Conclusion
Semester 1, 2014 is almost over. This is the last time I will blog for course SUSS0001 Sustainable Development and Urban Environment. I have learnt a lot in this course. I now know more about Ecological Footprint, Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation, Sustainable lifestyle. And I also know there is a lot more to know. It mostly comes down on to living in balance with nature. But finding that balance is difficult. That is why we need to pay attention to early warning signs and work ont an equilibrium with our environment. With today's technology, where we can model the climate, look at trends and assess our behaviour, it is easier than a few dozens of years ago. But it is still difficult, because our lifestyle has turned us away from nature. We do not notice the early warning signs anymore and need a computer to figure it out for us. That is why we need more sustainable projects, where we are brought closer to nature. And there is a lot more out there than the course can cover. But what the course has covered is a general overview of our current global challenges and a general outlook on solutions. And the details can be filled in by thinking along the lines we learned to think during this course. Thank you Michael, thank you Jonathan and Jonathan and Araaz. All the lessons, insights, hints and conversations will surely be useful during the rest of our study and our following career.
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Week 11:Barangaroo: Starting sustainable projects in Sydney
The need for sustainable projects like Barangaroo
We all know something has to change in our lifestyle in order to "save the planet". But what exactly?
What is our personal responsibility towards sustainability? How do we consider (and achieve) sustainability in our lifestyle? How are we living at the moment? Ofcourse the activities of the government and companies are important, because they influence individuals. But we can still figure out sustainable lifestyle choices which contribute to the solutions. Because of this mutual influence of government and individuals, engineers play an important role. They can search for solutions to improve sustainablity in today's world and to reduce the need for consumption. One of the ways this can be done is through sustainable (projectshttp://www.imeche.org/knowledge/industries/energy-environment-and-sustainability/news/Sustainable-Lifestyles) .
What is our personal responsibility towards sustainability? How do we consider (and achieve) sustainability in our lifestyle? How are we living at the moment? Ofcourse the activities of the government and companies are important, because they influence individuals. But we can still figure out sustainable lifestyle choices which contribute to the solutions. Because of this mutual influence of government and individuals, engineers play an important role. They can search for solutions to improve sustainablity in today's world and to reduce the need for consumption. One of the ways this can be done is through sustainable (projectshttp://www.imeche.org/knowledge/industries/energy-environment-and-sustainability/news/Sustainable-Lifestyles) .
Sustainable projects are developed in order to protect the environment, rearrange the economy and stimulate social equity. Sustainable project focus on integrated solutions rather than separated ones and wants them to be embedded in a long-term perspective. A sustainable community seeks:
- The whole community to become better and also other communities
- Healthy ecosystems
- Effective governance by participation of all citizens
- Economic security
“Barangaroo is a great opportunity to showcase Sydney as a world leader in sustainability. Sustainable designs and initiatives are being created throughout the delivery of the program-environmentally, socially and economically. Barangaroo wants to become the first Australian CBD precinct that is climate positive” (http://www.barangaroo.com/discover-barangaroo/sustainability.aspx).
At Barangaroo, the goal is to generate renewable energy, recycle water and reuse, reduce and recycle its wate. The wellbeing of the community is also important and there is an affordable housing component in the development (http://www.barangaroo.com/discover-barangaroo/sustainability.aspx). There are three development areas within the site: Headland Park, Barangaroo Centre and Barangaroo South. In the Headland Park, there will be a naturalistic headland feature, a place for people to relax and recreate. Barangaroo South will comprise a commercial centre and residential appartments. Barangaroo Central will be a cultural and civic focal point for recreation, events and entertainment (http://www.barangaroo.com/discover-barangaroo/overview.aspx).
Is Barangaroo really sustainable?
A few more things on Barangaroo:
· There is an international hotel at Barangaroo. Will it be able to attract enough tourists in these times of crisis?
· How will the oil price be in the near future and what effects will this have on international travelling?
· The sky scrapers still get a large amount of their energy from coal
· Will there be enough jobs for the people living there?
· Will the new development be flooded when sea level rises?
· The money spent on this project could have also been used for improvement of Sydney’s public transport and research on renewable energy.
There is a lot of critique on Barangaroo redevelopment in Sydney CBD.
The main concerns are about the feasibility of the affordable housing program, the tall skyscrapers which will surely influence their surroundings and the proposed sustainability which developers promise to offer but which is being questioned by others. I believe the Barangaroo developers started an ambitious project. But they fail to sufficiently remove uncertainties about its success.
They need to consider the criticism and make sure the opposed points are well addressed in the redevelopment. This in order to prove they were completely right about the project once the project is fully in use. ( https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45350)
Week twelve: Conclusion
Conclusion
Semester 1, 2014 is almost over. This is the last time I will blog for course SUSS0001 Sustainable Development and Urban Environment. I have learnt a lot in this course. I now know more about Ecological Footprint, Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation, Sustainable lifestyle. And I also know there is a lot more to know. It mostly comes down on to living in balance with nature. But finding that balance is difficult. That is why we need to pay attention to early warning signs and work ont an equilibrium with our environment. With today's technology, where we can model the climate, look at trends and assess our behaviour, it is easier than a few dozens of years ago. But it is still difficult, because our lifestyle has turned us away from nature. We do not notice the early warning signs anymore and need a computer to figure it out for us. That is why we need more sustainable projects, where we are brought closer to nature. And there is a lot more out there than the course can cover. But what the course has covered is a general overview of our current global challenges and a general outlook on solutions. And the details can be filled in by thinking along the lines we learned to think during this course. Thank you Michael, thank you Jonathan and Jonathan and Araaz. All the lessons, insights, hints and conversations will surely be useful during the rest of our study and our following career.
Semester 1, 2014 is almost over. This is the last time I will blog for course SUSS0001 Sustainable Development and Urban Environment. I have learnt a lot in this course. I now know more about Ecological Footprint, Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation, Sustainable lifestyle. And I also know there is a lot more to know. It mostly comes down on to living in balance with nature. But finding that balance is difficult. That is why we need to pay attention to early warning signs and work ont an equilibrium with our environment. With today's technology, where we can model the climate, look at trends and assess our behaviour, it is easier than a few dozens of years ago. But it is still difficult, because our lifestyle has turned us away from nature. We do not notice the early warning signs anymore and need a computer to figure it out for us. That is why we need more sustainable projects, where we are brought closer to nature. And there is a lot more out there than the course can cover. But what the course has covered is a general overview of our current global challenges and a general outlook on solutions. And the details can be filled in by thinking along the lines we learned to think during this course. Thank you Michael, thank you Jonathan and Jonathan and Araaz. All the lessons, insights, hints and conversations will surely be useful during the rest of our study and our following career.
Week twelve: limits to growth
Limits to growth
Since the book “limits to growth” was published in1972, there have been several studies and reports about our climate. These studies all point out that if we continue ‘business as usual”, this will inevitably lead to some form of disaster. What exactly is needed to make sure that we change in such a way that our actions do not threaten our future?
