Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.”

Contacts Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Bob Colson, Dunn County Planner Voice: Dunn County Website Eco-County Resolution Sustainability Action Plan Charter Sustainability Action Plan

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Five Key Planning Elements: Education Support Eco-County Designation Sustainability Action Plan Charter Sustainability Action Plan Natural Step Framework

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Education External Sustainable Dunn Energy Providers City of Menomonie UW Stout Workshops Internal County Officials and Staff County Sponsored Workshops

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Support Internal Chair of County Board of Supervisors County Board of Supervisors County Manager Department Heads Employees

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Eco-County Designation An Eco-County strives to develop an ecologically, economically, and socially healthy community, using the Natural Step Framework as a guide, and a democratic, participative process as the method. An Eco-County collaborates with other communities and assists in their change processes.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Charter A blueprint for developing the County’s Sustainability Action Plan. It spells out what the County will do to make itself sustainable.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan It’s an “Internal Plan” focused on Dunn County as an organization. It’s based on the notion that every Dunn County employee has a responsibility to promote the Principles of Sustainability now and into the future.

HOW? NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) What is it? How did Dunn County utilize NSF in our Sustainability Planning Process?

HOW? NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Background Strategic PlanningSystems Thinking NSF was created to help organizations and communities backcast from principles of sustainability.

HOW? NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Background Strategic PlanningSystems Thinking NSF was created to help organizations and communities backcast from principles of sustainability. NSF does not constrain individuals to work only with existing technologies, political systems and laws.

HOW? NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Background Strategic Planning NSF was created to help organizations and communities backcast from principles of sustainability. NSF does not constrain individuals to work only with existing technologies, political systems and laws. NSF assumes that things will change and plans far enough into the future, that change becomes an advantage.

HOW? NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) What is NSF? It’s a way to balance individual approaches and methodologies with community needs.

HOW? NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking The Principles of Sustainability are FOUR basic operating rules. When ALL FOUR RULES are followed, there will be a sustainable present and a sustainable future. Principles of Sustainability

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 1 What We Take From The Earth.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 1 What We Take From The Earth. Rule: Reduce dependence on fossil fuels and extracted underground metals and minerals. (heavy metals and fossil fuels)

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 2 What We Make.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 2 What We Make. Rule: Reduce dependence on chemicals and other manufactured substances that can accumulate in nature. (dioxins and PCB’s)

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 3 What We Do To The Earth.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 3 What We Do To The Earth. Rule: Reduce dependence on activities that harm life sustaining ecosystems. (overharvesting and building over critical habitat)

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 4 How We Meet Our Needs.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability 4 How We Meet Our Needs. Rule: Meet the hierarchy of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently. (unsafe working conditions or earning less than a living wage)

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability However, the Principles of Sustainability aren’t like baseball; batting 1 for 4, 2 for 4 or even 3 for 4 isn’t good enough!!

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability However, the Principles of Sustainability aren’t like baseball; batting 1 for 4, 2 for 4 or even 3 for 4 isn’t good enough!! GO BIG OR GO HOME… IT’S GOT TO BE 4 FOR 4!

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability Triple Bottom Line (The 3 P’S) “Take away my people, but leave my factories and soon grass will grow on the factory floors. Take away my factories, but leave my people and soon we will have a new and better factory.” A. Carnegie

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability Triple Bottom Line (The 3 P’S) People Planet Profit Everybody and everything working together, like a team

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability These principles DO NOT imply, we must stop extracting materials or that all substances produced are bad, nor does it imply we should never disturb the natural environment.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability The problem isn’t that we mine heavy metals, or use chemicals, or disrupt natural processes, or even that we temporarily interfere with people’s capacity to meet their basic human needs.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability The problem is that extracted materials and chemicals produced are accumulating in the natural systems.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability The problem is that extracted materials and chemicals produced are accumulating in the natural systems. It’s this progressive build up of pollutants that’s harming natural systems.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability It’s the cumulative impacts of our activities that are threatening the continued well- being of us, the human race.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability It’s the cumulative impacts of our activities that are threatening the continued well- being of us, the human race. Because left to it’s own devices, the earth is a sustainable system.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Education County Supervisors and staff attended a NSF workshop sponsored by Sustainable Dunn. To gain sponsor and stakeholder support the County sponsored several NSF/sustainability workshops from global, regional and local perspectives. Support Eco-County Designation Sustainability Action Plan Charter Sustainability Action Plan

