Sustainability Concepts

By,

Dr. Patrick Tang

Learning objectives

To clearly define sustainable development and understand the evolution of sustainable concept

Understand the sustainability concepts, indicators and constraints in achieving SD

Understand the pre-cautionary principle

Understand the differences between inter and intra generational equity

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IntroductionGlobal Environment Outlook (GEO) Report, UNEP, 2002

2 billion ha of soil is now classed as degraded by human activities About 1/6th of this is either strongly or extremely

degraded

Half of the worlds rivers are seriously depleted and polluted

24% of mammals and 12% of bird species are under threat

Depletion of the ozone layer which protects life from UV light reached record levels

Concentrations of CO2 stood at 367 ppm or 25% higher than 250 years ago.

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UNEP on Human Development, 2002

Some 80 countries, 40% of the worlds population, suffering from serious water shortages by 1995

Around 1.1 bil. people still lack access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion to good sanitation (Africa &Asia)

2.8 billion people live on less than $2/day

Every year, 11 million children die of preventable causes derived from poor nutrition, sanitation, material health and education

Conclusion: Current development course is unsustainable!

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We need to develop an approach

which focuses on integrating

economic activity with

environmental protection and

social concerns5

World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 - Our common future -

The Earth is one but world is not. We all depend onone biosphere for sustaining our lives. Yet eachcommunity, each country, strives for survival andprosperity with little regard for its impacts on others.Some consume the Earths resources at a rate thatwould leave little for future generations. Others, manymore in number, consume far too little and live withthe prospects of hunger, squalor, disease and earlydeath.

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The Brundtland report, World Commission for Economic Development (1987)

Concept of sustainability is defined as meeting

the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

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Concept of Sustainable development (SD) & Policy making

Successful SD (UNEP/WWF/IUCNNR 1980)

Social, ecological factors , economic

Living and non-living resource

Long term and short term consequences

Policy making involves

Maintenance of ecological processes

Sustainable use of resources

Maintenance of genetic diversity

Sustainable development at confluence of social, environment and economic aspects

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development , last viewed on 10th Feb 2010

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development

Triple bottom lineFig. 1: Environmental, economic and social systems

The economic system draws on materials and energy resources from the environment, & labourand intellectual capital from society.

The economic system generates a diversity of goods and services for societys benefit, but at the expense of impacts on the environment.

The environment provides clean air, water and land, as well as the diversity of flora and fauna, to society; these provisions are essential to the development of the social system.

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Environmental indicatorsEconomic indicators

Resource depletion

Global warming potential

Ozone layer depletion

Photochemical smog

Human and eco-toxicity

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Capital expenditure, including that on environmental protection

Environmental liabilities

Ethical investments Stake holder inclusion

International standards of conduct regarding business dealings, child labour

Income distribution

Satisfaction of social needs including work

Social indicators

Sustainability Indicators

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World Commission on Environment Development, 2002 : Targets

Reduce poverty

Accelerate shift towards sustainable consumption & production

Increase global share of renewable energy sources

Improve economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services

Develop and disseminate energy efficiency and energy conservation technologies

To develop water resource management and water efficiency plans

Reduce current loss of biological diversity

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How do we achieve SD? Reducing material requirements

Reducing energy intensity

Reducing toxic dispersion

Enhancing material recyclability

Maximizing sustainable use of renewable resources

Extending product durability

Increasing the service intensity

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Sustainable TechnologiesDevelopments in new technologies can help achieve SD

Information and communications technology

Bio-technology

Nanotechnology

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Nanotechnology Creating smaller and

cheaper devices

Using less material and consuming less energy

Single molecule transistors

Enzyme powered bio-molecular motor

Minute carriers

Nano-scale robots

Solar nano-technologies

Eg. Minute carriers and nano-scale robots

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Modern Biotechnology Recombinant DNA

Cloning of Dolly the sheep

Agriculture and medicine Speed up plant breeding

Crop varieties with greater drought and disease resistance

More nutritional value and less environmental stress

Pest resistant genetically modified (GM) crops, could reduce the need to use pesticides

Reduces damage to soil quality

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Biotechnology Applications

Food Biotechnology

Stem Cell16

Food Biotechnology in Asia

Soy sauce

Tempeh and natto(fermented soybeans)

Belacan (fermented shrimp paste)

Cincaluk (fermented shrimps)

Budu and ngoc nam(fermented fish sauce)

Tapai (fermented rice)

Toddy (fermented young flowers of palm)

Pickles

Vinegar

Bread

Yoghurt

Cheese

Asia Food Information Centre(AFIC), 2001

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Genetic Modification in Food Technology

Is it all good?- Has the concentration of any naturally occurring

toxins or allergens in the food changed?

Have the levels of key nutrients changed?

Do new substances in the genetically modified food have a history of safe use?

Has the foods digestibility been affected?

Has the food been produced using accepted, established procedures?

Asia Food Information Centre(AFIC), 2001

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Negative impacts of Technological advances

Usage of CFC causing ozone depletion

Increased skin cancer

Explosion of nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine

Global warming

Affordability of nano-materials, rich or poor?

