Understanding sustainable development in the voluntary sector: a complex problem

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Understanding sustainable development in the voluntary

sector: a complex problem

GILLIGAN, Christine

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GILLIGAN, Christine (2013). Understanding sustainable development in the

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Understanding Sustainable Development

in the Voluntary Sector: a Complex

Problem

Christine Gilligan Kubo

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Sheffield

Hallam University

for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration

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Acknowledgements

Firstly I want to thank Murray Clark for his belief in me - without him I

wouldn't have set out on this journey.

I also want to thank my supervisors, Bob Garvey, who has supported me

throughout and Richard W hite, whose helpful and informative suggestions

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Abstract

Sustainable developm ent:, a concept th a t em erged as we began to u nderstand the negative

im pacts o f e nviro n m e n ta l challenges, such as p o llu tio n and clim ate change, on hum an p ro sp e rity and social equality, was seen as o ffe rin g a w ay o f preserving the n a tu ra l systems

th a t sustain hum an life on Earth w h ils t continuing to s u p p o rt econom ic and social

developm ent. As a concept, how ever, it presents m any challenges, both in its in te rp re ta tio n

and in its a pplication and one o f the challenges is the re q u ire m e n t f o r b e h a vio ur change

fro m a ll sectors o f society, including the v o lu n ta ry sector. There is an assum ption by the UK

gove rn m e n t th a t vo lu n ta ry organisations, as tru ste d agents o f change, are w e ll placed to

help the p oo re st cope w ith the d isp ro p o rtio n a te im pacts o f econom ic and e n viro n m e n ta l

u nsu staina b ility and th a t the v o lu n ta ry sector should be w orking w ith local stakeholders to

p ro m o te behaviour change a t a local level. This research id e n tifie d th a t lim ite d

understanding o f the concept o f sustainable developm ent and in a p p ro p ria te co m m u n icatio n and in te ra ctio n w ith the UK governm ent, both n a tio n a lly and locally, a cte d to in h ib it

vo lu n ta ry sector engagem ent in change. P art o f the problem could be th a t tra d itio n a l lin e a r

approaches to behaviour change, based on clear cause and e ffe c t relationships and p re 

dete rm ine d outcom es, are n o t a p p ro p ria te when addressing com plex p roblem s like

sustainable developm ent, which involve m u ltip le stakeholders, both hum an and non-hum an.

The encouragem ent o f beh a vio ur change f o r sustainable developm ent m a y re q uire a new

and d iffe re n t approach. This thesis concludes th a t C om m unities o f Practice, a change

approach th a t is sym p a th e tic to the principles o f co m p lexity thinking, offers an a lte rn a tiv e

approach to b ehaviour change th a t could accom m odate the co m p lexity o f sustainable developm ent and add itio n ally, has m any fe a tu re s th a t w ould overcom e the b arriers to

vo lu n ta ry sector engagem ent. This type o f n on-hierarchical approach has the p o te n tia l to

encourage n o t only the v o lu n ta ry sector b u t a ll stakeholders in a local c o m m u n ity to w o rk

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FRONTISPIECE

Gaia th e o ry points to th e fa ct th a t hum ankind's e nviron m e n tal se nsitivity need n ot be

altru istic. A lthough e n v iron m e n tal debates are ofte n couched in term s o f 'saving th e pla ne t',

research results fro m Gaia th e o rists make it clear th a t th e planet can take care o f it itself.

W h a t is th re a te n e d via ecological and social degradation is n o t th e planet b ut hum ankind

and its w ay o f life. Thus, achieving su sta in a bility w ill require balanced, com plex interactio n s

involving both co-operation and c o m p e titio n am ong all o f th e planet's subsystems, o r th e

hum an co nd itio n w ill su ffe r as a result.

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Chapter 1 Introduction

'The fu n d a m e n ta l challenge o f s u s ta in a b ility goes f a r beyond th a t o f environm entalism . The

question is w h e th e r we can f u lf il o u r unique p o te n tia l as hum an beings, to understand o u r

beh a vio ur and its consequences.' (Clayton & Radcliffe 1996:ix)

The aim o f this ch ap ter is to in tro du ce th e to p ic o f this research - the role o f the v o lu n ta ry

sector in th e p ro m o tio n o f local sustainability. It w ill discuss the rationale fo r und e rtaking

this jo u rne y, explain th e context, o u tlin e th e research questions and provide an o ve rvie w o f

th e m ethodological approach adopted before sum m arising th e findings and th e c o n trib u tio n

to know ledge and practice.

1.1 Introd uction to the Field - ratio n ale and context

The concept o f sustainable d e ve lo p m en t em erged on th e w o rld stage around 1987 as the

negative im pacts o f e n v iron m e n tal challenges, such as p o llu tio n and clim ate change, began

to affect hum an p ro sp e rity and increase social in e qu a lity (WCED 1987, UN conferences 1972,

1987, 1992, 2009, IPCC 2007, Hawken 1993, P o rritt 2005, Stern 2006, W addock 2007). It

was seen as a w ay o f preserving th e natural systems th a t sustain hum an life w h ils t

co ntin u in g to su pp o rt econom ic and social developm ent. Sustainable d e ve lo p m e n t is

how ever a com plex and contestable problem (G ladwin et al 1995, S pringett 2006) th a t w ill

require changes in behaviour fro m all sectors o f society: governm ents, businesses, public

sector, vo lu n ta ry and c o m m u n ity organisations, co m m u n ities and fam ilies (Stern 2006, UK

G overnm ent 2005). Recognising th e need fo r action, in 2005 th e UK G overnm ent launched

'Securing the F uture', a policy fo r sustainable d eve lo p m en t based on the th re e pillars of:

e nviron m e n tal lim its, a strong, healthy and ju s t society and a sustainable econom y (trip le

b o tto m line).

Since the n clim ate change, o fte n seen as purely an e n v iron m e n tal problem , has also

increasingly h it the headlines and in response to th e g row ing issue o f clim ate change, th e UK

G overnm ent: organised a 'C itizen's S um m it' (Defra 2007), developed 'A Fram ew ork fo r Pro-

e n v iron m e n tal Behaviour' (Defra 2008) and launched th e 'UK Low Carbon Transition Plan'

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' The u ltim a te aim is to p ro te c t and im prove the environ m e n t by increasing the co n trib u tio n

fro m in d iv id u a l and co m m u n ity a c tio n.' (Defra 2008:3)

The gove rn m e n t believes th a t v o lu n ta ry organisations w o rkin g w ith the local c o m m u n ity

can be p o w e rfu l agents fo r change at a local level and th a t th e y are w ell placed to help the

poorest cope w ith th e d is p ro p o rtio n a te social and econom ic im pacts o f e n viron m e n tal

problem s (Tandon and M o h a n ty 2002). The vo lu n ta ry sector is th e re fo re seen as an

im p o rta n t stakeholder in the G overnm ent's approach to the creation o f m ore sustainable

com m unities:

'V o lu n ta ry and o th e r n o n -p ro fit organisations can m obilise m illions o f people in the fig h t

against clim ate change to help create and safeguard a b e tte r fu tu re . When we a ct to g e th e r; the scale o f o u r achievem ents f a r outstrip s w h a t any o f us could achieve alone. The

thousands o f o rganisations th a t m ake up the th ird sector are p o w e rfu l forces f o r change in

o u r society - and it's a fo rc e we need on o u r side in the f ig h t aga in st clim ate change. We

kn ow th a t clim ate change w ill h it the w o rld 's poo re st and m o st vulnerable people firs t, both

here and abroad. I believe this declaration w ill e m p ow e r every v o lu n ta ry org an isa tion in the

country, regardless o f its size o r location, to be p a r t o f the b ro ad e r m o ve m e n t to tackle

clim ate change w ith urgency and d e te rm in a tio n.' (E nvironm ent Secretary, launch o f th e Third Sector Declaration on C lim ate Change fo r Third Sector O rganisations 2007).

