overarching and neighboring systems operating along the old ways. In such conditions, radical incremental transformation strategies are more promising than too
fast or too drastic changes that would likely cause the old systems to push back or
the new parts to be separated off.
Yet, the new purpose of true system innovations should never be left out of
sight. As the Global Scenario Group aptly summarizes: “the curve of development
must be bent twice. A radical revision of technological means begins the transition.
A reconsideration of human goals completes it” Raskin et al. 2002: 95).
So we do not instantly have to set up new businesses, transition our towns or
establish new indicators. The second bending requires engagement in what the Germans
call ‘Deutungshoheit,’ which essentially means that we can start exposing the flawed
assumptions on which present solutions and plans are built. Work on the reconsideration of humanity’s goals or the upset of the human self-image, as the Brundtland
Commission foresaw it, remains an open opportunity for all of us, every day.
Where exactly it will lead in the end no one knows. But we do know that the old
development model will not lead to sustainability. The final chapter ties key
insights of this book together in an attempt to support the clarity, creativity,
courage, trust and persistence that radical incremental transformation work requires.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give
appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons
license and indicate if changes were made.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included in
the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt or
reproduce the material.
4.5 Summary: System Innovations for Sustainability by Double-Decoupling
147
fast or too drastic changes that would likely cause the old systems to push back or
the new parts to be separated off.
Yet, the new purpose of true system innovations should never be left out of
sight. As the Global Scenario Group aptly summarizes: “the curve of development
must be bent twice. A radical revision of technological means begins the transition.
A reconsideration of human goals completes it” Raskin et al. 2002: 95).
So we do not instantly have to set up new businesses, transition our towns or
establish new indicators. The second bending requires engagement in what the Germans
call ‘Deutungshoheit,’ which essentially means that we can start exposing the flawed
assumptions on which present solutions and plans are built. Work on the reconsideration of humanity’s goals or the upset of the human self-image, as the Brundtland
Commission foresaw it, remains an open opportunity for all of us, every day.
Where exactly it will lead in the end no one knows. But we do know that the old
development model will not lead to sustainability. The final chapter ties key
insights of this book together in an attempt to support the clarity, creativity,
courage, trust and persistence that radical incremental transformation work requires.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give
appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons
license and indicate if changes were made.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included in
the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt or
reproduce the material.
4.5 Summary: System Innovations for Sustainability by Double-Decoupling
147