Helping Seattle Aquarium & Others Go to Net Zero and Beyond w/ Daniel Lawse, Verdis Group - EP242

Economics Explored

Daniel Lawse, Chief Century Thinker at Verdis Group, helps many organizations, such as Seattle Aquarium, become more sustainable and contribute positively to the environment. Daniel joins Gene Tunny to discuss how organisations can make meaningful climate and environmental actions. They cover regenerative practices, the journey from sustainability to net-zero emissions, and the crucial role of long-term strategic planning. They also discuss the degrowth movement and how Warren Buffett’s annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting boosts local businesses in Omaha, where Verdis Group is based.

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What’s covered in EP242

• Introduction. (0:00)
• Climate action plans and sustainability implementation for organizations. (3:05)
• Regenerative systems, circular economy, and ecosystem types. (10:29)
• Sustainability and environmental economics, enlightened self-interest and long-term thinking. (16:09)
• Sustainable growth and development, comparing nature’s regenerative approach with human economies. (23:15)
• Growth vs degrowth. (29:20)
• Warren Buffett’s impact on Omaha. (34:20)

Takeaways

1. Through climate action plans, organizations can take practical steps to reduce their environmental impacts and work towards goals like net zero emissions.
2. Shifting mindsets from short-term to long-term thinking and considering impacts on future generations can drive more sustainable decision-making.
3. Nature provides many examples of regenerative and circular systems that organizations can learn from using approaches like biomimicry.
4. Enlightened self-interest and purpose-driven values can be strong motivators for sustainability action in addition to regulatory requirements.
5. Balancing economic and environmental considerations is an important topic for debate.

Links relevant to the conversation

Verdis Group: https://verdisgroup.com/

Seattle Aquarium case study: https://verdisgroup.com/case_studies/seattle-aquarium/

Patagonia - Don’t Buy This Jacket, Black Friday and the New York Times:

https://www.patagonia.com.au/blogs/stories/don-t-buy-this-jacket-black-friday-and-the-new-york-times

Books on the role of energy in growth and relevant to the degrowth debate

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/the-economic-growth-engine-9781849804356.html

https://www.amazon.com.au/Civilization-Distinguished-Professor-Emeritus-University/dp/0262035774

https://www.amazon.com.au/Growth-Microorganisms-Megacities-Vaclav-Smil/dp/0262042835

Previous episode on degrowth:

https://economicsexplored.com/2023/10/06/growth-or-degrowth-w-oliver-hartwich-nz-initiative-ep208/

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Thanks to Obsidian Productions for mixing the episode and to the show’s sponsor, Gene’s consultancy business www.adepteconomics.com.au.

Full transcripts are available a few days after the episode is first published at www.economicsexplored.com.