Jacek Dylag on Unsplash
The ambitious climate and energy targets will not be achieved by efficiency or closed-loop measures alone. Efficiency can be nullified by increased consumption, and even closed cycles cause mass and energy losses. A self-sufficient sustainability strategy is therefore necessary, to complement the object- and technology-based strategies of efficiency and consistency. Self-sufficiency means meaningful production and consumption. The questions of healthy moderation are relevant for production, extraction, consumption, use and consumption – and increasingly also for investors, customers and residents.
For years, Intep has been working in depth on the concept of self-sufficiency and how it can be integrated and lived as a guiding principle in the actions of civil society and strategies of organizations. It is essential to involve relevant stakeholder groups from the outset through participatory processes to identify needs, potentials and defining measures so that they are convinced of their behavioral changes.
A clear definition of goals is just as important as the identification of potentials and implementation-oriented measures that are suitable for everyday use. The goals of the concepts are closely linked to the recognition of which individual needs are appropriate to achieve “net zero”. Decisions are reflected in creative tools that are oriented towards the target group. By incorporating positive images as well as pointing out opportunities and demonstrating one’s own success stories, it is possible to permanently incorporate decisions and behaviors aimed at self-sufficiency into strategies and everyday decisions.