The Natural Advantage of Nations:
Business Opportunities, Innovation and Governance in the 21st Century

Edited by: Karlson ‘Charlie’ Hargroves and Michael H.Smith

Forewords by: Alan AtKisson, Amory B Lovins, William McDonough, L Hunter Lovins and Michael Fairbanks.

This book is about innovation, solutions, competitiveness and profitability. It is also about building environmental integrity and sustainability now and for future generations.

The Natural Advantage of Nations pulls together for the first time the work of more than 30 of the world’s leaders in sustainability, containing fresh evidence from around the globe, to show that, far from being in conflict with economics and business practice, the drive for a sustainable world is both an environmental imperative and a practical and profitable necessity that is already happening. This book draws a bold vision for the future and tells us how to get there by building on the lessons of competitive advantage theory and the latest in sustainability, economics, innovation, business and governance theory and practice.

This is top-drawer reading for business people, economists, engineers, consultants, policy-makers, researchers, students and indeed anyone working to create a better world. The authors incorporate innovative technical, structural and social advances, and explore the role that governance can play in both leading and underpinning business and communities in the shift towards a sustainable future. The resulting vision is one in which business, government and civil society all have power, and each plays its part in forging a sustainable future.

Book Contents:

Introduction • Part I: The Need for a New Paradigm • Part II: Natural Advantage: A Business Imperative • Part III: Achieving a Natural Advantage of Nations • Part IV: Sustainable Cities: The Challenge of the 21st Century • Part V: A National Collaborative Approach: The Bigger Picture - Building Resilience • Bibliography, Index

The Natural Advantage of Nations - Online Companion:

The book, The Natural Advantage of Nations, is supported by an online companion to increase the depth of the material covered and provide access to a range of supporting resources. Each of the 23 chapters in the book has a dedicated page providing an introduction to the chapter, summaries and links to key references and resources and a listing of the notes in the chapter to provide easy access to the source material.

Online Content: www.thenaturaladvantage.info

Click here to buy a copy.

Quotes from the Foreword Authors:

“We have learned a lot of lessons since Natural Capitalism came out in 1999, that I think will make the next explications of this subject even more powerful and effective, so working with our Natural Project Edge collaborators I think shows great promise, these are very diligent and well informed people that I think are doing valuable work and we are looking forward to cooperating with them in ways that will help us all to learn faster and get more done better.”

– Amory Lovins, Co-Author of ‘Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution’
CEO Rocky Mountain Institute

“The continuing explosion of creative and determined efforts to build a world that is environmentally, economically, socially and humanly healthy is hope-giving…If this book’s “to-do list for a sustainable civilization” is not worth the dedication of a life’s work, what is?”

“This collection of best practices and case studies from around the world follows on from where books like Natural Capitalism and Believing Cassandra left off. If you are seriously engaged in sustainability work, it is a must-read and a extraordinary useful resource.”

– Alan AtKisson, Author of ‘Believing Cassandra: An Optimist Looks at a Pessimist’s World’
CEO, AtKisson Group

“The Natural Advantage of Nations… shows that what many people saw as impossible just 15 years ago is now already happening. Within these pages you will see that there is reason for robust hope, and as you read, we hope you will be inspired to contribute to this magnificent re-evolution of human enterprise, a moment in our history when the things we make and build and grow can become a truly regenerative force”

– William McDonough, Co-author ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things’
Partner, William McDonough & Partners

“Young people often ask me what gives me hope. Many things make me hopeful, but the best answer, just now, is this book… The numerous examples given here of profitable ways to improve the environment, human well-being and the bottom line.. proves a belief that has grown in me for several years that while the tipping point of environmental devastation may be frighteningly close, the people with the commitment to implement the solutions we already know can solve the problems that are at hand.”

“Corporate Leadership desperately needs to internalise the message of this book… This book presents a robust business case for sustainability. It cites the sorts of examples that I am now teaching to my MBA students at Presidio World College… The Natural Advantage of Nations will be required reading next semester in my course.”

– Hunter Lovins, Co-Author of ‘Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution’
President, Natural Capitalism Inc.

Last year I received a call from the authors of this book….These ‘new’ authors from Australia [most innovation comes from the periphery] impressed me with their earnest commitment to integrate the concepts of Natural Capitalism and competitiveness. They knew all the literature, they had the vision, and the vision was correct.”

– Michael Fairbanks, co-author Plowing the Sea: Nurturing the Hidden Sources of Growth in the Developing World

Endorsements from Australian Leaders:

“The pivotal element of this process (sustainable development) is education, and I find it really heartening that so many people are thirsty for knowledge and wanting to implement the 'new' principals and methodologies that you (TNEP) have developed and promoted. The really exciting aspect is that this drive for a sustainable future is being led by an inspirational team of Australian young engineers, in a year when we are celebrating their wider role and contributions.”

Professor Andrew Downing
President Engineers Australia 2004/05

“I am delighted at the achievements of two years of TNEP. The Sustainable Industries Division of the Queensland EPA is proud to have supported to project and we look forward to using the book and related educational modules. The TNEP book, The Natural Advantage of Nations, will be a very useful educational tool for government and industry in showing how to make the right steps toward a sustainable economy.

Dr John Cole, Executive Director, Sustainable Industries Division,
Environmental Protection Agency Queensland

"I strongly support the concept, outlined in this project, of a "natural capitalism"-style publication. In particular, I feel the use of such a book as a resource text in the secondary and tertiary education arenas would be extremely valuable. In fact it stands to make a very significant contribution to National awareness of the major local issues in sustainable development, both in the national context and in the context of how we see our potential contribution to unravelling the global puzzle; and in developing a sense of actual empowerment to act locally with confidence.