(The te rm vo lu n ta ry sector is used th ro u g h o u t this thesis to represent a diverse sector

in co rpo ra tin g m any d iffe re n t types o f n o t-fo r-p ro fit organisations th a t can be variously

referred to as Civil Society, th e Third Sector o r Non G overnm ental O rganisations.)

Considered an engine o f progressive change and a voice fo r society's a m bitions a b o u t th e

kind o f w o rld we w a n t to live in, th e v o lu n ta ry sector, th ro u g h organisations such as Friends

o f the Earth, th e W o rld W ild life Fund fo r N ature and Greenpeace, has led th e w ay in raising

awareness and pro viding in fo rm a tio n a bout e n v iron m e n tal issues (Stephens and Eden 1995).

' Civil society has ofte n been ahead o f o th e r sectors in w arning o f new threa ts - like those

fro m clim ate change - as w e ll as em bracing n ew o p p o rtu n itie s.' (M ulgan 2007:252)

There has, how ever, been lim ite d research in to v o lu n ta ry sector engagem ent in th e

p ro m o tio n o f behaviour change fo r sustainable d eve lo p m en t (Georg 1999, Church and

Elster 2002, Seyfang 2006, Seyfang and Smith 2007, M iddlem iss and Parrish 2009,

M iddlem iss 2009, Buchs et al 2011) and th e re is a suggestion th a t the sector is n o t as

engaged as it could be, w ith urban n on -e n viro nm en ta l organisations th e least likely to

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Sustainable d eve lo p m en t has been described as a m u lti-d im en sio na l, dynam ic concept th a t

is d iffic u lt to describe in sim ple cause and e ffe c t relationships (Kemp and Loorbach 2006, Rip

and Kemp 1998) and as indicated e arlier it is a com plex and controversial concept about

w hich th e re is little cla rity (Lozano 2008, G ladw in et al 1995). O ther w ords and phrases, like

clim ate change, e n viro n m e n ta lly frie n d ly, green, eco-friendly, etc. are o fte n linked w ith the

concept o f sustainable d eve lo p m en t and this p lethora o f sim ilar b ut com p etin g te rm s is said

to diffuse th e need fo r behaviour change (Hawken 1993). The lack o f c la rity surro u nd in g

sustainable d e ve lo p m en t could th e re fo re be one o f th e factors in h ib itin g v o lu n ta ry sector

engagem ent in th e p ro m o tio n o f sustainable behaviour, especially in these challenging

econom ic tim es, w hen the sector is facing d iffic u lt decisions to make about how best to

utilise its scarce resources (NCVO 2011). This research w ill address the lim ite d research in to

vo lu n ta ry sector engagem ent in this area by exploring how urban n o n -e n viro nm en ta l

vo lu n ta ry organisations, those least likely to engage in behaviour change (EAC 2007),

understand and respond to th e g o ve rn m e n t's agenda to encourage th e ir p a rtic ip a tio n in

local behaviour change to su pp o rt sustainable developm ent.

Climate change, as indicated above, is one o f th e phrases m entioned th a t overlaps w ith and

confuses th e concept o f sustainable developm ent. It is o fte n seen as purely an

e nviron m e n tal issue despite the fa ct th a t it has social and econom ic im pacts th a t align it

w ith the th re e pillars o f sustainable developm ent.

'Clim ate change is n o t sim p ly an e n viro n m e n ta l issue - i t threatens the stru gg le to d e fe a t

p o v e rty and in e q u a lity in the UK and globally. It is an issue o f social ju s tic e and a m o ra l

im p e ra tive'. (HM G overnm ent 2010)

A lthough clim ate change is th e o b je ct o f much G overnm ent policy, I have chosen to focus

this research on sustainable d e ve lo p m en t because sustainable d evelopm ent, unlike clim ate

change, is m ore readily associated w ith interde p en d en cy betw een social, e n viro n m e n ta l

and econom ic issues (Hale 2010, ESRC 2009, G uthrie, Ball and Farneti 2010). I feel th a t

exam ining th e concept o f sustainable developm ent, w hich incorporates clim ate change, w ill

create a broader p la tfo rm fro m w hich to explore th e inter-relatedness o f th e social,

econom ic and e n viro n m e n ta l issues facing us today.

The p rim a ry aim o f this research was th e re fo re , to explore the v o lu n ta ry sector

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to th e g o ve rn m e n t agenda around v o lu n ta ry sector c o n trib u tio n to the creation o f local

sustainability. Narratives are versions o f re a lity w hose acceptability is governed by

convention ra th e r than by em pirical ve rifica tio n (Bruner 1991) and because o f th e contested

nature o f sustainable d eve lo p m en t w ith its co m p etin g d e fin itio n s and in te rp re ta tio n s

(narratives) this research to o k an em ergent, inductive approach th a t acknowledges re a lity

as a social constru ct open to m u ltip le in te rp re ta tio n s (Johnson and Duberley 2000).

A t the heart o f th e sustainable deve lo p m en t concept is th e b e lie f (narrative) th a t

anthropogenic damage to th e natural e nv iro n m e n t is creating social and econom ic

problem s th a t th re a te n th e fu tu re sustainability o f hum an society (M cKibben 2007, P o rritt

2005). Rather than explore th e re a lity /tru th , o r not, o f anthropogenic damage, I am

considering it as one o f th e m any narratives th a t c o n trib u te to and influence th e responses

o f the v o lu n ta ry sector to the sustainable d eve lo p m en t agenda (Bruner 1991). Closely

linked to th e narrative around anthropogenic damage, is a n o the r narrative th a t suggests

sustainable d evelopm ent, re q uirin g behaviour change at all levels o f society, o ffers a w ay to

address th e social and econom ic problem s resulting fro m anthropogenic damage to the

natural e n viron m e n t. Developing a b e tte r understanding o f how these tw o narratives

influence v o lu n ta ry sector th in k in g about sustainable d e ve lo p m en t and th e need fo r

b ehaviour change are th e re fo re im p o rta n t factors w hen exploring the g o ve rn m e n t

n a rra tive/a ssum ptio n th a t the v o lu n ta ry sector can c o n trib u te to th e p ro m o tio n o f

sustainable developm ent.

