Karl-Henrik Robèrt

Karl-Henrik Robèrt, M.D., Ph.D., is one of Sweden's leading cancer scientists and a key figure in the worldwide sustainability movement. In 1989, Robèrt initiated a network of experts on the environment called The Natural Step. The Natural Step framework developed by Robèrt in cooperation with a growing network of scientists across the globe, sets out the system conditions for sustainability, plus guidelines to systematically approach compliance with the principles. The framework has been applied to fields as diverse as agriculture, forestry, energy systems, information and selection of tools for sustainable development, green building and the ecological management of river basins. [DuBose, J. and A. Pearce, A. 1997. [http://maven.gtri.gatech.edu/sfi/resources/pdf/CP/CP005.PDF "The Natural Step as an Assessment Tool for the Built Environment,"] Proceedings of the 1997 CIB Conference on Green Building, Paris, France, June. Retrieved: 2007-04-09.] [Tippett, J. 2005 [http://siti.feem.it/mulino/dissem/intcon/tippett.pdf “The Value of Combining a Systems View of Sustainability with a Participatory Protocol for Ecologically Informed Design in River Basins,"] Journal of Environmental Modeling and Software 20 (2): 119-139.] Robert’s system conditions are significant in that they are scientifically-based, but readily understandable, principles for sustainability. [Hawken, P. 1995. [http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC41/Hawken2.htm “Taking The Natural Step.”] "In Context" 41: 36]

Cancer research led to environmental concerns

As head of a cancer department at a University Hospital in Stockolm Sweden (Huddinge Hospital) and head of a cancer laboratory under Sweden's Karolinska Institute, Robèrt conducted research on several forms of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma and lung cancer. His research on damage to human cells led him to consider environmental questions. [Robèrt, K.H. [http://www.bth.se/tek/maskinteknik.nsf/$DefaultView/87A7747687B0E117C1256E3C003C5EB0?OpenDocument "Curriculum Vitae."] Blekinge Tekniska Högskola (Blekinge Institute of Technology).] He later observed that since the late 19th Century, humans have been "disrupting the cyclical processes of nature at an accelerating pace." This led him to realize that the linear processes of modern society were producing garbage at unprecedented rates — not only that visible in garbage dumps, but also unseen molecular garbage. Since "all linear processeses must eventually come to an end," the only way to save ourselves from the consequences, in his view, would be to restore the cyclical processes of nature. [Robèrt, K.H. 1991. [http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC28/Robert.htm "Educating A Nation: The Natural Step."] "In Context" 28:10.]

Development of "The Natural Step" framework

Robèrt came to realize that there were certain basic realities of the environmental problems of the planet that were true for everyone, no matter their political views. He reasoned that certain facts could be established, based on current knowledge. Rather than arguing, he reasoned, if people could agree upon "something," it might become the basis for action. He wrote a paper that he sent to a wide cross-section of top scientists in Sweden, seeking such a consensus. He asked them to correct the errors in his paper. On receiving the responses, he modified his paper and sent it around again. Twenty-one drafts later he had the consensus he sought. This was the basis for The Natural Step framework.Robèrt, K.H. 1991. [http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC28/Robert.htm "That Was When I Became A Slave."] Excerpts from an interview with Karl-Henrik Robèrt by Robert Gilman and Nikolaus Wyss. "In Context" 28:10.] Seeking a broad consensus, Robèrt consulted municipalities, businesses, government departments, environmental organizations, and the arts community. Once he had secured the imprimatur of the King of Sweden, The Natural Step was launched with attendant television coverage and distribution of educational material to every school and household in Sweden.

Awards and honours

Robèrt has won a number of awards, both for his work in cancer research and for his development of the Natural Step framework.

In 1984, Robèrt won the Swedish Hematological Association Research Award. He received the "Green Cross Millennium Award for International Environmental Leadership" in 1999. The following year he was awarded the Blue Planet Prize, often referred to as the "Nobel prize of sustainability." The latter was for his work in developing a systems perspective for sustainability, for testing it during a 10-year period on business and local governments, and for increasing environmental awareness on the part of businesses, municipalities and other organizations.

Quotation

"If we think systematically, we will stop asking, "How much is nature worth?" We will know that we are a piece of nature ourselves". --K.-H. Robèrt

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.naturalstep.org.uk The Natural Step UK]
* [http://www.big-picture.tv/index.php?id=89&cat=&a=242 Big Picture TV] Free video streams of Dr Karl-Henrik Robèrt
* [http://www.geocities.com/combusem/ROBERT.HTM Schumacher Lecture 1995, "Cycle of Nature" by Karl-Henrik Robèrt]