01-Engineering and Sustainable Development

01 ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT

env20:

Introduction to environmental engineering

ENGR. ELISA G. ELEAZAR

Outline

• Environmental Engineering • Technological Advances and Environmental

Disturbances • Changing Role of Technology • Sustainability • Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice in the

Future • The Sustainability Revolution

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Environmental Engineering

What is Engineering? Engineering is the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences gained by study, experience and practice is applied with

judgement to develop ways to utilize economically the materials and forces of nature

for the benefit of mankind.

Engineers’ Council for Professional Development

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Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineering is manifest by sound engineering thought and practice in the solution of problems of environmental sanitation,

▫ notably in the provision of safe, palatable and ample public water supplies;

▫ the proper disposal of or recycle of wastewater and solid wastes;

▫ the adequate drainage of urban and rural areas for proper sanitation;

▫ and the control of water, soil and atmospheric pollution, and the social and environmental impact of these solutions.

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Environmental Engineering

Furthermore, it is concerned with engineering problems in the field of

▫ ublic health, ▫ the elimination of industrial health hazards ▫ and the provision of adequate sanitation in

urban, rural and recreational areas, and the effect of technological advances on the environment.

Environmental Engineering Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers

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Environmental Engineering

• Environment ▫ everything that affects an organism during its

lifetime

• Pollution ▫ any undesirable change in physical, chemical or

biological characteristics of the air, water or land that can harmfully affect the health, survival or activities of humans or other living organisms

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Technological Advances and Environmental

Disturbances

• Production of more and better quality food • Creation of housing as protection from extremes

of climate and as living space • Building of fast and reliable means of

transportation • Invention of various systems of communication • Invention of machines to replace human or

animal power • Supply of safe water and disposal of wastes • Elimination of many infectious diseases

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• The Tragedy of the Commons ▫ individuals or organizations consume shared

resources and then return their wastes back into the shared resource

▫ the individual or organization receives all of the benefit of the shared resource but distributes the cost across anyone who also uses that resource

▫ the individual or organization fails to recognize that everyone else is acting in the same way

8 Technological Advances and Environmental

Disturbances

As the world’s population and per capita

consumption increases, so does the urgency for engineers to protect and enhance the environments and communities where people reside.

9 Technological Advances and Environmental

Disturbances

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Existing and Emerging Environmental Issues (UNEP)

Globalization, trade and development

Marine and coastal degradation

Coping with climate change and variability

Population growth

Growth of megacities Rising consumption in developing countries

Human vulnerability to climate change

Biodiversity depletion

Freshwater depletion and degradation

Biosecurity

Technological Advances and Environmental

Disturbances

Changing Role of Technology

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind

of thinking we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

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Changing Role of Technology

• Sustainable Development ▫ the design of human and industrial systems to

ensure that humankind’s use of natural resources and cycles do not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future economic opportunities or to adverse impacts on social conditions, human health and the environment

(Mihelcic, et al, 2003)

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Changing Role of Technology

• Sustainable Development ▫ development that meets the needs of the

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

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environmental aspect

social aspect

economic aspect

Sustainability

• Stockholm Declaration Principle 1 (United Nations Conference on Human Environment, 1972) ▫ Man has the fundamental right to freedom,

equality and adequate conditions of life, environment of quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations.

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Sustainability

• Stockholm Declaration Principle 2 (United Nations Conference on Human Environment, 1972) ▫ The natural resources of the earth including air,

water, land, flora and fauna and especially representative samples of natural ecosystems must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning and management, as appropriate.

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Sustainability

• Limits to Growth (Meadows, et al, 1972) ▫ warned of the limitations of the world’s

resources; there might not be enough resources remaining for the developing world to industrialize

▫ “the basic behavior mode of the world system is exponential growth of population and capital, followed by collapse”

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Sustainability

• Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) ▫ Agenda 21 – goals and recommendations

related to environmental, economic and social issues

• World Summit on Sustainable Development

(Johannesburg, 2002) ▫ Millennium Development Goals

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Sustainability 18

Millennium Development Goals

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Achieve universal primary education

Promote gender equality and empower women

Reduce child mortality

Improve maternal health

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

Ensure environmental sustainability

Develop a global partnership for development

Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Population and Urbanization

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Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Population and Urbanization

The opportunity for the engineering community is to continue to develop and enhance quality of life through the protection and restoration of ecosystems and to design, develop, implement and maintain infrastructure that does not have the historical consequences of environmental degradation, resource consumption and adverse and unjust impacts on society.

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Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Health

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Region % of Pop Lacking Improved Water Supply

% of Pop Lacking Improved Sanitation

Asia 19 52

Africa 38 40

Latin America and Caribbean

15 22

Oceania 12 7

Europe 4 8

Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Health

Health is both a resource for, as well as an outcome of, sustainable development. The goals of sustainable development cannot be achieved when there is a high prevalence of debilitating illness and poverty and the health of a population cannot be maintained without a responsive health system and a healthy environment. Environmental degradation, mismanagement of natural resources, and unhealthy consumption patterns and lifestyles impact health. Ill-health, in turn, hampers poverty alleviation and economic development

(WHO, 2005)

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Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Water Scarcity, Conflict and Resolution ▫ Water Scarcity – there is insufficient water to

satisfy normal human requirements ▫ Reasonable Access – availability of at least 20

L / capita-day from a source within 1 km of the user’s dwelling

▫ Water Stress – when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 m3 per person

▫ Water Scarce – when annual water supplies drop below 1,000 m3 per person

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Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Energy and Climate Change

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Expected Impacts of Climate Change Water Increased water availability in moist tropics and

high latitudes

Decreasing water availability and increasing drought in mid-latitudes and semi-arid low altitudes

Hundreds of millions of people exposed to increased water stress

Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Energy and Climate Change

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Expected Impacts of Climate Change Ecosystems Up to 30% of species at increasing risk of extinction

Increased coral bleaching

Food Complex, localized negative impacts on small holders, subsistence farmers and fishers

Coasts Increased danger from floods and storms

About 30% of global coastal wetlands lost

Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Energy and Climate Change

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Expected Impacts of Climate Change Health Increasing burden from malnutrition, diarrheal,

cardio-respiratory and infectious diseases

Increased mortality due to heat waves, floods and droughts

Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Toxic Chemicals and Finite Resources

Engineers play a significant role in reducing the risks associated with the use and generation of toxic chemicals.

Engineers can incorporate renewable resources into designs and specifications; engineers can design products, processes and systems for high material efficiency.

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Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice

in the Future

• Material Flows and the Built Environment

The built environment requires tremendous amounts of water, energy and natural resources for its construction and operation

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The Sustainability Revolution 29

Industrial Revolution Sustainability Revolution

Nonrenewable energy Renewable energy

Waste Efficiency

Climate change Ecological restoration

Consumption Resource equity

Accumulation Social and environmental justice

Smog, organic pollutant Green chemistry

Transportation Accessibility

Bioaccumulation Biodiversity

Industrial design Green design

References

• Mihelcic, J.R. and Zimmerman, J.B., Environmental Engineering Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010.

• Davis, M.L. and Cornwell, D.A., Introduction to Environmental Engineering, 4th ed. USA: McGraw Hill, 2009.

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Outline

• Environmental Engineering • Technological Advances and Environmental

Disturbances • Changing Role of Technology • Sustainability • Issues that Will Affect Engineering Practice in the

Future • The Sustainability Revolution

31

01 ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT

env20:

Introduction to environmental engineering

ENGR. ELISA G. ELEAZAR