As already o u tlin e d , th e co m p lexity su rrounding sustainable d eve lo p m en t may increase th e

d iffic u lty o f try in g to encourage behaviour change. It involves many agents, hum an and non

hum an, in te ra ctin g on a global scale, and m any o f the m u ltip le d e fin itio n s e xp licitly

acknowledge an inter-d ep e nd e ncy betw een hum ans and natural systems as w e ll as

betw een e nviro n m e n ta l damage, hum an e q u a lity and econom ic d eve lo p m en t - a system ic

perspective. This system ic perspective can be seen as challenging tra d itio n a l approaches to

behaviour change based on linear, re d u ctio n ist th in k in g w hich try to reduce th e co m p le x ity

by breaking dow n th e problem s in to single issues to be exam ined in d e p e n d e n tly (Grey 2009,

Darwin et al 2002). One outcom e o f try in g to address com plex, dynam ic problem s in a

linear w ay is th a t changing any one e le m en t im pacts on o th e r elem ents in th e system and

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one (Jahn and W ehling 1998). For exam ple, the g row ing o f bio-fuels as an a lte rn a tive to

fossil fuels in o rd e r to reduce C02 emissions has been associated w ith increases in global

foo d prices w hich have increased p o ve rty and in e qu a lity (BBC W o rld News 2012). The

nature o f sustainable d e ve lo p m en t suggests th e re fo re , th a t encouraging th e necessary

b ehaviour changes may require us to move away fro m tra d itio n a l linear approaches to

change, and find new and d iffe re n t approaches th a t recognise the interde p en d en cy o f th e

issues and th e d iffe rin g needs o f th e m u ltip le stakeholders (Voss et al 2006).

C om plexity th in k in g is a non-linear, m ultid iscip lin a ry, holistic, flexible and in teg ra tive

fra m e w o rk th a t acknowledges in terdependency and relationship ra th e r than separation

(reductionism ) (Capra 1996, Spretnak 1999). As an em erging fie ld th a t developed fro m

systems th in k in g it offe rs th e prospect o f solving a w id e range o f im p o rta n t problem s facing

us as individuals and as a society (Johnson 2009) and could provide th e th e o re tic a l basis fo r

an approach to sustainable developm ent. C om m unities o f Practice (CoPs) (Lave and

W enger 1991, W enger 2006) have been found to be an e ffe ctive way o f s u pp o rtin g

behaviour change in organisations by bringing people to g e th e r to encourage change

throu g h social learning. They acknow ledge n o n -line r relationships, are sensitive to the

needs o f d iffe re n t stakeholders and encourage an understanding o f th e w h o le system , a

system ic approach th a t m irro rs th e principles o f c o m p lexity th in k in g (Dent 1999). CoPs

th e re fo re could provide a d iffe re n t w ay o f supp o rtin g th e behaviour changes needed to

address sustainable d e ve lo p m en t and as th e y exhibit features th a t could appeal to th e

v o lu n ta ry sector ethos th e y could p o te n tia lly be m ore e ffe ctive in encouraging v o lu n ta ry

sector p a rticip a tio n tha n tra d itio n a l linear approaches.

The p rim a ry aim o f this research was, as m e ntioned, to develop a b e tte r u nderstanding o f

the v o lu n ta ry sector's in te rp re ta tio n o f and response to th e g o ve rn m e n t's expectations

around th e ir p a rticip a tio n in th e sustainable d eve lo p m en t agenda. The com plex natu re o f

sustainable d eve lo p m en t and the appa re nt need fo r a new and d iffe re n t approach led to

th e second aim o f this research - to exam ine th e p o te n tia l o f co m p lexity thinking , enacted

throu g h CoPs, as a d iffe re n t w ay o f addressing com plex m u lti-d im en sio na l problem s like

sustainable d e ve lo p m en t and engaging th e vo lu n ta ry sector in th e p ro m o tio n o f sustainable

behaviour at a local level. The c o n trib u tio n to practice w ill be n ot only h ow th e principles o f

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the p ro m o tio n o f behaviour change, b ut also how this approach could be useful fo r policy

makers and o th e r organisations facing com plex problem s.

1.1.2 Research Aims and Objectives

1. to explore the g o ve rn m e n t narrative th a t the vo lu n ta ry sector, as a sector th a t is

innovative and good at influencing change, can m obilise fo r behavioural change at

local level and c o n trib u te to th e creation o f m ore sustainable com m unities.

2. to exam ine if o r how co m p lexity th in k in g could provide a d iffe re n t fra m e w o rk fo r

addressing com plex m u lti-d im en sio na l problem s like sustainable deve lo p m en t, one

th a t could overcom e barriers to engagem ent and encourage v o lu n ta ry sector

p a rticip a tio n in th e p ro m o tio n o f sustainable behaviour at a local level.

As indicated earlier, I am taking a narrative approach, defining a narrative as a subjective

account o f an event o r action th a t does n ot co ns titu te a d efin itiv e tru th (B runer (1991).

Accepting sustainable d e ve lo p m en t as a narrative allows exploration o f its in te rp re ta tio n

and provides a basis fo r exam ining th e associated concepts, beliefs o r narratives th a t

underpin it. Two key u nderlying concepts th a t c o n trib u te to sustainable d ev e lo p m e n t are:

• anth ro po g en ic damage to th e natural e nv iro n m e n t is creating social and econom ic

problem s th a t th re a te n th e fu tu re sustainability o f hum an society (M cKibben 2007,

P o rritt 2005).

• sustainable developm ent, req uirin g behaviour change at all levels o f society, o ffe rs a

w ay to address th e social and econom ic problem s resulting fro m a nth ro po g en ic

damage.

As narratives can be p o w e rfu l c o n trib u to rs to th e constru ctio n o f re a lity (B runer 1991), how

the v o lu n ta ry sector in te rp re ts sustainable deve lo p m en t w ill a ffe ct th e ir response. If th e

sector d o e sn 't understand the im pact o f a nth ro p o ce n tric damage, fo r exam ple, it is u nlikely

to see a need fo r behaviour change. In o th e r w ords, if sustainable d eve lo p m en t is n o t seen

as a relevant narrative fo r th e sector, it is unlikely th a t local v o lu n ta ry organisations w ill be

w illin g to c o n trib u te to th e p ro m o tio n o f local su sta in a bility in th e w ay th e G ove rn m e n t

hopes. Exploring how th e v o lu n ta ry sector understands th e key narratives th a t c o n s titu te

sustainable d eve lo p m en t is th e re fo re , a key ele m en t o f this research and th e fo llo w in g

research questions w ere developed to address th e firs t research aim and develop an

understanding o f th e p o te n tia l v o lu n ta ry sector response to th e g ove rn m e n t's call fo r th e

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1.1.3 Research Questions

• W h a t do v o lu n ta ry sector stakeholders understand a bout th e cu rre n t state o f the

natural e n viro n m e n t and the effects o f a nthropogenic damage on society, including

how it m ig h t a ffe ct th e ir organisation, service users and com m unity?

• How is th e concept o f sustainable deve lo p m en t and th e need fo r b ehaviour change

u nderstood in th e sector?

