Transcript Gerry Coates Keynote - The Sustainability Society

Sustainability – a task for everyone
(especially engineers)
Gerry Te Kapa Coates
IPENZ Past-President 2003-2004
Sustainability –
What is it?
 Many definitions as well
as Brundtland’s
 It concerns the long term survival
of humanity – not just biodiversity
 About managing change which is
likely to degrade the planet
 Paradigm shifts in thinking needed
Sustainability
Principles
Principle 1:
– Maintaining the viability of the planet
Principle 2:
– Providing for equity within and between generations
Principle 3:
– Solving problems holistically
Sustainability &
Engineering
 Managing changes
in the environment over a long time scale
 Equity and safety of engineering activities –
quality of life and consultation
 Problem solving – using systems thinking
 Past problems – remediation
Engineers – What can
we do?
IPENZ Task Committee 2004
reported * on:
 Sustainable Resources and Production
 Sustainable Energy
 Sustainable Transportation
 Sustainable Water
 Sustainable Solid Waste
* http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/members/virtual-networks/Sustainability/uploads/
Sustainability%20Task%20Committee%20Conference%20documents.pdf
Sustainability of Resources
and Products
 The use and waste of resources is increasing
significantly
 For every kilogram of product many more kilograms
of material are moved, consuming energy and
polluting soil, water and air
 In order to achieve sustainability, we will have to
reduce our resource consumption by a factor of 1050 fold
 This will need rethinking the technologies
and products we produce and the services
they provide – not just cleaner production,
recycling or reuse
Renewable Energy Essential
for Sustainable Development
 Sustainable use of energy resources must
support the wellbeing of present and future
inhabitants.
 The mix of energy sources needs to change.
 Sustainable energy sources must account for 75%
of all energy use by 2050. (Around 29% of total
consumer energy in NZ is from renewable sources).
 There will be costs involved in moving towards less
dependence on fossil fuels. But there will be a
much bigger price to pay if we don’t!
Risks for Present Energy
Strategies
Climate change is inevitable and has
begun. We must stop further damage.
Combustion of carbon will still be a problem
whatever.
Sudden climate change “could result in
catastrophic breakdown in international
security” and fighting “wars over food, water &
energy.” (US Pentagon Report 2003)
Sustainable Transportation
for New Zealand
 Transportation produces
– 40% of NZ’s CO2 emissions
– 15% of Greenhouse Gases
– Fastest growing source of GHG emissions
 30% of motor vehicle trips < 2 km; 60% < 5 km
NZ policy framework
– Transfund and Transit to achieve an:
“integrated, safe, responsive and
sustainable land transport system”
Transport Implications
for Engineers
 Can’t build our way out of
congestion
 Need to move beyond “predict and provide”
 Transportation is increasingly unsustainable
from:
–
–
–
–
fuel, emissions, pollution
land use
congestion and economics (resources)
collisions, safety and health
 We need to work at many levels
–
–
–
–
transportation policy, planning and funding
land use planning
traffic engineering practice
day-to-day road maintenance operations
Sustainable Water
Resources
Traditional approaches under
question (e.g. costs to upgrade and
expand, potable water for toilet flushing)
 Process-thinking to reflect the “water
cycle” (integrated, localised, dynamic
process)
•Water Supply
•Stormwater
•Wastewater
NZ Policy framework:
“Legislative framework…outdated and conflicting”
(Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment,
2001)
Sustainable Water
Implications for Engineers
 Reflect Sustainability Principles
(e.g. integration, ecological integrity, full
cost, efficiency, community
involvement)
 Manage demand with efficient use
 Low-impact, water-sensitive designs
 More sustainable water technologies;
make them competitive; “off the shelf”
Sustainable Solid
Waste Management
Traditionally:
– waste collection and disposal
Recent focus:
– waste hierarchy and minimisation
Sustainability future tasks
– waste minimisation
– manage material flows and recycle
– engineer products and processes
NZ policy framework
NZ Waste Strategy 2002 – “Towards zero waste and a
sustainable NZ”
This Conference – Summing Up
 There are still many unknowns, but that shouldn’t
prevent us taking action
 There may be many parallel paths to a sustainable
world
 The laws of thermodynamics are non-negotiable
 Achieving sustainability will involve ethics
 What level of growth can we manageably allow, and for
whom?
 Engineers and innovation alone won’t get us to
sustainability without a paradigm shift in thinking