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Education Support With the support of key stakeholders the Eco- County Resolution was drafted and offered to the County Board. Eco-County Designation Sustainability Action Plan Charter Sustainability Action Plan

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Education Support Eco-County Designation March 19, 2008 the SUSTAINABLE ECO-DUNN COUNTY resolution is adopted. Sustainability Action Plan Charter Sustainability Action Plan

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Eco-County Designation The Eco-County Resolution Supports the application of the principles of sustainability. Directs County staff to create a Sustainability Action Plan. Directs County staff to work collaboratively with Departments, outside agencies and organizations.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking Principles of Sustainability The mechanics of the Principles of Sustainability are built on –Systems Thinking –Common Language –Strategic Planning (Backcasting)

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningPrinciples of Sustainability Systems Thinking SYSTEMS THINKING is the concept, that allows individuals to work together within complex systems like a County

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningPrinciples of Sustainability Systems Thinking SYSTEMS THINKING recognizes that what happens in one part of a system affects every other part. –Takes into account all of the components of a system, to understand How components interact with each other The cause-and-effect relationships of interactions

Systems Thinking Think of it as a team, where the organization is the principles of sustainability and the individuals, the owners, coaches and players represent all the details, specific problems and specific areas of expertise.

Systems Thinking Let’s suppose our football team missed a field goal and lost the championship game by one point and everyone wants to know what happened.

Systems Thinking You won’t be able to explain that loss until you understand it from the team (system) perspective.

Systems Thinking If you want to understand the loss, don’t focus ONLY on: Details The Kicker

Instead, focus your attention on: the line, the center, the holder, the weather, the distance, the wind and so on…. Systems Thinking Team/Big Picture Kicker Wind Distance Line

Systems Thinking Individuals (details) are important, but complex, confusing, and sometimes politically charged issues shouldn’t be approached from such a narrow focus.

Systems Thinking Systems Thinking recognizes that the team is made up of individuals and that each person:  Is necessary  Has a role to play  Must work together

Systems Thinking Understanding the system: prevents getting lost in the details. Team/Big Picture

Systems Thinking Imagine all the sustainability ideas, opinions, special interests, etc. within a County.

Systems Thinking Without a systems approach, dialogue could quickly degenerate into bickering, confusion and misunderstanding… ! ! ? ***

Systems Thinking Without a systems approach, dialogue could quickly degenerate into bickering, confusion and misunderstanding… ! ….We’d soon realize we’ve created another problem, and go on and on…… ! ? ***

Systems Thinking …Eventually, we’d get confused or frustrated and give up!

Systems Thinking …Eventually, we’d get confused or frustrated and give up! WHY?

Systems Thinking Because we’re probably trying to solve individual problems. We’re dealing with the details.

Systems Thinking Because we’re probably trying to solve individual problems. We’re dealing with the details. Too often it’s the details that sidetrack most sustainability efforts.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningPrinciples of Sustainability Systems Thinking Back to the Football Game…..Systems Thinking broadens the scope, allowing you to figure out why the team missed the field goal. Now……you can explain it…but you need a common language… –A common language allows you to tackle the details and communicate with each team member to get them working towards the common goal. Common Language

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Charter Blueprint for developing the Sustainability Action Plan. To provide Organizational “Buy In” (common language), prior to developing the Sustainability Action Plan. An Ad-Hoc Committee of County employees and the Sponsors was formed to draft the Charter.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Charter Table of Contents Based on the Natural Step Contains a Vision Statement Establishes objectives Defines deliverables Defines roles and responsibilities Describes a general planning process Defines benefits and constraints

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Systems ThinkingStrategic PlanningPrinciples of Sustainability Common Language Allows everyone to communicate (gets them on the same page)…so, the details become relevant.