• Do v o lu n ta ry sector stakeholders consider th a t th e sector has a role to play in th e

p ro m o tio n o f sustainable behaviour at a local level (including m itig a tin g th e ir ow n

im pact on th e natural e nviron m e n t)? If so, how m ig h t th e y go abo u t this and w h a t

su pp o rt w ill th e y need?

• W h a t are th e barriers to th e p ro m o tio n o f sustainable developm ent?

This in fo rm a tio n w ill be useful fo r G overnm ent as it develops it strategies fo r c o m m u n ity

p a rticip a tio n in th e fig h t against clim ate change and the creation o f a m ore sustainable

society, b ut in fo rm a tio n alone w ill n ot bring abo u t change. The G overnm ent w ill also need a

w ay o f utilising this in fo rm a tio n to encourage v o lu n ta ry sector p a rticip a tio n in th e

sustainability agenda. As highlighted earlier, th e com plex, m u lti-d im en sio na l nature o f

sustainable deve lo p m en t suggests it is n ot som ething th a t can be easily managed by

classical, problem solving approaches th a t rely on linear analysis and planning to p re d ic t

outcom es and e lim ina te u nce rta in ty (Voss et al 2006). In a dynam ic w o rld , achieving

sustainable deve lo p m en t may require a d iffe re n t approach, an approach th a t changes th e

w ay we th in k about th e natural w o rld and recognises o u r em beddedness in the w id e r

ecology (Borland 2009) and at th e same tim e provides th e fle x ib ility to a llo w a da p ta tio n to

ongoing e nviro n m e n ta l changes. This need fo r a d iffe re n t w ay o f actioning sustainable

d eve lo p m en t is explored in the second aim o f this research - t h e p o te n tia l o f c o m p le xity

th in k in g to provide a d iffe re n t w ay o f addressing com plex problem s like sustainable

d eve lo p m en t and encouraging vo lu n ta ry sector p a rticip a tio n in this agenda.

1.2 Structure of the Thesis

This thesis presents a critical overview o f my research jo u rn e y as I exam ined th e p o te n tia l o f

th e v o lu n ta ry sector to su p p o rt th e G overnm ent narrative and encourage th e p ro m o tio n o f

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o f the how th e thesis is stru cture d , id e n tify in g some o f th e main areas th a t are discussed in

each chapter.

1.2.1 Chapter 2 Sustainable Development: a contemporary challenge

C hapter 2 is th e lite ra tu re review . It discusses th e key them es th a t underpin this research:

sustainable developm ent, th e role o f th e vo lu n ta ry sector as local change agents, behaviour

change, social learning and co m p lexity thinking . It begins by highlighting th e c u rre n t

n arratives around the relationship betw een hum an behaviour and the e n viro n m e n t, before

discussing th e contested nature o f sustainable deve lo p m en t and th e need fo r behaviour

change. It the n focuses on d iffe re n t approaches to behaviour change and th e im p o rta n ce o f

social learning. This is fo llo w e d by a discussion o f c o m p lexity th in k in g and th e strengths and

weaknesses o f co m p lexity th in k in g as a p o te n tia lly new and d iffe re n t approach to behaviour

change before exam ining th e role o f the v o lu n ta ry sector as an enabler o f b eh a vio ur change

at a local level. To provide th e co n te xt fo r this research I w ill now provide a b rie f o verview

o f th re e main areas: sustainable developm ent, behaviour change and co m p le xity th inking ,

and the role o f th e v o lu n ta ry sector.

1.2.1.1 Sustainable Development: a complex problem

Sustainable d eve lo p m en t is, as suggested, a controversial issue and one o f th e challenges I

faced was try in g to define it. It was firs t o u tlin e d in 1987, (WCED) in the B rundtland Report,

'O ur Common Future', as a w ay to overcom e the problem s o f anth ro po g en ic damage.

'D evelopm ent th a t m eets the needs o f the present w ith o u t com prom ising the a b ility o f

fu tu re generations to m e e t th e ir ow n needs.' (WCED 1987)

Since the n it has been variously defined as a concept fo r social m odernisation on a global

scale, th a t focuses on th e trip le b o tto m line o f social equity, e n v iron m e n tal q u a lity and

econom ic p ro sp e rity (Voss et al 2006, G ladwin et al 1995) b ut th e re are at least seventy

d iffe re n t d e fin itio n s (Lozano 2008). It can be seen as 'sim ply a b o u t the e n viro n m e n t', o r as

'to o w o rth y an issue, w ith o u t a clear business case', (EAC/CAG 2008:ii). F u rthe rm ore, its

scale and scope mean th a t it is n ot easily tra nslate d in to national o r local issues, and it can

be perceived as to o big a problem fo r individuals o r small organisations to address (Banerjee

2003, W eick 1984). Sustainable d eve lo p m en t th e re fo re can appear as vague, confusing and

alm ost m eaningless - a messy, m u lti-d im en sio na l concept th a t challenges d o m in a n t lin e ar

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2002, Dobson 2007, S pringett 2006, O'Riordan 1988, G ladwin et al 1995). T ra d itio na l linear

problem solving approaches focussing on d e fin itiv e answers, sim ple solutions and easily

m easurable outcom es have been criticised as in su fficie n t to encourage the behaviour

changes needed fo r sustainable d e ve lo p m en t (Rammel et al 2003). T ra d itio na l, re d u ctio n ist

approaches to change have also been criticised fo r th e ir acceptance o f th e a n th ro p o c e n tric

w o rld v ie w th a t separates hum ans fro m th e natural systems on w hich th e y depend as this

separation is seen by m any as a c o n trib u tin g fa c to r in th e e n viron m e n tal damage

sustainable deve lo p m en t is seeking to address (Sterling 2003, Bartunek and M och 1987).

Voss et al (2006), aware o f th e challenges sustainable d eve lo p m en t presents fo r th e

governance o f m odern society, suggest th a t it requires new form s o f p roblem handling th a t

can overcom e th e problem s associated w ith linear rationalism .

1.2.1.2 Behaviour change and complexity thinking

Complex problem s are:

'value-laden, open-ended, m ultidim ensional, am biguous and unstable. Labelled 'w icke d ' and 'messy', they resist being tam ed, bounded o r m anaged by classical p ro b le m solving

approaches.' (Klein J. 2004:4).