GMO can disrupt eco-systems and cause risk to human health

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Pre-cautionary principleHow to handle negative impacts from GMO?1. Avoid transferring genes from foods known to be allergenic.

2. Check the structure of any new proteins produced in foods derived from biotechnology against the structures of known allergens to assure that no allergenic structures exist in the new protein.

3. Measure the stability of the new protein in stomach and intestinal fluids. Most allergens are stable to these conditions. Proteins which are unstable to these conditions are not likely to be allergens.

4. Determine how much of the new protein will be present in the food consumed by humans. Most allergens are present in large amounts (10% or more of the protein in the food where they occur).

Asia Food Information Centre(AFIC), 2001

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Precautionary Principle

Known as Rio Declaration

Implemented in global climate change, ozone-depletion and bio-diversity conservation

Misinterpreted as requiring proof of safety before allowing new technologies

No new technology could meet the above!

Apply the precautionary principle even when there is NO evidence to prove causal link between emissions and effects!

Cost-benefit analysis and discretionary judgment are allowed

Lack of scientific certainty shall not be used as reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation

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Intra-generational equity Represents current

generation

Achieve material equity and social justice both within and between countries

Helping poor nations and assuring the poor getting fair share of resources required

Environmental degradation lead to unsafe water, poor sanitation affecting the poor

IPCC report: Poorest parts of the world will suffer from global climate change the most

Impacts fall disproportionately on the poor

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Intra-generational equity:Poverty vs. Sustainable Development

Poor tend to be most vulnerable to effects of environment degradation

Low capacity to adapt to change Vicious circle: link between

poverty and environment Population growth and

inadequate resources lead to migration of poor to more fragile lands& overuse of env. resources

Big gap between the poor and the rich!

Causes of poverty may be injustice, policies and etc.

Indoor pollution from cooking and heating

They prepare food and heat the house by burning dung, wood, crop residues, charcoal

Human health suffers in poorly ventilated areas

Improving efficiency of cook stoves by 20% can reduce the amount of firewood

Solar cook-stove is an alternative

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UNDP and EU Poverty and Environment Initiative Strengthen participation of the poor in local plans,

policies, strategies

Protect the current natural asset of the poor through protecting the access they already have such as land, esp. in cases where poor are weak

Transferring the ownership of natural assets to poor

Assisting poor to overcome high initial costs for sanitation

Resource transfers to poor

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Intergenerational EquityWeak vs. Strong sustainability

Refers to our obligations to future generation

Constant Capital rule: the value of capital stock must not be allowed to decline for indefinite future

Types of Capital: built, human, social, natural, financial.

Weak sustainability assumes forms of capital can be substitutable with each other

Loss of natural capital(ozone layer, biological diversity) is irreversible

Strong sustainability is when equivalent stock of natural capital is preserved for future generations

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General principles of Intergenerational Equity1. The principle of not closing down options for future

generations (by making irreversible changes, including the elimination of species or using up of resources)

2. The principle of maximising future choices by making a considered judgement as to what are the most central, significant or important things to preserve and protect, ex. air, energy, biodiversity, cultural values.

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ConclusionsHow to achieve SD? Reduce excessive levels of production and

consumption

More efficient use of resources

Reduce global pollution, protect bio-diversity and alleviate poverty

Doing business with cleaner and more eco-efficient production process

Increase recycling

Increase public participation in decision making to create policies important in SD

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Key items for sustainability in the chemical industry, Graedel (2002) Chemical feed stocks

Energy for feed stock processing

Water for feed stock processing

Environment resilient to residual wastes emitted

* Water is identified because of the diverse demands for its uses (residential, commercial, agriculture), its variability in quality and availability, and its non-viability (in most cases) as a traded commodity.

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Sustainable Chemical IndustryGraedel recommended a strategy for sustainable chemical industry

Begin and maintain a transition from petrochemical to biochemical feedstocks

Develop a strategy for limiting water use to a reasonable allocation of the locally available supply

Begin and maintain a transition from fossil fuel and/or biomass energy to more sustainable energy

Establish a program designed to achieve near zero discharges to the environment

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SuggestionsGraedels report Graedel suggested a target

time for sustainability of 2 generations (approximately 50 years), based on a report by the Board of Sustainable Development of the US National Research Council.

He proposes time frameworks for transitions necessary to achieve sustainability. Target dates included.

2035 for 50% contribution from petrochemical and 50% from biotechnological feedstocks for organic chemicals

2040 for 50% contribution from fossil fuel and 50% from non-fossil fuel or essentially sustainable energy sources

2050 for close approach to zero discharges from processes to the environment

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Sustainability in Malaysia

Business Council for Sustainable Development in Malaysia: primary advocator of Sustainable Development in the Malaysian industry and society at large

BCSDM strives

To create awareness in sustainable development (SD)

To get the business community involved in SD

To be the main link between the Government and the business community

To be an information exchange on successful SD practices

To work with national and global bodies towards attaining SD

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More to come!

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