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Systems ThinkingStrategic PlanningPrinciples of Sustainability Common Language Allows everyone to communicate (gets them on the same page)…so, the details become relevant. To this end a Vision Statement was crafted.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Charter Elements of a Vision Statement Is consistent with other organizational policies Applies to all major operations States beliefs and intentions (what) not (how) Provides direction for decision making Provides a foundation for planning and action Is documented and communicated to employees Drives change in the workplace Inspires commitment Serves as a unifying theme

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Charter Vision Statement. Dunn County will serve as a community leader in sustainability by conducting daily operations through balanced stewardship of human, financial, and environmental resources for present and future generations.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Education Support Eco-County Designation Sustainability Action Plan Charter The charter was the vehicle that provided an understanding of the components to be dealt with (system thinking), it got everyone on the same page…(common language)…and got them facing the same direction…(shared goal/vision). Now, we were ready for meaningful dialogue, ready to deal with the details without the usual confusion. Sustainability Action Plan

Common Language We soon realized the task of creating a sustainable Dunn County was pretty complex…no one person could have all the answers…there’s simply too much information.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Environmental Leadership Team (ELT) The ELT was charged with developing the plan and overseeing implementation. Group of representatives that is “deep and wide”. “Deep” refers to involving all levels of Dunn County Government (not just management). “Wide” refers to involving as many participants from the Dunn County community (not just County government).

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Systems ThinkingCommon LanguagePrinciples of Sustainability Strategic Planning Backcasting Is a way of planning in which a successful outcome is imagined in the future, followed by the question: “What do we need to do today to reach that successful outcome?”

Backcasting Anticipates and avoids problems before they occur, rather than reacting to their downstream effects.

Backcasting It’s more effective than forecasting, because forecasting tends to limit the range of options, and it projects today’s problems into the future.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Table of Contents Purchasing Energy Education & Public Relations Baseline & Gap Analysis “Internal Plan” focused on Dunn County as an organization based on the notion that every Dunn County employee has a responsibility to promote the Principles of Sustainability now and into the future.

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan SMART Goals A SMART Goal evaluates if a goal/target has been met, they establish lines of accountability. SMART is an acronym for the five characteristics of well- designed goals. Specific Measurable Realistic Attainable Timely

Planning Process Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Sustainability Action Plan Backcasting & SMART Goals Backcasting was used as part of the goal setting process. A successful outcome (goal) was imagined in the future, the necessary steps were identified and those steps were then applied to a SMART goal template developed as part of the County’s plan.

Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.”

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking The Natural Step & Dunn County –The Four Principles of Sustainability. Education The Triple Bottom Line (3 P’s) –System Thinking Education Team Analogy Support Principles of Sustainability

NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK (NSF) Common LanguageStrategic PlanningSystems Thinking The Natural Step & Dunn County Cont… –Common Language Education Eco-County Designation Sustainability Action Plan Charter –Strategic Planning Backcasting Sustainability Action Plan Principles of Sustainability

FAQ’s Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How long did it take? Education 2008 Eco-County Designation Sustainability Charter Sustainability Action Plan

FAQ’s Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How much staff did it take? Sponsors County Board of Supervisors County Manager Planner Facilitator/project manager ELT Deep (Not just County management) Wide (Not just County resources)

FAQ’s Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How much did it cost? Education Cost of workshops Plan Development In house Using available County resources No special budget No sustainability consultant No sustainability coordinator

Contacts Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.” Bob Colson, Dunn County Planner Voice: Dunn County Website Eco-County Resolution Sustainability Action Plan Charter Sustainability Action Plan

Questions Dunn County, Wisconsin “Dedicated to our environment, the community and the future.”