First, we need to look at Human Behaviour
Since we lead unsustainable lifestyles, by depleting our natural resources and growing in population at a rate never seen before in history, we accelerate rather than mitigate climate change. Finding reasons to continue to do so, or living in denial makes us forget about the future and have a more here and now-approach to life. People are complicated beings ans some might feel powerless to do something about climate change because it seems overwhelming. Or we might not want to cut on our incomes, if that is what it takes to save the planet. We also might look to science for the solution. We can also think about other things to blame climate change for, such as our government or cheap oil, but when we really want to do something about climate change, we need to figure out for ourselves how much we care, think about and choose to behave towards our planet. For example, we can choose to reduce consumption or use our scarce resources more wisely and distribute them more evenly or live within nature’s ability to meet our needs. This will mean that we make a choice to save the planet from ourselves (our unsustainable behaviour) for ourselves (by our sustainable behaviour) (http://psysr-climatetoolkit.org/behavior/).
Week twelve: A new paradigm of development
A new paradigm of development
Seeking to be more sustainable can be a real challenge to our For-profit world and mind. An example of that is the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), which was mainy designed to rank sustainability-driven companies by their fiscally sustainable growth. While doing the assessment, the company does not know the value of the questions in it. This allows for honestly answered questions, but also a lack of transparency. Improving energy efficiency is mitigating climate change, but the extend to what efficiency of buildings play a role in DJSI ranking is not clearly defined.
Poor business practices such as tax fraud, money laundering and human rights abuses such as discrimination and child labour are on the other hand seen as index’s priorities because companies can be removed from the list because of these reasons. This is why some critics say the definition of sustainability is relative when these priorities are exercised. It comes down to a financial investment tool that gives more importance to economics rather than environmental and social impacts because the priorities still lie within the view of long-term economic growth and expansion.
Still the invention of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is well-intentioned. However, there is a need to define sustainability clearer and all-encompassing. As we ned to do with our own lives since we have only one planet. Thinking about ways to enhance sustainability and thus develop measures and regulations therefore will clearly benefit the planet and again us as humans too (http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/the-effectiveness-of-sustainability-metrics-is-dependent-on-the-definition-used-for-sustainable/).
Figure explaining DJSJ assessment
(Source: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/the-effectiveness-of-sustainability-metrics-is-dependent-on-the-definition-used-for-sustainable/)
Week twelve: A new paradigm of development
A new paradigm of development
Seeking to be more sustainable can be a real challenge to our For-profit world and mind. An example of that is the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), which was mainy designed to rank sustainability-driven companies by their fiscally sustainable growth. While doing the assessment, the company does not know the value of the questions in it. This allows for honestly answered questions, but also a lack of transparency. Improving energy efficiency is mitigating climate change, but the extend to what efficiency of buildings play a role in DJSI ranking is not clearly defined.
Poor business practices such as tax fraud, money laundering and human rights abuses such as discrimination and child labour are on the other hand seen as index’s priorities because companies can be removed from the list because of these reasons. This is why some critics say the definition of sustainability is relative when these priorities are exercised. It comes down to a financial investment tool that gives more importance to economics rather than environmental and social impacts because the priorities still lie within the view of long-term economic growth and expansion.
Still the invention of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is well-intentioned. However, there is a need to define sustainability clearer and all-encompassing. As we ned to do with our own lives since we have only one planet. Thinking about ways to enhance sustainability and thus develop measures and regulations therefore will clearly benefit the planet and again us as humans too (http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/the-effectiveness-of-sustainability-metrics-is-dependent-on-the-definition-used-for-sustainable/).
Figure explaining DJSJ assessment
Week twelve: Ecotones and refugia
Ecotones
What are Ecotones? They are transitional areas between two different ecosystems such as forest and grassland or land and ocean. They are not fixed borders, but rather border area’s between two patches of different ecological composition. Ecotones can be created by man-made or natural factors. Man-made factors are for example forest clearing or controlled burning. Natural factors can be soil composition or PH. Ecotones are important indicators of global chance in ecology.
Because they are transitional zones of different ecosystems, there is much biodiversity seen in ecotones. This also makes them more sensitive to changing climate conditions. And thus, they can be used as an indicator in determining the effect of climate change on certain regions of the earth. Monitoring ecotones can show certain patterns in global change. http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152345/
The effects of climate chance will be seen around the globe, but first in ecotones. This will be clearly seen by their loss in species. And will give early warnings if noticed. Conservation of ecotones is seen as adaptation by the IPCC. Because attention is drawn to prime areas of biomes, ecotones are threatened. It is suggested that 47-77% of ecotones will change because of climate change, which is far more than the 39-55% of prime biomes that are expected to change. An example of threatened ecotones are the semi-arid drylands between arid and dry subhumid drylands. They are threatened directly by desertification and topsoil erosion. These will decline their soil productivity and make them less suitable for plant growth. Climate change will only increase desertification. Since vegetation of these ecotones already experience over exploitation, the climate change happening now will only increase loss of biodiversity, ecosystems and further limit adaptation. If we come to understand this, we also understand that ecotones are unique entities, important to monitor climate change and find ways to adapt to climate change. We have to find ways to conserve these ecotones because then the world will benefit from it and we to as humans (http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/wg2/index.php?idp=669).
Refugia
Refugia are places where natural environmental conditions have remained relatively stable while the earth experienced great environmental change. The high diversity of birds found in the Amazon Rainforest was explained by the idea that when the rainforest experienced climate change, the birds survived in detached pockets of the rainforest. When climate conditions changed, the forest expanded again and so did the bird species. However, some opose this idea stating that the rainforest was not fragmentised during previous periods of climate change. They say the rain forest stayed intact and there are other explanations for its high bird diversity. Still, the term “refugia’ applies to isolated regions where species may survive during times of climate change. An example for such a refugia are the Madean pine oak woodlands in Arizona and northern Mexico. Because these mountains are way above the surrounding deserts, they provide a mocroclimate for plants and animals no longer found in the deserts. They are called Madean sky islands.
Although there remains some controversy about what exactly can be labelled as refugia, the concept of refugia is central to a lot of conservation plans. Areas can be set apart with the purpose of creaing refugia for plants and animals, which is a type of preservation. Conservation International states that we have to search for refugia in order to maintain biodiversityand thus seeking potential refugia can be valuable for conservation. However, predicting which areas can become refugia has to be based on detailed ecological information. This in turn clearly underlines the importance of scientific research (http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbeec57896bb431f69a25c/?topic=51cbfc78f702fc2ba8129e7b).
Week eleven: A sustainable lifestyle
A sustainable lifestyle
Last week I came across an article in “the Guardian” from Clare Bryden. It was about sustainable lifestyles and the lessons she learned on sustainability while spending some time with the monks of Mucknell.
The article starts with the need to find a sustainable lifestyle. We all know that we are now living an unsustainable lifestyle. We all want something to be done about it and we look to our governments. But despite all the discouraging news on climate change, there is not much change in lifestyle. Carbon emissions are still rising and there is sometimes even disinterest in the whole issue. Mind and hearts of and the government and the people are not focused on capable solutions for climate change. While rethinking, the journalist came across a group of monks and nuns of Mucknell Abbey in Worcestershire, England. They live by the rules of St Benedictine who started the movement in the 6thcentury. Important to them are stability, conversion of life and obedience. Stability because you have to be committed to the place and to each other, conversion because you have to refer to God in every aspect of your live and thus also be celibate and poor and obedience which means listen intently. The journalist says obedience is most important in today’s world since it is the hardest to work on. There is a lot of practice found in the way the community orders it’s life ordering by balancing prayer, manual work and study. The activities get you more connected with food, shelter and environment. As a newcomer, you may be highly idealistic, but you quickly learn to embrace a healthy idealism by sustainable growth, both physically and spiritually. As the journalist says, during her stay at the community she came to understand that their lifestyle is rooted in the present with regards to the future and to understand the results of our behaviour onto others. (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2011/sep/15/sustainable-living-benedictine-monks).