Sustainable d eve lo p m en t is, as discussed, a com plex problem (P o rritt 2005, Lozano 2008,

Gibson 2000, Daily et al 2008, Dresner 2002, Smyth 2006, Dobson 2007, S pringett 2006,

O'Riordan 1988, Gladw in et al 1995) and classical problem solving approaches based on

linear rationalism and sim ple cause and e ffe ct relationships w ith a focus on quick fixes and

re g ula to ry change (first order, stru ctura l change) may n ot be su fficie n t to bring a bo u t the

changes needed fo r sustainable d eve lo p m en t (Klein J. 2004, Voss et al 2006). Dobson

(2007) suggests sustainability requires a co m b ina tio n o f firs t o rd e r and second o rd e r value

change, b ut even this doe sn 't challenge th e fu n d a m e n ta l cognitive fra m e w o rk o f linear

rationalism th a t underpins th e a n th ro p o c e n tric beliefs th a t separate hum ans fro m th e

natural e nviron m e n t. Sustainable d e ve lo p m en t th e re fo re , appears to require us to ask new

questions and develop a d iffe re n t, m ore inclusive w ay o f seeing th e w o rld , one th a t

acknowledges o u r in terdependency w ith the com plex, adaptive system th a t is th e Earth

(Gaia th e o ry, Lovelock 2000). A cknow ledging the system ic n ature o f o ur lives and o u r role

as co-creators o f this system could be considered th ird o rd e r change - a m ove away fro m

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C om plexity th in k in g is based on n on-linear relationships and an understanding o f th e w hole

system and has been called th ird o rd e r th in k in g th a t transcends both firs t and second o rd e r

change and challenges th e d o m in a n t paradigm o f linear rationalism (D ent 1999).

' Valid know ledge and m e a n in g fu l understanding comes fro m b uilding up w hole pictures o f

phenom enon, n o t by breaking them in to p arts'. (Flood 2001:133).

Unlike linear rational approaches to change, in w hich p o w e rfu l change agents a tte m p t to

manage the change process to achieve intended outcom es, in com plex systems, change

cannot be co ntro lle d and outcom es cannot be predicted (M cM illa n 2004). There is no

m aster plan as change emerges as a pro du ct o f th e self-organisation o f m u ltip le agents

acting in d ep e nd e ntly w ith in th e system and p ow er is dispersed to allow solutions and ideas

to em erge fro m th e in te rp la y o f d iffe re n t stakeholders (M cM illa n 2004). This kind o f

approach w o u ld a llow local fle x ib ility and could provide a fra m e w o rk to su p p o rt th e

behaviour changes required fo r sustainable d e ve lo p m en t in a w ay th a t is m ore palatable to

the v o lu n ta ry sector than tra d itio n a l linear approaches. C om m unities o f Practice (CoPs) th a t

m irro r th e principles o f c o m p lexity th in k in g and su pp o rt social learning th ro u g h social

in te ra ctio n (Lave and W enger 1991) could be a w ay o f enacting th e principles o f c o m p le x ity

th in k in g and th e creation o f local CoPs focussing on sustainable d eve lo p m en t and involving

a v a rie ty o f local stakeholders including the v o lu n ta ry sector could th e re fo re p o te n tia lly

provide a new and innovative way o f supp o rtin g sustainable d eve lo p m en t and encouraging

v o lu n ta ry sector p a rticip a tio n in behaviour change at a local level.

1.2.1.3 Sustainable Development and the voluntary sector

The public and v o lu n ta ry sectors exist to m itig a te negative e xte rn a litie s and m a rke t failures

such as e n viron m e n tal damage, and to p ro te c t and enhance th e life o f citizens (Le Grand

2003). The UK G overnm ent sees sustainable d e ve lo p m en t as a relevant issue fo r th e

vo lu n ta ry sector because changes in th e natural e n v iro n m e n t are likely to fu rth e r increase

social in e q u a lity fo r the poor and disadvantaged, those th e v o lu n ta ry sector w orks w ith .

Aw are o f th e strength o f th e sector as a change agent, e ith e r th ro u g h cam paigning o r by

co n trib u tio n to policy (M ulgan 2007, E therington 2008) th e G overnm ent believes th e sector

can m obilise m illions o f people in th e fig h t against clim ate change (Stern 2006, IPCC 2007,

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th e relevance o f the e n v iron m e n tal agenda and see it as having the p o te n tia l to re-

invigorate civil society organisations and rebuild relationships w ith politics and politicians.

'The vo lu n ta ry sector could be a key p la ye r in encouraging sustainable b e h a vio ur a t

co m m u n ity level th a t could lead to the creation a sustainable society encompassing

ecological, social and econom ic security.' (M ulgan 2007:36)

There is evidence how ever, th a t this is not a vie w shared by all. Barings (2010) found some

organisations w ere unconvinced th a t clim ate change was an issue fo r th e m and P o rritt

suggests th a t

'The vast m a jo rity o f (voluntary) organisations address the social agenda; poverty, hum an

rights, justice, health, b u t have little tim e f o r the e n viron m e n t - they th in k it is a nice thing

f o r the a fflu e n t m iddle classes to d o .' (P o rritt 2005:29)

If the vo lu n ta ry sector is to help m obilise fo r change th e re fo re , it is im p o rta n t th e sector is

aware o f th e link betw een social sustainability and ecological su sta in a bility and understands

th e need fo r behaviour change, b ut research suggests th a t th e v o lu n ta ry sector, and

p a rticu la rly urban n o n -e n viro nm en ta l organisations, d o n 't fu lly understand th e concept o f

sustainable deve lo p m en t o r th e need fo r behaviour change (EAC/CAG 2007c, Big Lottery).

The apparent lack o f understanding o f th e link betw een social justice and e n viro n m e n ta l

issues could be a c o n trib u tin g fa c to r in the apparent lack o f willingness to engage and my

personal experience supports this. I have been involved w ith th e v o lu n ta ry sector fo r m any

years, both as a vo lu nte er, as a tru ste e , and I c u rre n tly teach a M asters level m odule on

Charity Resource M anagem ent at a UK university. A lthough sustainable d e ve lo p m e n t

im pacts on social justice and in th e o ry, accords w ith th e v o lu n ta ry sector ethos, w hen I

m e n tion sustainability o r sustainable deve lo p m en t to students w h o are w o rk in g in th e

sector, th e y assume I am talking about financial sustainability. Even a fte r explaining th a t I

am re ferrin g to e n v iron m e n tal sustainability the a ttitu d e appears to be th a t if it is n o t p art

o f the organisational mission it is n ot som ething on w hich lim ite d resources can be spent.

O rganisations struggling to secure th e funds and resources needed to su pp o rt th e ir core

organisational mission (Klein K. 2004, NCVO 2011) w ill be u nw illin g to invest in non-core

a ctivities like sustainable deve lo p m en t if th e y cannot see how it relates to th e ir mission and

th e ir service users and th e Big Lottery (2006) id e n tifie d e nviro n m e n ta l considerations as one

o f th e areas th e v o lu n ta ry sector needed m ore help and guidance on to enable th e m to

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The apparent m ism atch betw een the G overnm ent rh e to ric th a t suggests v o lu n ta ry sector

organisations should be active in the p ro m o tio n o f sustainable deve lo p m en t at a local level

and the understanding o f this in the sector makes this a relevant and to p ica l area to explore

and based on CAG/EAC findings th a t urban n o n -e n viro nm en ta l organisations w ere th e least

likely to engage in behaviour change to su pp o rt sustainable d eve lo p m en t (2007c), this

research focussed on n o n -e n viro nm en ta l v o lu n ta ry organisations in a city location w ith a

city strategy th a t e xp licitly recognised the c o n trib u tio n o f all sectors in th e ir aim to becom e

'an a ttra c tiv e and sustainable lo w carbon c ity '

'Reducing energy consum ption and increasing energy efficiency can only be achieved by s h ift

in a ttitu d e s and b eh a vio ur tow ards m ore sustainable life styles - everyone has to do th e ir

bit.'(C \ty Strategy 2007)

1.2.2 Chapter 3 Methodological Choices - understanding different

perspectives

This chapter presents some critical insights in to th e m ethodological choices made during the

research process. W hen choosing a research strategy, it is im p o rta n t to consider th e

phenom ena to be investigated as w ell as th e philosophical underpinnings o f th e researcher

and th e ir understanding o f th e nature o f know ledge.

