ( engl: " interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars ").

Development

Integrated sustainability approach

The three-pillar model was developed by the Karlsruhe Research Centre as part of a large study. Central to this is the expansion of the institutional dimension, the operationalization, cross-dimensional sustainability goals such as the " assurance of human existence ", " preservation of the social productive potential " and " preservation of the development and possibilities of action ", as well as the integration of intra-and intergenerational aspects of justice:

" This is not expected from the limited perspective of the individual dimensions, but there are - three general cross-dimensional sustainability targets projected onto the dimensions and - the - in an integral view, embodied in various discourses - ' intrinsic logic ' of each dimension conveys. The result is operationalization of the general objectives in terms of sustainability-related constitutive elements of each dimension in the form of "rules ". The general objectives in detail are " securing the human existence ", " preservation of social productive potential " and "Preservation of development and action ." They represent both fundamental normative principles of justice of sustainability in preservation or development dimension as well as their general analytic- functional premises. Intra-and intergenerational aspects of justice are seen in this context as peers and an anthropocentric perspective "

Integrating representation

If the three-pillar model, however, maintained, this shall be adjusted to the requirements of an integrated representation. Here offer the acquisition of a spread in technical and scientific fields triangular diagram. The diagram is known as Gibbs triangle, forms a mixture of three components from (x y z = 100%). In this sense, leave must be taken by the idea of ​​three isolated pillars. Instead, the columns are interpreted as dimensions, which aspects of sustainability can be assigned continuously. For example, concerns the eco-efficiency as economic- ecological concept two dimensions equally (50 % 50 % ecology economics ), while the biodiversity primarily as an ecologically dominated topic ( about 100 % ecology) is to be considered. The central box represents a position with three, roughly equal contributions explanation. In integrating sustainability triangle, all possible combinations can be represented.

This integral representation allows for a much more nuanced analysis, more targeted involvement of other concepts (eg eco-efficiency) and at the same time a synoptic compilation. Compared with previous approaches, on a magical sustainability triangle Integrating the sustainability triangle takes advantage of the inner surface and emphasizes the interaction of the three dimensions of sustainability. It is for many other applications such as, inter alia, Sustainability assessment, collection of indicators or content outlines ( for example www.agenda21.rlp.de ) suitable.

Example of an implementation

An illustrative example of how the three-pillar model is practical implementation, can be found at a regional launched in Nuremberg portal of the Association Bluepingu eV, Nuremberg. The association is concerned precisely with the three pillars and brings this by anchoring it in the statutes clearly expressed. About the club operated by the Internet portal different opportunities will be over conscious purchasing information ( with an integrated regional pilots ), or contact and will get several opportunities to participate in the field of economic and social sustainability. Bluepingu describes himself as a "Sustainability Compass ".