Launch of the World Sufficiency Lab
Need for a ‘Sufficiency Reflex’ to meet Climate Targets
After being enacted in the French Energy Sufficiency Law of 2015 and introduced in the 2022 IPCC Report on Climate Mitigation, the sufficiency concept has been re-ignited as the only way to reach climate and other global targets, with climate and social justice at its core. The Webinar Launch of the World Sufficiency Lab (WSL) Paris on 13 June, with an initial focus on high-consuming OECD countries, demonstrated a surge of interest and momentum world-wide.
Following the welcome and introduction by WSL co-founder Prof David Ness of University of South Australia, Ms Diane Simiu, Climate Change Director at the French Ministry of the Energy Transition, set the tone in an inspirational keynote. Following the engagement of French citizens in responding to the energy crisis of 2022, good habits had taken root, with energy use down 6% down last year. Ms Simiu emphasised that carbon neutrality could not be reached without sufficiency, which alone could cut emissions by 10% by 2030. A ‘sufficiency reflex’ was required in decision-making, not only for energy use but also materials, land use, water and more.
WSL instigator and co-founder Dr Yamina Saheb explained the novel Web Platform, including a Library, Academy, and Communities. The WSL team, including Dr Katia Vladimirov, Pierre Noro, Valentin Stuhlfauth, and Florian Guillanton, explained the importance of sufficiency in urban planning, buildings, mobility, clothing, and digitisation, with health and nutrition also on the agenda. A Roundtable, moderated by Mr Emanuele di Francesco of World Resources Forum, then showed how the WSL would connect with regional or national Sufficiency Hubs, beginning with the EU, Australia, North America, and the Republic of Korea. The ultimate target is to build a global Sufficiency Community, which will ensure sufficiency is considered FIRST in policy and business decisions.
Among key messages, Ms Claire Roumet, leader of EU Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Energy Cities, highlighted the importance of being ‘resource wise’, with binding targets to reduce resource consumption. The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Hon Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, recognised the potential to build upon South Australian leadership in renewables and circularity, in areas such as buildings, fast fashion and local food growing. Reiterating that climate goals cannot be met without sufficiency, Ms Lisa Richmond was excited to share the initiative of Architecture 2030 on establishing a ‘Built Environment Sufficiency Hub’ in North America. Ms Jungin Hwang and Mr Jungpil Lee, Director of the Energy Climate Policy Institute, Seoul, recognised the importance of sufficiency in complementing current efficiency policies in Korea and tackling the rise in energy demand.
The Webinar, the first in a series, was hosted by the Sciences Po EU Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition, in collaboration with the World Resources Forum.
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