Environment The and the Role of Technology
Dale Beugin (engineer) Tyler Gray (biologist) Sarah Nathan (biologist/economist) Aaron Springford (applied statistician) Lara Taylor (engineer) Bill Tubbs (engineer) Pier van Dishoeck (biologist)
Engineering the Future:
School of Resource and Environmental Management
Pollution IS good for us!
Who wouldnt want a third eye?
From Wednesdays lecture:
Perhaps the most serious charge that can be made against engineers is that they are the primary agents of environmental destruction.
From Wednesdays Lecture:
Guided by market forces, technology will allow the fulfillment of all our dreams.
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For Today
Points from Wednesdays lecture Market failures The role of policy Complex systems and uncertainty Our society faces many environmental challenges- what is the role of engineers? How can we use technology to stay here on earth?
From Wednesdays lecture:
Population growth will stabilize Less people are starving Food is becoming cheaper Few signs of resource scarcity Plenty of energy exists Life expectancy is increasing
Population trend
Billions of people
World population 1750-2200, the UNs medium variant forecast from 2000. Source: UNPD 2201 b:27; 1998b:37; 1998c.
350 325 300
Kg per capita
275 250 200 175 150
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Grain production, Kg per capita for world and developing world, 1961-2000 (FAO, 2001).
Ecological Footprint: Rees and Wackernagel (UBC)
Average footprint in acres per person:
Pollution and Human Health
Local pollution is usually addressed Global problems are different
Climate change Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Costs of prevention technology prohibitive Chronic diseases - environmental factors?
From Wednesdays Lecture:
The mechanism of the free market ensures that our efforts will be focused on just those problems that will bring the greatest good to society.
Market Failures
Price can indicate scarcity Is scarcity the only issue?
CO2 emissions Respiratory distress Mine tailings
Often, these factors are all left out of prices!
Market Failures
Environmental damages are not accounted for
Cost of Wind versus Coal Power
10 9 8 Cents per KWh 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Wind
Coal
Full cost Coal
Old-growth Forests:
Wednesday: So, considering only the
question of global warming, the most environmentally sound policy would be to clearcut all old-growth timber immediately, then reseed.
we Should consider only one question in a complex system?
Soil erosion Release of carbon from soil
Ecosystem Services:
Nature provides these for free:
Photosynthesis Nutrient Cycling Pollination
Perhaps human ingenuity could replace these- but only with funding that could be put towards other problems.
FULL VALUE of ecosystem services difficult to calculate
Nature is the Enemy?
Nature has already engineered systems that provide important services. FOR FREE! Nature is the ultimate engineer.
Uncertainty
Forests, nutrient cycles, pollination, and photosynthesis are all part of one big complex system The way the system is affected by humaninduced change is uncertain- Thresholds! How people behave, and what people want is also uncertain!
Uncertainty
The progress of science has been likened to inflating a balloon: The more we learn, the greater the frontier of knowledge becomes, and the more we realise we dont know
Key points from Wed
Destiny among the stars!
From Wednesdays Lecture:
Guided by market forces, technology will allow the fulfillment of all our dreams.
$
$
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Energy Intensity
Source: Smil, 2000.
Stabilising the Climate
Making change in Society
Human activity is not determined solely by engineers Difficult decisions have to be made about how to use finite resources - economics Understanding the problem science Developing solutions engineering Actors in society have to agree before any action is taken public policy, law
Key Sustainability Challenges
Global problems e.g. climate change Dispersion of persistent pollutants Loss of biodiversity Market failures e.g. externalities Is rate of technological change fast enough? Complexity of earth systems Scientific uncertainty Time lags Public policy making and special interests
I wish my undergrad had taught me
Humility - recognise how little we understand Complexity of eco-systems and earth systems Uncertainty - anticipate what we dont yet know Incorporate values into decisions Life-cycle cost accounting (LCC) Trade-offs between human and natural capital No-regrets and precautionary principle Thinking out of the box
School of Resource and Environmental Management
Ecological economics Public policy Law Ecology Social science Planning Risk assessment Energy Materials Toxicology Forestry Fisheries Tourism Conservation
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