Development, and its ecological cost

1. Development, and its ecological cost Prof. R. Shanthini C&P Engineering University of Peradeniya 08 June 2019

2. Is Economic or Human Development possible without healthy ecosystems? Economy Human Ecosystems

3. Ecosystems’ gifts (just to mention a few ): - Natural products and resources - Waste decomposition - Pollination and biodiversity - Land to live and work - Purification of water and air - Water and nutrient cycling - Atmospheric and ecological stability - Pest and disease control - Topsoil and biological productivity

5. Biocapacity of the Earth 2014 (in million global hectares): Earth’s total biocapacity  12.2 billion gha  1.7 gha per capita Source: Global Footprint Network

6. Biocapacity of the Earth 2014 (in million global hectares): Earth’s total biocapacity  12.2 billion gha  1.7 gha per capita 15% 11% 9% 8% 5% Source: Global Footprint Network

9. Ecological Footprint 2014 (in million global hectares): Source: Global Footprint Network

10. Ecological Footprint 2014 (in million global hectares): Source: Global Footprint Network

11. Ecological Footprint per capita 2014 (in gha per capita): Earth’s total biocapacity  1.7 gha per capita Source: Global Footprint Network

12. Ecological Footprint 2014 (in number of earths required): Source: Global Footprint Network

13. Number of Earths required to sustain Human Development Qatar (135) Luxemburg (94) USA (53) Singapore (82) Sri Lanka (11)

14. Number of Earths required to sustain Human Development High & very high HD Qatar (135) Luxemburg (94) USA (53) Singapore (82) Sri Lanka (11)

15. Alternative world scenarios to achieve sustainability:

16. Conventional World Paradigm: • Free trade and deregulation would drive growth. • Growth induced social and environmental problems could be resolved by • incremental changes in the international order, institutional structures, consumerist values and efficiency • self-correcting logic of competitive markets • policy reforms targeted at redirecting the economy • smart output-based technological innovations

17. Smart output-based technologicalinnovations • increasing the area and depth that was fished • capelin – an important prey species for the cod – were caught as bycatch A 500 year old industry collapsed in 1992 and not recovered yet. Source: www…..

18. Smart output-based technologicalinnovations Technological innovations devoid of ecological consciousness Strip mining for coal Cross-section after mountaintop has been removed Valley filled with spoil Nine men – that is all it takes to bring this mountain low Source: www…..

19. Smart output-based technologicalinnovations Source: www…..

20. A group of 17 chemical elements; vital for high tech; 95% supplied by China Rare earths Unobtanium in Pandora (Avatar)

21. Silicon from Sand HCl Hydrogen HCl Sand (SiO2) + C Metallurgical grade (MG) silicon Electronic-grade High purity HSiCl3 Coke reduction in Arc Furnace at 1800oC Dissolve in HCl at 300oC + distillation Siemens process at 900oC High-purity polysilicon ~ 9N Modified Siemens process Various gases polysilicon ~ 6-7N Upgraded MG silicon > 5N Chemical refinement Solar-grade Solar-grade silicon purity is 99.999% (5N). Electronic-grade silicon purity is 99.9999999% (9N).

22. Efficiency increment and the resulting rebound effect and backfire Source: www…..

23. Efficiency increment and the resulting rebound effect and backfire Millions of lights wrapped in polythene to be discarded to the environment Solar powered garden lights

24. Policy reforms targeted at redirecting the economy

25. Policy reforms targeted at redirecting the economy

26. Policy reforms targeted at redirecting the economy

27. Policy reforms targeted at redirecting the economy

28. Sri Lankan Electricity Consumption 10 years

29. Sri Lankan Electricity Installation (MW)

30. Sri Lankan Electricity Consumption 20 years

31. Alternative world scenarios to achieve sustainability:

32. Great Transition Paradigm: Notions of the good life turn toward qualitative dimensions of well-being: creativity leisure relationships community engagement

33. Paradigm shift: Values-led change of development towards human solidarity, ecological resilience and quality of life.

34. Technocentric Ecocentric Nature should be manipulated to make humanity’s existence better. Nature helps humanity’s existence and should be treated with respect and humility. Present economic system is accepted, but considered to require some gradual revision. Rapid and fundamental changes in economy and society are desired. Development through rational use of resource, better planning and clean technologies Values-led change of development towards human solidarity, ecological resilience and quality of life

35. An instant solution, if human could manage Source: www…..

36. Synergy in Ecosystem Mutualism: both populations benefit and neither can survive without the other. Protocooperation: both populations benefit but the relationship is not obligatory. Commensalism: one population benefits and the other is not affected.

37. Antagonism (the opposite to synergy) in Ecosystem Amensalism - one is inhibited and the other is not affected. Competition – one’s fitness is lowered by the presence of the other. Parasitism– one is inhibited and for the other its obligatory.

38. Whole System Design (we lived this way once)

39. Why not keep the tree? Source: www…..