'Choice and adequacy o f a m e th o d embodies a va rie ty o f assum ptions re g ardin g the n a tu re

o f know ledge and the m ethods through which know ledge can be obtained, as w e ll as a s e t o f

ro o t assum ptions a b o u t the n a tu re o f the phenom ena to be in v e s t ig a t e d(M organ and

Smircich 1980:88)

I chose an ite ra tive, em ergent, inductive approach based on a p ostm odern philosophy.

Iteratio n involves repeating a sequence o f tasks in th e same m anner each tim e , an

em ergent approach allow ed me to fo llo w the data, and in d uctio n is a process o f th e o ry

building fro m the em pirical data. I chose postm odernism because it focuses on th e role o f

discourse in the social constru ctio n o f w h a t is taken to be real (Johnson and D uberley 2000)

and appeared to o ffe r an approach th a t w o u ld a llow me to explore and acknow ledge th e

m u ltip le dialogues o r narratives th a t c o n trib u te to sustainable d eve lo p m en t in a w ay th a t

respects all voices and n ot ju s t th e d o m in a n t narratives o f g o ve rn m e n t o r e n viro n m e n ta lists

(Smyth 2006).

'Hum an action arises o u t o f the c u ltu ra lly derived m eanings deployed during sense m a k in g .'

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If we acknowledge th a t hum an action is, as Johnson and Duberley suggest, a social construct,

responses to sustainable deve lo p m en t w ill vary according to individual beliefs and

understandings and th e re may be d iffe re n t solutions fo r th e same problem , depending on

th e nature o f th e participants and th e circum stances. Postm odernism offe rs a w ay o f

uncovering these d iffe re n t beliefs and assum ptions.

Furtherm ore, because postm odern expresses 'in c re d u lity tow ards m e ta n a rra tiv e s ' (Lyotard

1984:xxiv) it could also provide a w ay o f asking fu n d a m e n ta l questions a bout the

relationships betw een humans, the natural e n viron m e n t, and how we live o ur lives

(challenging th e d o m in a n t m eta-narratives). As already discussed, the com plex and

contested nature o f sustainable d e ve lo p m en t suggests th a t tra d itio n a l approaches to

behavior change may need to be challenged.

There was a n o the r reason fo r o p tin g fo r a postm odern approach - postm odernism has m any

sim ilarities w ith co m p lexity th in k in g in th a t th e y both share an emphasis on localised

change and discourse o r in te ra ctio n as an enabler o f change, acknow ledging th a t know ledge

is a pro du ct o f in te ra ctio n betw een agents (Cilliers 1998).

Postm odernism and co m p lexity th in k in g have som ething else in com m on - th e y regard the

researcher as a co-cre a to r o f th e know ledge generated, an active p a rticip a n t in th e

outcom es th a t influences th e research process as much as th e research process influences

th e m (M cM illa n 2004, M organ and Smircich 1980). The outcom es o f this is th a t th e

researcher, as part o f th e system, cannot stand outside, investigating fro m th e perspective

o f an objective observer and th e re fo re th e researcher m ust be tra n sp a re n t a bout th e ir

ontological and epistem ological position (refle xivity) and th e ir influence on th e process.

'In o rd e r to understand the o th e r the researcher needs to understand h im /h e r s e lf and th e ir

perspective o f tru th .' (M cAuley et al 2007:334)

As I am a co -creator o f th e research I th in k it is a p p ro p ria te and indeed necessary to provide

a b rie f o verview o f how my ontological beliefs have c o n trib u te d to th e d ev e lo p m e n t o f this

research.

O ntology relates to th e nature o f tru th . The researcher's o n to lo g y affects n o t o nly th e

research m ethods b ut th e in te rp re ta tio n o f the outcom es (Johnson and D uberley 2000,

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em p irica l evidence' (Darwin et al 2002:326). Epistem ology is concerned w ith how w e ask

p articula r questions and assess the relevance and value o f th e research findings. It is 'the

stud y o f the crite ria by which we can kn o w w h a t does and does n o t constitute w a rra n te d o r

scie n tific know ledge' (Johnson and D uberley 2000:3).

M y a p rio ri beliefs and understanding, (h isto ry in a com plex system ), d iffe r fro m the

m odern, rational, a n th ro p o ce n tric w o rld view th a t em erged fro m the E nlightenm ent and

shaped o u r m odern W estern w ay o f life. From an a n th ro p o c e n tric perspective, nature is a

resource to be exploited fo r hum an convenience ra th e r than a resource to be respected and

valued as part o f o u r life su p p o rt system, and p o w e rfu l in d ustria l and technological

expansion since the E nlightenm ent has reinforced th e separation o f hum ans fro m nature.

(M cKibben 2007, Peate 2005).

'The W estern w ay o f know ing has denied va lid ity to every m in d save its own. R ationalism

dem anded s u p e rio rity to and separation fro m n a tu re ' (G riffith s 2006:14)

A lthough this approach has c o n trib u te d to th e a fflu e n t lifestyles experienced in th e

developed w o rld today, th e use o f nature as a to o l fo r econom ic d eve lo p m en t is also seen

as the ro o t o f the cu rre n t social and ecological problem s (G iradot et al 2001). The scientific

re vo lutio n o f 17th ce ntu ry E nlightenm ent, based on objective em piricism , inductive

reasoning and analysis and th e separation o f m ind and body, subject and object, observer

and observed, people and nature, has made us blind to th e consequences o f o u r actions

M ille r (1999). Recent developm ents in science, such as q uantum physics, how eve r are

beginning to challenge our concept o f th e nature o f m a tte r, the separation o f m ind and

m a tte r and our a b ility fo r objective observation (Heisenberg 1962, Chopra 2007b, Berman

1989).

M y personal o n to lo g y is eco-centric, sim ilar to th a t o f indigenous peoples, (Traditional

Ecological Knowledge), w hich sees hum ans as p art o f nature and recognises th a t natu ra l

systems need to be safeguarded because th e y are in trin sic to hum an life (Peate 2005,

B le w itt 2010). Several factors have c o n trib u te d to m y beliefs and understandings, n o t least

living and w o rkin g in Japan fo r 10 years, w hich exposed me to a d iffe re n t set o f cu ltu ra l

values, and in particular, th e concept o f re la tiv ity in h e re n t in Eastern philosophies such as,

Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism (B atchelor 1998). M y h istory th e re fo re , as w e ll as

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absolute separation o f m ind and m a tte r associated w ith scientific o bje ctivity. For me, tru th

is not absolute b ut is located in h istory and changes as know ledge and understanding

change. In o th e r w ords, it is defined th ro u g h o u r relationships w ith the w o rld around us.