Also I read an article written by a monk about the Christian virtues. These virtues play an important role in climate change mitigation, since our current (western) lifestyle is centred on greed and this lifestyle needs to change if we want to alter climate change. The consumer lifestyle has brought many benefits, but what has it done to our souls? What mental picture do we have of the world? How we picture our life and our needs can have impact on ourselves, others and our community. “We are learned not to wait, but to buy now”. The antidote to this greed is to learn to wait. The virtue of temperance can be used to fight climate change. We long for and wait and when we get we still enjoy, but temperate. Maybe by the economic crisis and also the ecological crisis, will help us to understand the Christian virtues again. Instead of thinking of happiness as “feel good”, we need to think of happiness as to know what’s good and also do it. Instead of only pleasure and consumption, we need an ecological conversion to pleasure and consumption in the context of good life. Religious communities have a unique role to play in this change of attitude. And by this we mean Christians as well as others. This virtue project will deliver us from climate catastrophe. Discussion about climate change now has to come into action. The church will also need to cooperate critically with government and business. Ofcourse this will challenge today’s way of life. It’s about finding a new lifestyle, a discipline of recognition of others because they too belong to our Earth (http://www.operationnoah.org/node/117).
Week eleven: Effects of Climate Change
What are some of the possible effects of this Global Climate Change?
The primary effect of climate change is that the climate we have known for generations, will not be the same in the future. We humans have been living with a stable climate for as long as memory goes, but we will be living in a rapidly changing climate in the future. This means for instance that there will be loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer and severer heat waves. The IPCC states that net temperature rise in this century will be from 1.8 to 5.5 degrees compared to 1990 levels. This will be beneficial in some regions and harmful in others. Overall though, this will mean more of a loss than a gain to humanity. The greatest challenges for the world are:
Less fresh water available and thus water stress
Reduced yields and thus food shortages
Changing and thus unreliable climate patterns with many threats to coastal areas
Acidification of oceans and a reduced supply of fish
As Climate change may vary per region, so may its effects. not every region of our planet will be evenly affected. But the whole planet will feel its effects.
As Climate change may vary per region, so may its effects. not every region of our planet will be evenly affected. But the whole planet will feel its effects.
http://climate.nasa.gov/effects
Week ten: Climate Change Mitigation
Climate change mitigation
Climate change affects our water resources. And our forests and also our energy resources. Because there will be an increasing demand for water to be used by industries, an increasing demand for land and thus clearing forests and also an increasing demand for energy. People themself will suffer : they will be hit by droughts, food shortages, storms and more negatives outcomes of climate change.
And the people who will suffer the most, will be those who now are already the poorest.
(http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/2013/01/pictures/130115-climate-change-superstorm-atmosphere-science/).
How can we tackle the ccauses and effects of climate change?
1. Working with communities and help them to adapt to climate change
2. Working with other organisations to share knowledge about approaches which work well in the changing environment.
3. Working nationally and internationally to lobby for emission reduction and focus and climate change adaptation
4. Working with schools and teachers to make children understand the issue of climate change so to grow into adults who comprehend the consequences of their actions on their environment.
5. Raise awareness about the impacts of climate change in order to be able to demand change of today's approach on climate change.
(http://practicalaction.org/climate-change?utm_source=S000&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=C10105&gclid=CJXT6O7VnL4CFcGXvQodGZoA3A)
In climate change mitigation, CO2 level play an important role.
Before the industrial revolution, CO2 levels were about 280 parts per million (ppm), but now it is believed to have exceeded 387ppm. The world has agreed to work towards stabilisation goals of between 450 and 550 ppm, which means a rise in temprature of between 2 and 3 degrees celcius. This will still have large scale impacts such as melting of ice sheets. Although there is no fixed goal set, countries and even cities have set their own goals in contributing to cut CO2 emission. And most of the burden will be carried by richer nations, since they contribute the most to CO2 emission. These nations want to cut emissions by 50% as of 2050. Some scientists even say that emissions have to be reduced by 80% "to avoid global impact" (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jun/10/carbonemissions).
Regardless of the exact amount of reduction, severe cuts require radical political leadership if we want these cuts to be achieved. Because these cuts need to be done together with alterations of a lifestyle current generations do not want to give up (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jun/10/carbonemissions).
Climate change affects our water resources. And our forests and also our energy resources. Because there will be an increasing demand for water to be used by industries, an increasing demand for land and thus clearing forests and also an increasing demand for energy. People themself will suffer : they will be hit by droughts, food shortages, storms and more negatives outcomes of climate change.
And the people who will suffer the most, will be those who now are already the poorest.
(http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/2013/01/pictures/130115-climate-change-superstorm-atmosphere-science/).
How can we tackle the ccauses and effects of climate change?
1. Working with communities and help them to adapt to climate change
2. Working with other organisations to share knowledge about approaches which work well in the changing environment.
3. Working nationally and internationally to lobby for emission reduction and focus and climate change adaptation
4. Working with schools and teachers to make children understand the issue of climate change so to grow into adults who comprehend the consequences of their actions on their environment.
5. Raise awareness about the impacts of climate change in order to be able to demand change of today's approach on climate change.
(http://practicalaction.org/climate-change?utm_source=S000&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=C10105&gclid=CJXT6O7VnL4CFcGXvQodGZoA3A)
In climate change mitigation, CO2 level play an important role.
Before the industrial revolution, CO2 levels were about 280 parts per million (ppm), but now it is believed to have exceeded 387ppm. The world has agreed to work towards stabilisation goals of between 450 and 550 ppm, which means a rise in temprature of between 2 and 3 degrees celcius. This will still have large scale impacts such as melting of ice sheets. Although there is no fixed goal set, countries and even cities have set their own goals in contributing to cut CO2 emission. And most of the burden will be carried by richer nations, since they contribute the most to CO2 emission. These nations want to cut emissions by 50% as of 2050. Some scientists even say that emissions have to be reduced by 80% "to avoid global impact" (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jun/10/carbonemissions).
Regardless of the exact amount of reduction, severe cuts require radical political leadership if we want these cuts to be achieved. Because these cuts need to be done together with alterations of a lifestyle current generations do not want to give up (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jun/10/carbonemissions).
Week ten: Principles of sustainability
What are the principles of sustainability?
They are expressed into five main domains:
Our economis framework may be one of short-term goals, but it may also be one of the long-term. Our basic interests and concerns will determine our choice. As a whole, the current economic system does not take into account the depletion and pollution which accompanies it. This pattern needs to be changed to make our economic framework align with nature itself.
These five principles each have their own derived policy and operational implications.
Each domain effects all the others and in turn is also affected by them.
So, if we look at this system, then we see that nature is interdependent. Earth has the ability to accomodate life abundantly. But humans have disturbed the essential balance. And now we need to find this balance again, for the sake of our own future.
They are expressed into five main domains:
- The material domain
- The economic domain
Our economis framework may be one of short-term goals, but it may also be one of the long-term. Our basic interests and concerns will determine our choice. As a whole, the current economic system does not take into account the depletion and pollution which accompanies it. This pattern needs to be changed to make our economic framework align with nature itself.
