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Engineering Sustainability - Introduction - 2 - Lecture 2

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20 views17 pages

Engineering Sustainability - Introduction - 2 - Lecture 2

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ahmed.tce2122284
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Engineering Sustainability

Introduction
lecture 2
Nasrat Kareem Murad
Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Department
• Nexus Between Technology
And Sustainable
Development
• Challenges to Sustainable
Development
Content • Multilateral Environmental
Agreements And Protocols
• Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM)

2
6. NEXUS BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Technology is the offspring of science. Technological innovation can be


seen as a ‘double edged sword’, with respect to sustainable
development.

1. Technology improves quality of life, eliminate diseases and increase life


expectancy
2. On the other hand, technology creates irreparable environmental
damage due to resource extraction and pollution of air, water, soil.

As technology advances, the environmental degradation accelerates


exponentially. Also the benefits of technological innovations are mostly
enjoyed by the developed countries. The technology remains as a dream
for under developed countries which still face poverty, inadequate
sanitation facilities etc. Hence it is essential to integrate technology,
society into sustainability.
Technology can support sustainability by

1. Conserving natural capital (renewable and nonrenewable


resources)
2. Reducing waste and pollution
3. Raising efficiency standards
4. Finding substitutes for toxic/hazardous materials
Pollution prevention and cleaner production technologies are more cost
effective than end of pipe waste treatment technology. Some of the
technological applications towards sustainable development in various sectors
are given below.

1. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals-environmental health,


economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Some of the common
ways towards sustainable agriculture are:
a) Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
b) Rotational Grazing
c) Soil conservation
d) Water quality/wetlands
e) Cover crops
f) Crop/ landscape diversity
g) Nutrient management
h) Agro-forestry
2. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Sustainable energy is the energy that, in its production or consumption, has
minimal negative impacts on human health and the healthy functioning of
vital ecological systems, including the global environment. This can be
achieved by using the following:

a. Renewable energy sources

i. Solar
ii. Biomass (It is a renewable energy resource derived from the carbonaceous
waste of various human and natural activities. It is derived from numerous
sources, including the by-products from the timber industry, agricultural
crops, raw material from the forest, major parts of household waste and
wood.)
iii. Wind
iv. Tide
v. Geothermal Heat
b. Energy efficient systems - upgrading the efficiency of
the existing equipment, reduction of energy loss, saving
of fuel, and optimization of its operating conditions and
service life provide an ecologically safe strategy.
7. CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The path of sustainable development can only lead us to the future. Some of
the major challenges exist in the modern world that may hinder the effort
towards sustainable development are given below:-

1. Misconception about sustainable development The popular perception


that development and environment protection should not go together,
has to be changed.
2. Population explosion in developing economies (require more food,
energy, goods)
3. Over exploitation of natural resources in developed countries (resulting in
imbalance between developed & underdeveloped countries)
4. Poverty (To achieve sustainable development, eradication of poverty is
vital.
5. Over dependence on fossil fuels leading to global warming & climate
change
6. Loss in Biodiversity
7. Freshwater scarcity
8. High cost of appropriate technology to tap renewable energy sources
9. Poor solid waste management system (focusing on mere waste
disposal)
10. Public awareness
11. Absence of strict environment laws and legislations to control pollution
12. Absence of adequate political and industrial will for moving towards a
sustainable future
13. Lack of co-ordination between the three pillars of sustainable
development – Economy, Society, Environment – in finding long term
solutions.
14. Corruption and misuse of sustainable development assistance funds
8. MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS AND PROTOCOLS

A multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) is a legally binding


agreement between two or more countries containing commitments to
meet specific environment-related objectives. MEA can be expressed as a
Treaty, Convention, Agreement, Pact, Accord or Protocol. MEA is an
international legal instrument that

• has environmental protection/sustainable development as their goal


• concluded between a large number of states or international organizations
as parties
• concluded in written form
• governed by international law
The 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Development was the first
attempt to address inter-relationships of environment and development at
global level. It adopted first global action plan for environment and
established the United National Environmental Program (UNEP). MEAs
have flourished in last three decades, especially after the 1972 International
Stockholm Conference and the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), due to the following reasons: –

• Response to the gravity of environmental problems


• Growing understanding of regional and global nature of environmental
problems
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol, a legally binding global agreement by 192 countries,
was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into
force on 16 February 2005. The Kyoto Protocol is an international
agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding
emission reduction targets. The Protocol places a heavier burden on
developed nations – Australia, USA, European Countries, under the
principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities”, recognizing that
developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of
GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of
industrial activity.
9. CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM)

The Clean Development Mechanism is regarded as one of the most important


internationally implemented market based mechanisms to reduce carbon
emissions. Created under the Kyoto Protocol, the CDM was designed to help
developed nations meet domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
commitments by investing in low-cost emission reduction projects in
developing countries.

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), established under the Kyoto


Protocol, is the primary international offset program in existence today. It
generates offset through investments in GHG reduction, and avoidance
projects in developing countries. These offset credits, called Certified Emission
Reduction credits (CERs), represent a reduction in one metric ton of carbon
dioxide (CO2) emitted to the atmosphere. Developed countries can use CERs
to more cost effectively achieve their Kyoto Protocol GHG emission reduction
targets.
The stated purpose of the Clean Development Mechanism is to help
developing countries achieve sustainable development, and assist
industrialized countries in complying with their emission reduction commitments.

PURPOSE OF CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM

Private companies fund projects in developing countries that reduce


greenhouse gas emissions.

They must also meet sustainable development criteria and the “additionality”
requirement, which means the emission reductions made, must be “additional”
to what would have been possible without CDM funding. Upon verification, the
CDM awards these projects certified emission reductions (CERs), each
equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide. CERs are then sold to developed
countries, which use them to meet a part of their reduction commitments under
the Kyoto Protocol.
CERs are also called “offset credits” because they “offset” the developed
countries’ emissions with reductions in developing countries.

CDM allows countries to continue emitting green house gases, so long as they
pay for reductions made elsewhere. The justification for this is based on the
premise that it would be far more expensive to implement emission reduction in
industrialized countries than in developing countries. It would help developing
countries to gain sustainable development benefits from the entry of “clean”
and more energy efficient technologies.
End of Lecture

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