'R eality is socially constructed and o u r understanding o f it is created n o t discovered.'

(Schwabenland 2006:3)

This co-creative o n to lo g y lead me to be interested in the relationships betw een elem ents in

th e system (a holistic view ) ra th e r than th e elem ents them selves (a re d u ctio n ist view ) and

influenced my choice o f research m etho d olog y tow ards an approach th a t can accom m odate

d iffe re n t tru th s - postm odernism , and acknow ledge non -line a rity, co-creation and

relationship -c o m p le x ity thinking . The inductive, em ergent approach I have adopted w ill

a llow me to explore both individual understanding o f th e narratives su rrounding sustainable

developm ent, and th e relationships betw een th e g overnm ent, th e v o lu n ta ry sector and

society, as all o f these w ill influence behaviour change.

In term s o f behaviour change, M ulgan, recognising th e socially constructed nature o f society

and the im p o rta nce o f acknow ledging d iffe re n t perspectives, suggests th a t

'there is n o t one fu tu re b u t m u ltip le possible fu tu re s , dependent p a rtly on h o w we choose to

respond to o r create change ... It is im p o rta n t to have conversations a b o u t the fu tu re in o rd e r to understand the present b e tte r and d iffe re n tly .' (M ulgan 2007:252)

He stresses the role o f conversation in developing understanding and stim u la tin g change

and this led me to choose conversation as the data gathering approach because I fe lt

conversation was consistent w ith th e co-creative process I was try in g to explore.

Conversation rem oves th e in te rv ie w e r fro m a position o f an e xpe rt and places th e m as an

equal to create a situ atio n w here participants and th e researcher learn to g e th e r and this

increases th e p o te n tia l fo r c o -cre a tivity (Kuhn and W oog 2005). I used an ite ra tiv e th re e

stage data gathering process, involving conversations w ith various local stakeholders

including th e local council, representatives fro m n on -e n viro nm en ta l v o lu n ta ry organisations

and co ordin a tors o f local v o lu n ta ry groups.

1.2.3 Chapters 4 and 5: The Findings of stages 1 and 2

Chapter 4, 'Exploring the T errain', presents the findings fro m th e firs t round o f

conversations (Stage 1) w ith five key stakeholders in strategic positions o f influence in th e

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th e vo lu n ta ry sector in the p ro m o tio n o f sustainable deve lo p m en t and id e n tify significant

local relationships. As w e ll as co n firm in g th e relevance o f sustainable d eve lo p m en t fo r the

sector, it highlights how p oo r co m m u n icatio n and a lack o f n e tw o rkin g in th e city appeared

to be a fa c to r in th e lack o f engagem ent by n o n -e n viro nm en ta l vo lu n ta ry organisations.

In an ite ra tive process, th e findings fro m this firs t stage o f the research in form e d th e next

stage o f the process, Stage 2 - conversations w ith urban, n on -e n viro nm en ta l vo lu n ta ry

organisations in th e city, the findings o f w hich can be found in Chapter 5, T h e P otential fo r

Change'. As individuals, participants expressed concern a bout e nviron m e n tal issues, but

confusion around language and lack o f understanding o f th e interde p en d en cy betw een the

social, th e econom ic and th e e nviro n m e n ta l in h e re n t in th e concept o f sustainable

deve lo p m en t le ft th e m unclear o f its relevance to th e ir organisation and th e ir service users.

Furtherm ore, bureaucracy, lim ite d funding, lack o f in fo rm a tio n and little o r no n e tw o rk in g

around sustainable deve lo p m en t w ere also id e n tifie d as barriers to change.

A m a jo r th e m e th a t em erged fro m stages 1 and 2 o f th e research was th a t engaging in

conversation a bout sustainable d eve lo p m en t appeared to create th e space fo r p articipa n ts

to re fle ct on and develop th e ir understanding o f th e issues, and this increased th e relevance

o f sustainable d eve lo p m en t fo r th e ir organisations and service users and led to small

changes behaviours. The need fo r new understanding and how this can increase th e

p o te n tia l fo r behaviour change (W eick 1995) c o n trib u te d to th e d eve lo p m en t o f a

co m p lexity fra m e w o rk enacted throu g h CoPs as a p o te n tia lly new approach to beh a vio ur

change th a t w ould encourage v o lu n ta ry sector p a rticipa tio n.

1.2.4 Chapter 6 V o lu n tary sector and Sustainable Developm ent: to

engage or not

This ch ap ter analyses th e findings fro m Chapter 4 and 5 to address the firs t research aim : an

explora tio n o f th e gove rn m e n t narrative around th e p o te n tia l p a rticip a tio n o f urban non-

e nviro n m e n ta l v o lu n ta ry organisations in th e p ro m o tio n o f local sustainable beh a vio ur

change. Them ed around the research questions o u tlin e d in section 1.1.3.it looks at th e

in te rp re ta tio n o f sustainable d eve lo p m en t by th e p articipants and examines how th e ir

understanding o f this agenda influences th e ir c o n trib u tio n to th e p ro m o tio n o f b e h a vio u r

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o f engaging in conversation as a w ay o f s tim u la tin g new understanding and changing

behaviour.

1.2.5 Chapter 7 Seeing the world anew - contribution to practice

'W e c a n 't m ake the earth sustainable: i t is sustainable - b u t w h e th e r w ith us o r w ith o u t us,

is o u r choice.' (Judge 2002:9)

Sustainable developm ent, as highlighted earlier, is a com plex problem and as hum an beings

w ith agency we have a choice. W e can choose su sta in a bility or we can carry on w ith

business as usual and deal w ith th e consequences. This ch ap ter explores th e second aim o f

th e research, an understanding o f how th e principles o f co m p lexity thinking , applied

throu g h C om m unities o f Practice, could su pp o rt th e choices w e need to make fo r th e fu tu re .

Aw are o f th e need fo r a new fra m e w o rk to encourage behaviour change, th e realisation

th a t conversation, or face to face engagem ent, supports social learning and could be an

effective w ay o f changing understanding and thus p o te n tia lly changing b ehaviour (W eick

1995) led to th e d eve lo p m en t o f C om m unities o f Practice, as a w ay o f s u pp o rtin g beh a vio ur

change fo r sustainable d eve lo p m en t at a local level by encouraging vo lu n ta ry sector

p a rticipa tio n. C om m unities o f Practice (CoPs) bring to g e th e r d iffe re n t stakeholders to share

know ledge and develop solutions th a t w o rk fo r th e m in th e ir local situ atio n (Lave and

W enger 1991). Based on the principles o f collective learning w here com petences em erge

fro m in te ra ctio n betw een individuals in a non-line a r w ay (Backstrom 2004) th e y e x h ib it

many features th a t are consistent w ith co m p lexity thinking . This system ic approach could

help us understand the relevance o f susta in a bility and th e p o te n tia l consequences o f o u r

actions on th e w id e r system, and unlike tra d itio n a l linear, re d uctio n ist approaches, criticised

as being to o rigid and static in th e dynam ic com plex system th a t is th e Earth, a CoP

approach based on th e principles o f c o m p lexity thinking , w o u ld encourage local fle x ib ility

and enable us to recognise how the actions o f each agent affect others in an in te rp la y o f co

dependency (Gibson 2000). Not only could this system ic approach encourage v o lu n ta ry

sector participants to recognise th e value o f s u pp o rtin g behaviour change in th e ir local area

b ut it could be an essential e le m en t th a t w ill help us to make sensible choices fo r th e fu tu re .