- The domain of life
- The social domain
- The spiritual domain
These five principles each have their own derived policy and operational implications.
Each domain effects all the others and in turn is also affected by them.
So, if we look at this system, then we see that nature is interdependent. Earth has the ability to accomodate life abundantly. But humans have disturbed the essential balance. And now we need to find this balance again, for the sake of our own future.
Week nine: Policy design
.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FSustainable_development%3B1144%3B1037){kind=link}
Source: http://greenlivingblogorguk.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/policy.png
Mitigation and adaptation both play a role in the Climate Change debate. Also because of the uncertainty in the outcome of this debate, both mitigation and adaptation will play a role in climate policy. We now for sure that because of human actions each year, more and more greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere. We do not know for sure how the climate will change because of those greenhouse gase. So which policies need to be installed to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Two approaches are popular : we can either do nothing, since nothing is going on (or it is too small to have an effect) or we must take drastic actions because the outcomes will be disastrous. If we combine these two extremes, we would get a policy which simultaneouslyfocuses on mitigation and adaptation, especially if these would both be low-cost strategies. Mitigation also involves taking action now and adaptation involves taking action in the future. The role of the government in this scheme is to provide a clear view on property rights and to restrain certain activities that proliferate emission. The government can also create markets which focus both on costs and on the environment. These markets can facilitate environmental goals in the long run at low economic cost. If we look at the world energy markets for example, energy subsidies can be used to develop cleaner technology and make the poor have better access to modern energy. And yes, policy makers should design new energy subsidies in an environmentally, socially and economically friendly way.
http://een-dev.anu.edu.au/download_files/een0306.pdf
http://www.unep.org/pdf/pressreleases/reforming_energy_subsidies.pdf
Mitigation and adaptation both play a role in the Climate Change debate. Also because of the uncertainty in the outcome of this debate, both mitigation and adaptation will play a role in climate policy. We now for sure that because of human actions each year, more and more greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere. We do not know for sure how the climate will change because of those greenhouse gase. So which policies need to be installed to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Two approaches are popular : we can either do nothing, since nothing is going on (or it is too small to have an effect) or we must take drastic actions because the outcomes will be disastrous. If we combine these two extremes, we would get a policy which simultaneouslyfocuses on mitigation and adaptation, especially if these would both be low-cost strategies. Mitigation also involves taking action now and adaptation involves taking action in the future. The role of the government in this scheme is to provide a clear view on property rights and to restrain certain activities that proliferate emission. The government can also create markets which focus both on costs and on the environment. These markets can facilitate environmental goals in the long run at low economic cost. If we look at the world energy markets for example, energy subsidies can be used to develop cleaner technology and make the poor have better access to modern energy. And yes, policy makers should design new energy subsidies in an environmentally, socially and economically friendly way.
http://een-dev.anu.edu.au/download_files/een0306.pdf
http://www.unep.org/pdf/pressreleases/reforming_energy_subsidies.pdf
Week nine: Green Roofs
Green Roofs
Green roofs or eco-roofs (planted roofs) are rooftop gardens, parks or meadows that carry a host of environmental and economic benefits. Soil and plants are placed on rooftops which otherwise would be left bleak.
Benefits to green roofs are:
Public benefits such as aesthetic improvement because the building and their environment get a better 'look'.
Waste diversion by prolonging the life of waterproofing membranes, reducing associated waste, using recycled materials and prolonging the service life of heating, ventilation and HVAC systems because their use decreases.
Stormwater management because the roofs now retain water , moderate the temprature of the water and also filter the water. Moreover they reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and delay the time at which runoff occurs.
Moderation of the urban heat island effect by cooling cities in summer and by covering the hottest surfaces in the urban environment (black rooftops).
Improved air quality because the plants on green roofs capture pollutants, filter noxious gases and moderate tempratures around buildings coverde with green roofs.
Greenroofs have 12 small advantages and up till now there ia no other method that combines all these advantages at once. They do have an important disadvantage: they are costly.
http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/f/what-are-green-roofs.htm
Green roofs or eco-roofs (planted roofs) are rooftop gardens, parks or meadows that carry a host of environmental and economic benefits. Soil and plants are placed on rooftops which otherwise would be left bleak.
Benefits to green roofs are:
Public benefits such as aesthetic improvement because the building and their environment get a better 'look'.
Waste diversion by prolonging the life of waterproofing membranes, reducing associated waste, using recycled materials and prolonging the service life of heating, ventilation and HVAC systems because their use decreases.
Stormwater management because the roofs now retain water , moderate the temprature of the water and also filter the water. Moreover they reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and delay the time at which runoff occurs.
Moderation of the urban heat island effect by cooling cities in summer and by covering the hottest surfaces in the urban environment (black rooftops).
Improved air quality because the plants on green roofs capture pollutants, filter noxious gases and moderate tempratures around buildings coverde with green roofs.
Greenroofs have 12 small advantages and up till now there ia no other method that combines all these advantages at once. They do have an important disadvantage: they are costly.
http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/f/what-are-green-roofs.htm
Sixth week Part two sustainable community
What is a sustainable community?
Although there are many definitions, one might say that the sustainability of a community depends on creating and maintaining its economic and environmental health, promoting social equity and fostering broad-based citizen participation in planning and implementation. Communities with sustainability visions are a collective vision for the future and if they apply an integrated approach to environmental, economic and social goals, they are generally likely to be more succesfull.
Jobs, housing, transportation, energy use, education and health are all part of sustainability communities and their goals. And they are all part of the sustainability system. This system also includes the involvement of more citizens, who have a collective future-vision, develop more principles of sustainability which can benefit the community, develop goals and indicators to measure success, improve transparent communication and celebrate results.
By all means the sustainability process needs continuous improvement, where communities constantly make changes to accomplish their goals. These goals are making the community healthier, safer, greener, more liveable and more prosperous.
Fifth Week : more thought about Religion
And now back to religion as a driver for change
As sustainable communities try to achieve overall health within their community, they tend to have a holistic approach. This comprises thinking about the environment, the economy, health, social inequity generally the most common indicators of sustainability.
But doesn't religion also try to get these values in society? Love the animals, love thy neighbour, provide for the homeless, the widows and fatherless, do not kill, lie or steal, do not crave for what is thy neigbour's......it get close to values of sustainability. And these values are taught by simply all religions. Religious conflicts mostly arise when one religious group feels to be falling behind of another. So instead of applying these values to only their fellow believers, people of one religion should apply these values also to others outside their religion. Once again, respect has to be valued very high. Maybe if we just started to apply the abovementioned moral values to our societies (respect first) we might appeal to deeper human thoughts and strives. And stop favouring one religion above another, but simply treasuring the shared values and integrating them into the sustainability thoughts and practices. Because religion creates a bond. Shared values also create a bond. And sustainability wants to create a greater bond between people on earth. What if sustainability, respect and religious values start working together? imagine the results we would book! We would be connected as people on earth. Wait, not only that, earth would be connected, with its people, animals, plants, oceans, minerals and what more. And then this sustainability would be maintained, because everybody would feel connected to it and see the benefits. So this includes both personal behaviour and behaviour of the group to go towards sustainability. Ofcourse, there would also be opposition. But this would be a minority. And to deal with them, you need to show RESPECT.
