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Whole-Systems Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production 6 ConclusionIt is easy enough to speak in terms of discarding linear thinking, seeing the system as a whole, identifying leverage points, intervening effectively, and measuring accurately. It is an entirely different matter to implement such behavior on the ground. The suggestions in this paper offer ideas for achieving the goals of more sustainable production and consumption systems. The integration of agencies, shifting of mindsets, and leveraging of funds necessary to make these goals a reality are obviously difficult. We have not addressed some of the most obvious and urgent places to intervene—population, for instance— because they are outside of Rocky Mountain Institute’s areas of expertise. The recommendations we have made emphasize the power of information, opportunities for drastic increases in resource efficiency in buildings and infrastructure, and the need for integrated interventions. Some of the short-term ideas, such as compact florescent light bulb retrofits in UN buildings, may offer gratifying immediate payback. Many other proposed ideas will require a broader understanding of sustainability and inter-agency coordination to implement. All our suggestions stem from the axiom that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Our recommendations can be summarized as follows: understand the investment, production, consumption, and waste cycles in which any environmental problem is embedded; target interventions at multiple points in the cycle, measure the impact of these interventions; and adjust further interventions accordingly. The promise of transformation through whole systems thinking has been demonstrated on a small scale in agriculture and green building design. It is now imperative that we realize its potential on a global scale.
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