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Engineering Sustainability for a Better Tomorrow

Understand the principles of sustainability and the role of engineers in achieving a sustainable future. Explore sustainable practices in resources, energy, transportation, water, and waste management for a greener world.

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Engineering Sustainability for a Better Tomorrow

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  1. Sustainability – a task for everyone (especially engineers) Gerry Te Kapa Coates IPENZ Past-President 2003-2004

  2. 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

  3. Sustainability Principles • Principle 1: • Maintaining the viability of the planet • Principle 2: • Providing for equity within and between generations • Principle 3: • Solving problems holistically

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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 10-50 fold • This will need rethinking the technologies and products we produce and the services they provide – not just cleaner production, recycling or reuse

  7. 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!

  8. 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)

  9. Sustainable Transportationfor 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”

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. 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”

  13. 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”

  14. 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

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