(http://www.maweb.org/documents/document.302.aspx.pdf)
(http://www.dw.de/people-are-unaware-of-the-churchs-influence-on-climate-issues/a-16714418
http://mams.rmit.edu.au/qlqgtt45xgu7z.pdf)
My own opinion:
Religion has shown to be a strong motivator in behavioural change Both on the personal level and as a group. Religion has changedpeople who once were using drugs into people who got out of their unhealthy (and unsustainable) life and now focus on their family or on God.
People who once were in prison (for repeatedly doing wrong) are now preaching their healthier lifestyle to others. And groups have also changed. Groups gather around places of worship to achieve higher, common goals. Yes, if you want to talk about change, religion surely is a tool.
As sustainable communities try to achieve overall health within their community, they tend to have a holistic approach. This comprises thinking about the environment, the economy, health, social inequity generally the most common indicators of sustainability.
But doesn't religion also try to get these values in society? Love the animals, love thy neighbour, provide for the homeless, the widows and fatherless, do not kill, lie or steal, do not crave for what is thy neigbour's......it get close to values of sustainability. And these values are taught by simply all religions. Religious conflicts mostly arise when one religious group feels to be falling behind of another. So instead of applying these values to only their fellow believers, people of one religion should apply these values also to others outside their religion. Once again, respect has to be valued very high. Maybe if we just started to apply the abovementioned moral values to our societies (respect first) we might appeal to deeper human thoughts and strives. And stop favouring one religion above another, but simply treasuring the shared values and integrating them into the sustainability thoughts and practices. Because religion creates a bond. Shared values also create a bond. And sustainability wants to create a greater bond between people on earth. What if sustainability, respect and religious values start working together? imagine the results we would book! We would be connected as people on earth. Wait, not only that, earth would be connected, with its people, animals, plants, oceans, minerals and what more. And then this sustainability would be maintained, because everybody would feel connected to it and see the benefits. So this includes both personal behaviour and behaviour of the group to go towards sustainability. Ofcourse, there would also be opposition. But this would be a minority. And to deal with them, you need to show RESPECT.
(http://www.maweb.org/documents/document.302.aspx.pdf)
(http://www.dw.de/people-are-unaware-of-the-churchs-influence-on-climate-issues/a-16714418
http://mams.rmit.edu.au/qlqgtt45xgu7z.pdf)
My own opinion:
Religion has shown to be a strong motivator in behavioural change Both on the personal level and as a group. Religion has changedpeople who once were using drugs into people who got out of their unhealthy (and unsustainable) life and now focus on their family or on God.
People who once were in prison (for repeatedly doing wrong) are now preaching their healthier lifestyle to others. And groups have also changed. Groups gather around places of worship to achieve higher, common goals. Yes, if you want to talk about change, religion surely is a tool.
Fifth Week: Group behaviour
So what do to if you want to change group behavior?
· Have a clear idea in your mind about what you want to change. These people start the change, they’re the “innovators” or change engines (2-3% of the population).
· Find the influencers. So we had innovators, but now it’s time for the “change agents”, to encourage adoption of your idea,“transformers” who are gatekeepers to whom “the mainstream” looks for new ideas and “iconoclasts” who will call out loudly and with confidence what’s bad about the current and good about the new procedure. Alltogether, they make up 70-75% of the population, so it's really worth investing in them.
· “Laggards” will come along after most people have already adopted the new behavior (16% of the population).
· Don’t worry about the “reactionists”. They won’t change easy, or won’t change at all, but you can’t please everyone? After all they are a minority (10% of the population up to the most).
· O yes, and keep it lively! Be up to date, fine-tune your approach and let it be pleasant and engaging
Fourth Week Palma ratio
Palma Ratio
This equation is defined by the richest 10% of the population's share of Gross National Income divided by the poorest 40% of the populations share.
Prevoiusly, the Gini index has beeen used to measure a country's inequality.
But this mark cannot say where the inequality exists. By looking at the Gini Index of a country's population, we can't know if the poorest 10% of a population improves their situation or not.
Because the Gini index looks at the distribution of income for the population as a whole, while the Palma ratio looks at the distribution of income by comparing different sections of the population, namely the richest and the poorest (top and bottom).
Because the capture of the middle classes in the total income is more or less stable for any period of time and in any given country, whereas the top and bottom's share vary more over time.
A higher Palma index means their is more inequity and a lower Palma index means there is less.
Also, a decreasing Palma Index over time also indicates a population, or a country, is catching up on the MDG's (http://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2014/eliminating-extreme-inequality-a-sustainable-development-goal-2015-2030/).
Implementation of the Palma Index is still highly debated, because you have people who either like it or oppose it. Of course, replacing existing formulae by more recent ones always will be resisted by some. But I also think that the Palma Ratio addresses more firmly to the rich (the top) to change their lifestyle. It's always about changing the lifestyle of the ruling elite isn't it? As been said, they account for the greater part of earth's pollution (see the ecological footprint).
Also, they have the most to lose when the inequity gap closens.
But we need to close this gap if we want the Earth to be a residence for generations yet to come.
How can we draw the rich to a sustainable lifestyle? Maybe if we make it a hype? Everything that is made into a hype, gets popular. So the scientists need to be more HIP! Is there an equations to measure the "hipness" of sustainability? Of course I'm just joking. Because when I look at it, there is not much to laugh about. I will end the blog for this week's lecture with a map which shows a worlwide comparison of individual nation's inequity. So the redder the nation, the more the inequity.
Looking at the map, there is still work to do, because even the U.S. have an inequity which is greater than that of Nigeria.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/09/27/map-how-the-worlds-countries-compare-on-income-inequality-the-u-s-ranks-below-nigeria/)
This equation is defined by the richest 10% of the population's share of Gross National Income divided by the poorest 40% of the populations share.
Prevoiusly, the Gini index has beeen used to measure a country's inequality.
But this mark cannot say where the inequality exists. By looking at the Gini Index of a country's population, we can't know if the poorest 10% of a population improves their situation or not.
Because the Gini index looks at the distribution of income for the population as a whole, while the Palma ratio looks at the distribution of income by comparing different sections of the population, namely the richest and the poorest (top and bottom).
Because the capture of the middle classes in the total income is more or less stable for any period of time and in any given country, whereas the top and bottom's share vary more over time.
A higher Palma index means their is more inequity and a lower Palma index means there is less.
Also, a decreasing Palma Index over time also indicates a population, or a country, is catching up on the MDG's (http://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2014/eliminating-extreme-inequality-a-sustainable-development-goal-2015-2030/).
Implementation of the Palma Index is still highly debated, because you have people who either like it or oppose it. Of course, replacing existing formulae by more recent ones always will be resisted by some. But I also think that the Palma Ratio addresses more firmly to the rich (the top) to change their lifestyle. It's always about changing the lifestyle of the ruling elite isn't it? As been said, they account for the greater part of earth's pollution (see the ecological footprint).
Also, they have the most to lose when the inequity gap closens.
But we need to close this gap if we want the Earth to be a residence for generations yet to come.
How can we draw the rich to a sustainable lifestyle? Maybe if we make it a hype? Everything that is made into a hype, gets popular. So the scientists need to be more HIP! Is there an equations to measure the "hipness" of sustainability? Of course I'm just joking. Because when I look at it, there is not much to laugh about. I will end the blog for this week's lecture with a map which shows a worlwide comparison of individual nation's inequity. So the redder the nation, the more the inequity.