Elizabeth Heij
Facilitator, CSIRO Sustainability Network

“It is time that we made a stand and started spreading the message of how important Sustainable Development is. We see that if our clients don't adopt sustainable principles then they will go out of business. If they go then we go to, enlightened self interest really. I am in wholehearted support of your book and see it as timely in its content and message.”

Steve Gale, Australasian Sustainable Development Leader
Hatch Engineering

“Arup’s interest in The Natural Edge Project arises from wanting to be a part of an initiative that showcases sustainability success stories in the Asia Pacific Region, raises awareness of the sustainability imperative, and that encourages collaboration between industry, academia, private and public organisations. We see this project as an opportunity to further network with other like-minded individuals and organisations.”

David Singleton, Chair, Global Infrastructure Business, Arup.

Quotes from Other Endorsements:

“I think it’s a great project and I wish it every success”

David Suzuki, award winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster

“This is world-leading work – the team deserves the loudest acclamation possible”

Barry J. Grear AO, Vice President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations

“It is widely understood that we must shift towards a sustainable future, and increasingly it is agreed that in order to do so we must move beyond rhetoric and into hard-edged, pragmatic forward steps. This book is a vital contribution to that forward movement, and I commend it to you.”

Steve Morton, Group Chair, Environment and Natural Resources, CSIRO

“Anyone interested in the practical details of building a bright green future needs to read this book. It's an absolutely critical overview of our progress towards sustainability thus far, 500+ information-packed pages on what's working best.

Alex Steffen World Changing: Another World is Here (www.worldchanging.com/archives/002462.html)

‘This volume pulls together thirty of the top thinkers in sustainability for a provocative and stimulating journey that happens to be easy to read... The industrialized world, the essays contend, needs to focus not just on sustainable development but also on “sustainable re-development,” which would shift the focus from solving environmental problems to eliminating them.

Cynthia D. Churchwell, Baker Library, Harvard Business School (Full report at http://hbswk.hbs.edu/book-review.jhtml?id=4784&t=globalization)

The Natural Edge Project

The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) is a not-for-profit partnership of young Australian engineers and scientists working in collaboration with a growing number of practitioners, researchers, academics and professionals supported by leading organisations, institutions and companies. TNEP works to bring together and develop robust frameworks, operational methodologies and best practice for ecological sustainable development and seeks to assist individuals, business and government to achieve better outcomes through integrated approaches to challenges and problems. More information about TNEP, its projects, partners and ongoing activities is available at: www.naturaledgeproject.net

Karlson ‘Charlie’ Hargroves, Author and Editor, is a civil engineer and postgraduate researcher in sustainable policy development at Murdoch University, is Co-Founder and Co-ordinator of The Natural Edge Project (TNEP). Hargroves has contributed to a variety of private and government sustainability initiatives in Australia and internationally and is currently a visiting scholar at the University of Boulder Colorado, USA.

Michael H. Smith, Author and Editor, is a scientist and postgraduate researcher in theoretical chemistry at the Australian National University (ANU), is Co-Founder and Content Co-ordinator responsible for Research and Content Development for TNEP. Smith has contributed widely to many sustainability initiatives, represents TNEP on the editorial board for CSIRO ECOS magazine and was a recipient of and ANU Environmental Achievement Award in 2001.

Cheryl Paten, Author and Co-Editor, is the Education Coordinator for TNEP and in partnership with Griffith University is currently a lecturer in the School of Environmental Engineering whilst undertaking her PhD. As a lecturer, Cheryl's time is spent preparing and updating course material to develop students' sustainability critical literacy skills. Through her TNEP work, supported in part by Griffith University and a number of grants, Cheryl is helping to gather content about local council initiatives, developing sustainability training material for professionals, and building sustainability content for engineering students.

Nick Palousis, Co-Editor, is the Operations Coordinator for TNEP and studied degrees in Mechatronic Engineering and Mathematical and Computer Science at the University of Adelaide. Graduating with First Class Honours, Nick joined The Natural Edge Project in 2003 bringing to TNEP technical expertise as well as a variety of operational skills borne out of earlier experiences in public relations and teaching robotics.

The Natural Edge Project is the recipient of the Banksia Foundation’s award for Environmental Leadership Education and Training for 2005.

The Banksia Awards, Australia’s prestigious environmental accolade, aims to recognise and reward individuals, community groups, businesses and government organisations for environmental excellence and innovation. The theme for this year’s awards is ‘Transformation through Education’, to mark the beginning of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development. The Natural Edge Project received the Award for their newly released publication The Natural Advantage of Nations and associated training program for engineers, the Engineering Sustainable Solutions Program.

Building on from Natural Advantage of Nations, the Engineering Sustainable Solutions Program (ESSP) delivers the ‘critical literacies’ required for engineers to understand the basics of a range of emerging sustainable solutions across all disciplines. The Introductory Module of the ESSP was developed with a grant from the Environmental Engineering College of Engineers Australia and is currently being trialled by 14 universities and TAFE institutions nationally.

Levels 1 and 2 of the ESSP are currently being developed with the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and Engineers Australia through the Environmental Engineering Society and Environmental College. These modules will harness the work of international experts in the fields of Engineering for Poverty Eradication, Radical Resource Productivity, Green Engineering and Chemistry, Whole System Design, and Biomimicry. Starting in early 2006 TNEP and Engineers Australia will be touring the country to offer members of Engineers Australia the opportunity to undertake the award winning training module.