'The fu n d a m e n ta l challenge o f s u s ta in a b ility goes f a r beyond th a t o f environm entalism . The

question is w h e th e r we can f u lf il o u r unique p o te n tia l as hum an beings, to und e rstan d o u r

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and to review every area o f hum an life .' (Clayton and Radcliffe 1996 quoted in Sterling

2003:28)

A lthough th is research was n om ina lly about how vo lu n ta ry organisations can c o n trib u te to

changing behaviour in th e ir local com m unities, th e intercon n ecte d nature o f o ur w o rld

suggests th a t it was essentially about how all sectors o f society, businesses, g o ve rn m e n t and

th e vo lu n ta ry sector can w o rk to g e th e r to develop m ore sustainable patterns o f behaviour.

The creation o f local CoPs th a t bring to g e th e r participants fro m local gove rn m e n t, th e

v o lu n ta ry sector, co m m u n ity representatives and local businesses to consider w h a t

sustainable d eve lo p m en t means fo r the city and its co m m u n ities could be a w ay o f fu lfillin g

the G overnm ent aspiration to encourage v o lu n ta ry sector p a rticip a tio n in th e p ro m o tio n o f

behaviour change and the creation o f sustainable com m u n ities and in helping us all w o rk

to g e th e r fo r a m ore sustainable fu tu re .

As an approach how ever, it challenges the d o m in a n t linear fra m e w o rk th a t g o ve rn m e n t and

th e vo lu n ta ry sector are used to o pe ra tin g under and is th e re fo re n ot w ith o u t its problem s

b ut as o ur fu tu re depends on the choices we make today, I believe th a t a fra m e w o rk th a t

w idens o u r perspective fro m th a t o f a linear w o rld o f separation to a w o rld o f wholeness

and interde p en d en cy w ould enrich o u r understanding and im prove our decision m aking. In

this new fra m e w o rk sustainable d eve lo p m en t could provide an inclusive vision fo r th e kind

o f fu tu re we w a n t (S pringett 2006), one th a t acknowledges m u ltip le perspectives and

respects th e dive rsity and d iffe rin g values th a t c o n trib u te to th e system. It w o u ld be

sensitive to local conditions and provide th e fle x ib ility to adapt th e ever changing w o rld

(Smil 1993, Stacey 2001).

A lthough it is n ot possible fo r th e outcom es o f this research to be replicated because it is

system em ergent and co nte xt d ependent and ca n't be 'reduced to b uilding blocks th a t can

sim p ly be re-assem bled in a d iffe re n t c o n te x t, if the underlying principles are u nderstood

th e y can be adapted to new contexts (M itle to n -K e lly 2011b:15). The findings o f th is

research could th e re fo re provide useful in fo rm a tio n fo r policy makers tasked w ith

encouraging sustainability at a local level and fo r o th e r organisations facing com plex

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1.2.6 Chapter 8 The Conclusion - but not the end

As Schwabenland (2006:25) rem inds us, stories o r narratives are always fra g m e n ta ry form s

o f know ing and th e re is always a next ch ap ter o r sequel. This thesis is a small c o n trib u tio n to

a dynam ic, c o n tin u a lly evolving dialogue abo u t change, the environ m e n t, th e vo lu n ta ry

sector and hum an sustainability. By exam ining how the concept o f sustainable deve lo p m en t

is understood and in te rp re te d by some in th e v o lu n ta ry sector I have illu m in a te d the

co m p lexity o f th e cu rre n t debates around th e environ m e n t, clim ate change and hum an

in te rv e n tio n and dem on stra te d how conversation can help people discover th e ir own tru th s

and those o f others, and develop new understandings w hich can lead to beh a vio ur change.

I make no claim to have provided a solution o r b lu e p rin t fo r behaviour change b ut am

suggesting th a t increasing engagem ent stim ulates learning and o ffers a w ay to refram e

system dynam ics in an inclusive w ay th a t m eets the needs o f th e m om ent. This new

understanding generates the possibility o f change.

The know ledge generated in this research is th e outcom e o f a process w hich, if it had been

conducted last year instead o f this year, o r w ith d iffe re n t groups o f people, w o u ld be

d iffe re n t, because I w o u ld be d iffe re n t, th e people and organisations th a t c o n trib u te d to my

research w o u ld be d iffe re n t and th e external situ atio n w o u ld be d iffe re n t. This fin al c h a p te r

highlights some o f the changes th a t occurred in th e external e n viro n m e n t th ro u g h o u t the

course o f this jo u rn e y, including, a change in g o ve rn m e n t and th e 2008 financial crisis. It

also o utlines m y personal learning as a co-cre a to r o f th e know ledge generated.

Endquote

'I f there is a reason f o r hope, i t lies in m an's occasional binges o f co-operation. To save o u r

p la n e t, w e 'll need th a t kin d o f heroic e ffo rt, in which a ll types o f people jo in fo rce s f o r the

com m on g o o d .'

George M eyer, w rite r fo r The Simpsons, quoted in Good Energy, 'Living O ur Values (Annual

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Chapter 2 Sustainable Development: a contemporary

challenge

'Sustainable developm ent is a c ritic a l concern and one which w ill have s ig n ific a n t im p a ct on

co m m u n itie s' fu tu re developm ent and pro spe rity.’ (ESRC 2009:59-60)

2.1 Introduction

The in itia l aim o f this research was to explore the U

Understanding sustainable development in the voluntary sector: a complex problem

Understanding sustainable development in the voluntary

Published version

L-iaiim ly aim HiiuiTTiaiion services Adsetts Centre, City Campus

Understanding Sustainable Development

wouldn't have set out on this journey.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction

FRONTISPIECE

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Introd uction to the Field - ratio n ale and context

1.1.2 Research Aims and Objectives

1.1.3 Research Questions

1.2 Structure of the Thesis

1.2.1.1 Sustainable Development: a complex problem

1.2.1.2 Behaviour change and complexity thinking

1.2.1.3 Sustainable Development and the voluntary sector

1.2.2 Chapter 3 Methodological Choices - understanding different

1.2.3 Chapters 4 and 5: The Findings of stages 1 and 2

1.2.4 Chapter 6 V o lu n tary sector and Sustainable Developm ent: to

1.2.5 Chapter 7 Seeing the world anew - contribution to practice

1.2.6 Chapter 8 The Conclusion - but not the end

Endquote

Chapter 2 Sustainable Development: a contemporary