Looking at the map, there is still work to do, because even the U.S. have an inequity which is greater than that of Nigeria.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/09/27/map-how-the-worlds-countries-compare-on-income-inequality-the-u-s-ranks-below-nigeria/)
Fourth Week Inequity
Inequity
That is when different people have different access to similar products or amenities.
There is inequity between people in one city, one district, one country, one region, one continent, one world. Maybe even on lower and higher levels, which are less applicable for this blog.
In other words, different people or less educated, have better or worse houses, have more or less money and also have more or less oppurtunities to improve their present status.
Inequity has a link with sustainability, because sustainibility can be achieved by addressing to extreme disparities. Yes, the 10% most rich of the world have dozens of times more money and in turn produce dozens more waste than the poorest 10%!
The effects of their pollutions are felt worldwide. And still people with less money than the richest 10% strife to be their equals in terms of access to products and/or amenities. Hey, the linear system at work!!
Inequity also poses a danger, because extreme inequity between races, ethnicities, regions or religions almost certainly will lead to civil conflicts. Look at the causes of war : people or discontent because they want more money, land oil etc.
So there is a call to add one more goal to the eight existing MDG's (Millenium Development Goals) : eliminate extreme inequity at the national level in every country. http://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2014/eliminating-extreme-inequality-a-sustainable-development-goal-2015-2030/)
My opinion:
Why eliminate extreme? inequity Because the extremeties are reasons of social upheavel.
Extreme inequity causes tensions because the poor want to live as the rich. And the extremer the gap between rich and poor, the more desperate measures will be taken by the poor to try and close this gap. But for what reason? To have a lifestyle which pollutes the earth?
So, if there is some inequity, but to a lesser extent, people seem to be living with it quite easily.
Less inequity also leads to less competition, and less competition leads to less degrading of natural resources and less damage done to the earth. Because this lesser form of inequity is liveable. And thus, more sustainable.
But how do you measure inequity? When does inequity become extreme? And does less inequity lead to a more sustainable lifestyle, e.g. reduce of ecological footprint? Here comes the use of another equation: the Palma Ratio.
That is when different people have different access to similar products or amenities.
There is inequity between people in one city, one district, one country, one region, one continent, one world. Maybe even on lower and higher levels, which are less applicable for this blog.
In other words, different people or less educated, have better or worse houses, have more or less money and also have more or less oppurtunities to improve their present status.
Inequity has a link with sustainability, because sustainibility can be achieved by addressing to extreme disparities. Yes, the 10% most rich of the world have dozens of times more money and in turn produce dozens more waste than the poorest 10%!
The effects of their pollutions are felt worldwide. And still people with less money than the richest 10% strife to be their equals in terms of access to products and/or amenities. Hey, the linear system at work!!
Inequity also poses a danger, because extreme inequity between races, ethnicities, regions or religions almost certainly will lead to civil conflicts. Look at the causes of war : people or discontent because they want more money, land oil etc.
So there is a call to add one more goal to the eight existing MDG's (Millenium Development Goals) : eliminate extreme inequity at the national level in every country. http://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2014/eliminating-extreme-inequality-a-sustainable-development-goal-2015-2030/)
My opinion:
Why eliminate extreme? inequity Because the extremeties are reasons of social upheavel.
Extreme inequity causes tensions because the poor want to live as the rich. And the extremer the gap between rich and poor, the more desperate measures will be taken by the poor to try and close this gap. But for what reason? To have a lifestyle which pollutes the earth?
So, if there is some inequity, but to a lesser extent, people seem to be living with it quite easily.
Less inequity also leads to less competition, and less competition leads to less degrading of natural resources and less damage done to the earth. Because this lesser form of inequity is liveable. And thus, more sustainable.
But how do you measure inequity? When does inequity become extreme? And does less inequity lead to a more sustainable lifestyle, e.g. reduce of ecological footprint? Here comes the use of another equation: the Palma Ratio.
Third Week Religion and Sustainability
Religion and Sustainability
I see a great role for religion.
Most, if not all of the nations high on the HPI index table,value religion and support strong families ( sense of community ) and sharing. They also take the best out of two worlds by incorporating western achievements and still retainig to a moderate lifestyle. And religion? I think religion enforces a sense of belonging to a community, hope for the future, taking care of thos in need and propagating healthy values. Of course on of those values is tolerance, which can not always be found in religion, if taken to the extreme. But embracing moderate religion also alerts people of respect.
Respect in turn is a strong tool for life changing habits, because respect for what God has created, will make pople use this creation more tediously.
And what is science its place since science has made believe turn away from creation to evolution?
Maybe science can find ways to reinforce those good characteristics religion teaches us like tolerance, respect and looking after our (less profitable) neighbours.
Maybe science can work with religion to create a better world.
Maybe combining the best of two world views, science and religion, can make our planet a Happy, Sustainable place.
(http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod10.html)
I see a great role for religion.
Most, if not all of the nations high on the HPI index table,value religion and support strong families ( sense of community ) and sharing. They also take the best out of two worlds by incorporating western achievements and still retainig to a moderate lifestyle. And religion? I think religion enforces a sense of belonging to a community, hope for the future, taking care of thos in need and propagating healthy values. Of course on of those values is tolerance, which can not always be found in religion, if taken to the extreme. But embracing moderate religion also alerts people of respect.
Respect in turn is a strong tool for life changing habits, because respect for what God has created, will make pople use this creation more tediously.
And what is science its place since science has made believe turn away from creation to evolution?
Maybe science can find ways to reinforce those good characteristics religion teaches us like tolerance, respect and looking after our (less profitable) neighbours.
Maybe science can work with religion to create a better world.
Maybe combining the best of two world views, science and religion, can make our planet a Happy, Sustainable place.
(http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod10.html)
Third Week HPI results table
(http://www.justilien.com/travel/costa-rica/happiest-country.htm)
(http://www.happinessworks.com/blog/2013/10/09/the-happy-planet-index/)
But according to the Happy Planet Index, most the nations with the happiest lifestyle and a sustainable ecological footprint are found in Latin America.
According to this table you roughly have 3 groups of countries : Unhappy nations, which people have no happy life, yet their ecological footprint does not harm the earth, Unsustainable nations, where poeple live a happy live, but because of a high ecological footprint and Happy sustainable nations, who provide their people with a happy life and still have a sustainable ecological footprint.
So how will we make the changes in our lives in order to live well for less?
That is where the role of religion starts.
Second Week Health Factors
Health Factors
And by using synthetic material, we humans damage our health.
And by using synthetic material, we humans damage our health.
I also learned that synthetic vitreous fibres, which are used as a replacement for asbestos, if repeatedly breathed in, can worsen the effects of smoking. They are also possibly carcinogenic to humans.These fibres are for example used in isolation or in ceiling boards (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=906&tid=185).
There is evidence from scientific research that the components of plastic are harmful to people and the environment. When being produced and disposed, plastic creates problems like:
-components of plastic can alter hormones and effect human's health negatively
-plastic floating on water can be eaten by sea animals, which harms their health and thus wildlife
- this floating plastic can also transport harmful bacteria or other microscopic creatures and thhereb threathen stable habitats.
-this plastc waste stays intact for thousands of years
-plastic contains harmful chemicals which can contaminate groundwater.
There is evidence from scientific research that the components of plastic are harmful to people and the environment. When being produced and disposed, plastic creates problems like:
-components of plastic can alter hormones and effect human's health negatively
-plastic floating on water can be eaten by sea animals, which harms their health and thus wildlife
- this floating plastic can also transport harmful bacteria or other microscopic creatures and thhereb threathen stable habitats.
