Signals

Signs of a shift, indicating the art of the possible.

Using a systems lens.

system leverage points

  • Materials

    Stocks, flows and buffers - the type, number and supply of materials and material goods.

  • Processes

    Feedback loops and delays - the informing of behaviours leading to positive or negative change.

  • Design

    Structures, rules and organisation - the framing. informing and enforcing of decisions and parameters.

  • Intent

    Goals, paradigms and power to change - the interplay of knowledge, beliefs and objectives.

17% less meat

“A report from last year found Britons have reduced meat consumption by 17% in the past decade (although the authors note this study is based on how much people say they’re eating, and other data suggests people eat more meat than they think they do).”
From the Guardian: August 2022

  • Materials

    Land use - international flows of food

  • Processes

    Labelling

  • Design

    Farming subsidies currently favour meat production. Some public bodies are reducing meat in their food provision.

  • Intent

    Collective endeavour to reduce meat consumption credited with reductions.

22% less gas

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the cutting off of Nord Stream gas led to Germany significantly reducing gas consumption at incredible speed. A study in Nature Energy unpacks the factors behind this rapid reduction.

  • Materials

    Flows of gas from Russia reduced with the cutting off of supply. Real material limits to consumption became closer as stocks were limited.

  • Processes

    Reduction in supply fed into price increases, at times delayed by existing contracts and price agreements. Price rises fed into consumption behaviours.

  • Design

    Crisis triggered restructuring of gas supply chains and markets and adaptation of the rules with new restrictions on consumption implemented.

  • Intent

    ’Wartime’ context changed the paradigm for Germany. Ethical considerations drove reduced consumption alongside and decarbonisation goals were accelerated.

70,000 fewer parking spaces

The city of Paris is halving its 140,000 parking spaces and asking residents what to do with the space. Cycle parking, play space and gardens are some of the alternatives.

  • Materials

    The material space of the city is being reallocated from parking to alternative - greener, healthier - uses.

  • Processes

    Primary positive feedback loop is public engagement in decisions around what to use space for - from play areas to green space.

  • Design

    A policy decision by the Mayor of Paris with democratic consent and in response to the Paris agreement as a mechanism to deprioritise and reduce car use in the city.

  • Intent

    Clear power to change paradigms about what the priorities of city space are for also driven by awareness of ecological imperitives.