-this plastc waste stays intact for thousands of years
-plastic contains harmful chemicals which can contaminate groundwater.
Second Week phytoaccumulation
Phytoaccumulation
Do you know that some species in nature can absorb some toxix waste?
I didn't know that, until yesterday and I did some research on the topic.
So phytoaccumulation is the process where the metals are taken up by the plant's roots and transmitted through the plant all the way to its branches. Plants who do that are called hyperaccumulators.
Duckweed
If the plants take s the metals out of the water in the ground, then this process is called rhizofiltration.
A wetland plant called duckweed is known for its ability to take up metals ( like copper, nikkel, zinc and even lead and cadmium). This plant is highly productive and recommended for metal removal by scientists which have tested its capacity in a pondweed (Natural Processes and Systems for Hazardous Waste Treatment, p 233 and 234).
Here are some pictures of that famous "duckweed"
https://www.lakerestoration.com/t-duckweed-control.aspx
Do you know that some species in nature can absorb some toxix waste?
I didn't know that, until yesterday and I did some research on the topic.
So phytoaccumulation is the process where the metals are taken up by the plant's roots and transmitted through the plant all the way to its branches. Plants who do that are called hyperaccumulators.
Duckweed
If the plants take s the metals out of the water in the ground, then this process is called rhizofiltration.
A wetland plant called duckweed is known for its ability to take up metals ( like copper, nikkel, zinc and even lead and cadmium). This plant is highly productive and recommended for metal removal by scientists which have tested its capacity in a pondweed (Natural Processes and Systems for Hazardous Waste Treatment, p 233 and 234).
Here are some pictures of that famous "duckweed"
https://www.lakerestoration.com/t-duckweed-control.aspx
First Week Lifestyle
Lifestyle
What else did I learn? Well that adopting a different lifestyle is easier said than done, because we need to setback and lower our expectations. And if we do business as usual, something is about to happen. People have thought of numerous ways to deal with this climate issue, so far without significant results. What will the future bring?
We need to start thinking and more important: start acting!
So now I'm inspired to reduce my ecological footprint. Michael Neumann has inspired me more by the example he sets (he recycles, he composts, buys second hand ).
But immediately I start thinking : How to compost when I'm renting? How do Iinstall solar panels on a roof that isn't mine? How to go by without meat?
In short, we need to work together in order to switch our attitudes which are contributing to climate change. We need to spread the message. Their are major principles at stake. And we also need to bring the message clear and understandable so that more and more people join our sides.
(https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lifestyle&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ANSBU6m-GoElAWn7IGIBA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1034&bih=571#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=gEfLDQV1RYMKvM%253A%3Bvmfu3dmPYlvqbM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F4.bp.blogspot.com%252F-HRp2On93EZs%252FTXkaye6TY9I%252FAAAAAAAAALY%252Fl9jqT3BX4-w%252Fs1600%252FEPHC%252BLifestyle%252Bposter%252B2-sided%2525255B1%2525255D_Page_2.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdrlifestylesevidenceforhealth.blogspot.com%252F2012%252F06%252Fmore-support-for-healthy-lifestyle-did.html%3B1212%3B1600)
First week Ecological Footprint
What did Micheal Neumann talk about?
Ecological Footprint. We need to change our way of living. There is something coming, will it be a catastrophy? We don't know! But why wait? We can start taking actions now! By reducing your ecological footprint. So we need to measure our ecological footprint. I measured mine and it was a shocking 4.47 earths for my lifestyle! (http://myfootprint.org/en/quiz_results/)
I immediately went to Reduce My Footprint (http://myfootprint.org/en/take_action/reduce_your_footprint/).
I couldn't believe it! But it's true, I contribute to climate change and in an alarming way!!
There I read that you can reduce your ecological footprint by walking more ( to work or the groceries), avoiding the airplane, adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, using green electricity ( like soalar electricity), adopting water-saving habits ( like taking less showers and repairing leaks ), to buy less, recycle and compose.
Ecological Footprint. We need to change our way of living. There is something coming, will it be a catastrophy? We don't know! But why wait? We can start taking actions now! By reducing your ecological footprint. So we need to measure our ecological footprint. I measured mine and it was a shocking 4.47 earths for my lifestyle! (http://myfootprint.org/en/quiz_results/)
I immediately went to Reduce My Footprint (http://myfootprint.org/en/take_action/reduce_your_footprint/).
I couldn't believe it! But it's true, I contribute to climate change and in an alarming way!!
There I read that you can reduce your ecological footprint by walking more ( to work or the groceries), avoiding the airplane, adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, using green electricity ( like soalar electricity), adopting water-saving habits ( like taking less showers and repairing leaks ), to buy less, recycle and compose.
Week twelve Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation and Adaptation
All
scientific predictions and modelling dynamics clearly predict that in one way
or another, somehow somewhere, sometime, a collapse is coming the earth’s way.
All business as usual models predict it and humans have continued to use
non-renewable energy at an ever increasing rate over the past decade. This has
also pushed the CO2 emissions higher up, which is detrimental to the
environment. There are some risk factors increasing the likability of this
collapse happening, which are: population, climate, water, agriculture and
energy. Our economy also plays a role, because our current economic system
stimulates exponential growth where we will need more energy for and also more
food, water-use and maybe a growing population. How have we dealt with this presumable
collapse up till now?
Our
debates have been going about whether we would have to mitigate or adapt.
Mitigation holds many advantages in the long term. Still, most people, and
surely most of the ruling elites, choose adaptation over mitigation. They
perceive adaptation as being less disruptive to our modern lifestyle. But
adaptation can sometimes mean the problem is just relocated elsewhere. And in
the meantime, the “collapse” becomes ever more apparent. So again, what do we
do?
(http://www.policymic.com/articles/85541/nasa-study-concludes-when-civilization-will-end-and-it-s-not-looking-good-for-us)
Let’s take a closer look to mitigation and adaptation. An example of mitigation is emission reduction. This means we emit less of harmful gases in the air and also have to change our lifestyle to do so. Another example is remove CO2 out of the air, by high-technological solutions (geoengineering) or maybe by planting more and more trees. These solutions don’t necessarily require a major change of our current lifestyle, but it might take quite some time before they are fully developed. The adaptation solution involves things we do to limit our vulnerability. They only deal with impacts on human society. These measures do not take the vulnerability of other ecosystems (coral reef, wetlands, and forests) into account. In the picture below, both terms are presented as two alternatives (https://www.e-education.psu.edu/meteo469/node/175).
(https://www.e-education.psu.edu/meteo469/node/175)
If we examine the figure more closely, we will see that neither one alternative can be totally neglected. Things which at first do not affect us but affects other ecosystems may in turn be a loss for humans. If the coral reef is destroyed, we might use fish, and other food resources necessary for our survival. Also, since some climate change effects are already happening (especially global warming) we cannot mitigate this and have to find ways to adapt. So, instead of making a choice for either one, we might make a choice to do both. When both measures are practiced, the climate change vulnerability for the earth as a whole will be reduced to modest levels for most parts of the world.
(https://www.e-education.psu.edu/meteo469/node/175)
Week ten Thermodynamics and resource limitation
Thermodynamics and resource limitation
Thermodynamics is the science concerned with the relation between heat and mechanical energy or work and the conversion of one into the other(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thermodynamics).
So is there any relationship possible between thermodynamics and resources?
Thermodynamics use certain laws. Those laws are:
1. Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it can neither be created nor destroyed.
2. In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state. Also known as enthropy : organisms cease to take in energy and die
(http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobookener1.html).
In other words, a closed system has limits
If you have an exceptional rise in the consumption of any matter, than in time the matter will run out.Unchecked consumption will inevitably exhaust the supply in the fullness of time.
Economists and market fundamentalists often mistake functional supply with absolute supply.
If something becomes too expensive to make use of, we may replace it with something that is easier to access. But shifting between replacable matters still means the earth's resources are not unlimited.
Sometimes people say that because past predictions about the earth's limits were proven wrong, our future is not in danger. But, "just because it hasn't happened yet, it doesn't mean it will not" (http://www.terrafiniti.com/blog/aligning-economics-and-thermodynamics/).
Ofcourse innovation, technology and ingenuity can give us some solutions to problems related to limited resources. Bit all these solutions will have to be taken within the framework of a finite Earth.
People who see environmentalists as doom mongers hope that technology will one day provide the answers to global challenges. But if you look at the laws of thermodynamics, you clearly see that current economic patterns contradict with these laws. Once it's gone, it cannot come back. Unless we can apply rules which subvert these laws, we have to make our decisions by them. That means humanity has to evolve with creativity and ingenuity to survive current challenges
(http://www.terrafiniti.com/blog/aligning-economics-and-thermodynamics/).
Thermodynamics is the science concerned with the relation between heat and mechanical energy or work and the conversion of one into the other(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thermodynamics).
So is there any relationship possible between thermodynamics and resources?
Thermodynamics use certain laws. Those laws are:
1. Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it can neither be created nor destroyed.
2. In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state. Also known as enthropy : organisms cease to take in energy and die
(http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobookener1.html).
In other words, a closed system has limits
If you have an exceptional rise in the consumption of any matter, than in time the matter will run out.Unchecked consumption will inevitably exhaust the supply in the fullness of time.
Economists and market fundamentalists often mistake functional supply with absolute supply.
If something becomes too expensive to make use of, we may replace it with something that is easier to access. But shifting between replacable matters still means the earth's resources are not unlimited.
Sometimes people say that because past predictions about the earth's limits were proven wrong, our future is not in danger. But, "just because it hasn't happened yet, it doesn't mean it will not" (http://www.terrafiniti.com/blog/aligning-economics-and-thermodynamics/).
Ofcourse innovation, technology and ingenuity can give us some solutions to problems related to limited resources. Bit all these solutions will have to be taken within the framework of a finite Earth.
People who see environmentalists as doom mongers hope that technology will one day provide the answers to global challenges. But if you look at the laws of thermodynamics, you clearly see that current economic patterns contradict with these laws. Once it's gone, it cannot come back. Unless we can apply rules which subvert these laws, we have to make our decisions by them. That means humanity has to evolve with creativity and ingenuity to survive current challenges
(http://www.terrafiniti.com/blog/aligning-economics-and-thermodynamics/).
Week nine 1 May 2014 Urban Heat island
http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/
The term Urban Heat Island describes built up areas that are hotter than nearby rural areas.
In a city with more than one million people, the annual mean temprature can be 1-3 degrees celcius warmer than it's surroundings and in the evening, this can go up to 12 degrees celcius.
The heat islands cause people to use the airconditioning more often and may increse energy demand, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, illnesses and deaths bcause of heat and decreasing water quality.
The extreme tempratures also cause stress to the health of plants and animals.
City surfaces such as roads, paved foothpaths and buildings absorb and release energy from the sun, which leads to increasing tempratures around these surfaces. Also open land and vegetation vanishes and the permeable ground becomes impereable and dry.
The effect of urban heat islands becomes more tangible at night because urban infrastrucure will slowly relaese the heat stored at daytime and the temprature willtherefor still be high at night.
Parks, open land and bodies of water can have a cooling effect on urban heat islands.
Also, green roofs, reflective roofs and cool pavements can reduce the heat island effect.
Heat island mitigation is part of sustainability efforts and has benefits such as cleaner air, improved human health and comfort, reduced energy costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/about/index.htm
Sixth week part three: Comment on “all sustainability is local”
The
phrase “all sustainability is local” was used during the lecture.
There
are different ways to view this phrase, but looked at it from an agricultural
view, it means that food does not need to travel far from the point it is grown
to the point it is sold.
Nowadays,
food is grown at one point and then driven miles to another point where it is
sold.
For
Sydney, food is brought from far away places. The majority of the vegetables
sold at Sydney is from places outside the Sydney region so at least 100 km from
Sydney’s CBD.
Figure 1: Map of the Sydney region in Australia (https://www.google.com.au/search?q=sydney+region&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=NEJiU9vANoPGkAWV1YDwCA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1184&bih=590#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=aTZseIheyMRE1M%253A%3BYE-pB8Db3_PXYM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.clickforaustralia.com%252FGraphics%252FMapSydneyArea.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.clickforaustralia.com%252FMapofNSWSydneyArea.htm%3B448%3B336)
This
actually means that the vegetables may require chemical treatment to stay fresh
and also CO2 emission to be transported. And also the vegetables may be exposed
to dangerous materials while being grown to have high yields. So by the time it
reaches Sydney it may contain pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. This is
ofcourse bad for the environment and bad for humans as well. Do we want this
situation to endure? No, but how can we change it?
By
growing food locally and sustainably. It is good for our health, good for the
farmers and good for the economy. This means that farmers have to use
sustainable methods to grow food.
In
Ontario, a man named Chris Wong, because of his interest in maintaining health
and environment, founded Young Urban Farmers two years ago. This company plants
sustainable raised bed urban gardens in backyards allowing people to reconnect
with where the food is coming from. They have also begun to set up vegetable
gardens of at least 500 square feet in people’s backyard, using these gardens
in a sustainable manner. The company sells shares of the garden to local
restaurants. This is remarkable because you can eat fresh, have it produced local and also kno how your food
is grown and eat food according to the seasons. Young Urban Farmers is the
first and only community shared agriculture project in Toronto.
But as the success becomes apparent and people are
started to become more interested in sustainable ways of producing food, undoubtly
similar projects will spring up as time goes on.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/News/NewsAndFeatures/Pages/Local-sustainable-food.aspx
The sixt week friday 11 april 2014 Sustainability
To measure
sustainability, a number of indicators are used.
Common indicators are the environmental indicator, economic
indicator, social indicator
Indicator
|
Example
|
Environmental
|
Soil erosion
electricity consumption
water consumption
|
Economic
|
Access to health care
Employment
People living below poverty
line
|
Social
|
Voters participating in primary elections
Suicide rates (per 1000 population)
Demographics
|
How do we know that these indicators are really useful to
determine the sustainability?
First we need to know how to select the indicators.
In order to select, you first need to know:
·
What our goals are
·
Who our target audience is
·
Choose your criteria (after community consensus)
·
How to weight each criteria (which criteria are
more desirable)
·
Look at the score of every indicator
·
Look at the total and average the score
And furthermore data and results must be collected for every
indicator. The results can show a trend or a moving towards a target. Also
indicators and their importance can be described, trends and changes can be
outlined, progress can be evaluated, they can be discussed with other
indicators and recommendations can be provided.
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