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A Systems Approach to Sustainability at U.S. EPA

A Systems Approach to Sustainability at U.S. EPA. Joseph Fiksel. Executive Director Center for Resilience The Ohio State University Sustainability Advisor, U.S. EPA Office of Research & Development.

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A Systems Approach to Sustainability at U.S. EPA

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  1. A Systems Approach to Sustainability at U.S. EPA Joseph Fiksel Executive DirectorCenter for ResilienceThe Ohio State University Sustainability Advisor, U.S. EPAOffice of Research & Development The content of this presentation reflects the views of the author and does not represent the policies or position of the U.S. EPA.

  2. Three Pillars of Sustainability Human Health & Social Well Being Environmental Protection Economic Prosperity

  3. Need for a Systems Approach National Research Council Sustainability and the U.S. EPA September 2011 “Although risk-based methods have led to many successes…they are not adequate to address… complex problems…such as depletion of natural resources, climate change, and loss of biodiversity…. Sophisticated tools are…available to address cross-cutting…challenging issues that go beyond risk management.

  4. What is a Systems Approach? • A comprehensive methodology for understanding the interactions and feedback loops among • Economic systems—companies, supply chains…. • Ecological systems—forests, watersheds…. • Societal systems—communities, networks…. • Reveals consequences (sometimes unintended) of human interventions, such as new policies, technologies, and business practices • Degraded ecosystems threaten the sustainability of human economies (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005)

  5. What do Ecosystems Provide? Natural capital consists of ecosystem goods and services that are essential for human well-being • Regulating • Benefits obtained from natural regulation of ecosystem processes • • climate regulation • • disease regulation • • flood regulation • • detoxification • Cultural • Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems • • spiritual • • recreational • • aesthetic • • inspirational • • educational • • symbolic • Provisioning • Goods produced or provided by ecosystems • • food • • fresh water • • fuel & wood • • fiber • • biochemicals • • genetic resources Supporting Services necessary for provision of other ecosystem services • Soil formation • Nutrient cycling • Primary production

  6. Triple Value Model Industry (economic capital) Society (human capital) economic valueis created for society labor is utilized in industry ecological amenities are enjoyed by society some waste is recovered and recycled emissions may harm humans society invests in protection & restoration ecological goodsand services are utilized in industry waste and emissions may degrade the environment Environment (natural capital) Adapted from: J. Fiksel, A Framework for Sustainable Materials Management, Journal of Materials, August 2006.

  7. Triple Value Model Industry (economic capital) Society (human capital) Environment (natural capital) Adapted from: J. Fiksel, A Framework for Sustainable Materials Management, Journal of Materials, August 2006.

  8. Example: Triple Value Model for Water Resource Flows Economy Society economic value runoff and wastewater agriculture, fishing, industrial, and commercial uses • drinking water, recreation, and cultural uses Environment ecological resource base

  9. Interventions to PromoteSustainable Water Resource Flows Industry Society Smart growth Public agencies Communities, special populations Built environment Materials Energy Food Services Infrastructure Conservation Treatment technologies Rainwater harvesting Process water recycling Gray water reuse Water stewardship Integrated water resource management Full cost accounting Green infrastructure Agricultural practices Environment Surface water Ground-water

  10. Application to Nutrient Pollution Concentrations of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) in many U.S. waterways have increased greatly due to human sources, e.g., municipal wastewater treatment, agricultural & stormwater runoff, airborne emissions These excess nutrients result in algal blooms and degraded aquatic ecosystems, adversely impacting drinking water, fishing, recreation, and tourism N and P are difficult to control or remove because the sources are broadly dispersed, the environmental pathways and mechanisms are complex, and the removal technologies are costly

  11. Narragansett Pilot Project • Collaborate with stakeholders to address the full spectrum of sustainability goals • Explore integrated strategies for nutrient mitigation • Regulatory influence • Voluntary innovation • Provide a replicable approach for other EPA Regions Narragansett Bay Watershed Apply “systems thinking” to the problem of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in New England waters

  12. Systems View of the Nitrogen Cycle Galloway, J.N. et al. (2003). The nitrogen cascade. Bioscience, 53, 341–356.

  13. Bridging Science and Policy What do we know today? What are the unknowns? What are our goals? What are the options? Systems Model How should we proceed given the uncertainties?

  14. Mobileemissions Watershed Mass Balance for Nitrogen Atmosphere Nitrogen deposition Point source discharges Wastewater Treatment Plants Industry Deposition Precipitation Communities Impervious surfaces Sludge Recharge Water Treatment Plants Denitrification Subsurface disposal Soil Private wells Sewer overflow Runoff Riparian runoff Fertilizers Soil organisms and vegetation Uptake Surface water Manure Municipal wells Fixation Outflow Base flow Base flow Infiltration Aquatic Organisms Ground water

  15. Modeling the Nutrient Cycle products & services • Economic Activities • Agriculture • Commercial Fisheries • Energy & Transportation • Land Development • Recreation & Tourism • Water Treatment • Community Stakeholders • Consumers & residents • State & local agencies • Water & energy utilities • Regional businesses • Septic tank users • Private well users water supply runoff and wastewater • recreational and cultural uses industrial & commercial uses • Environmental Resources • Surface water • Ground water • Coastal areas • Fish & shellfish • Regional ecosystems • Atmosphere & climate

  16. Triple Value Simulation (3VS) “All models are wrong, but some models are useful” • Interactive system dynamics model based on the T21 platform from Millennium Institute • Explores how strategic options affect overall sustainability outcomes • Helps create portfolio of interventions to maximize stakeholder benefits • Current status of model development • Phase 1 prototype completed in November 2011 • Coarse disaggregation by subregions of the watershed • Extensive involvement of regional stakeholder groups • Phase 2 will analyze specific decision scenarios

  17. Overview of Modeling Approach There is no single model that can address all the needs of decision makers and stakeholders at multiple scales

  18. Municipal Boundaries for Subwatersheds

  19. Nitrogen Loading by Source and Subwatershed (2011)

  20. Nitrogen Loading by Source and Subwatershed (2030)

  21. Policy Interventions Considered • Enforcement of MS4/Stormwater Phase II requirements • Subsequent phases of Fields Point CSO Abatement Project and CSO projects in Falls River and Worcester • Restoration, construction, and maintenance of wetlands, salt marshes, and riparian buffers • Green infrastructure and low impact development (LID) practices to reduce runoff volume and pollutant loadings • Development and implementation of sustainable land care practices through BMPs (best management practices) • Development and enforcement of TMDLs (total maximum daily loads) • Further upgrades to sewer infrastructure via State Revolving Funds. • Enforcement of “no discharge” boating on the Bay • Improvement/enforcement of NOx controls on local air pollution • Nitrogen permit trading program for WWTFs(e.g., Long Island Sound) • Bioharvesting of shellfish and algae 21

  22. Causal Relationships in the System Model Society Watershed GDP Atmospheric deposition Disposable income Stormwater runoff BMPs Municipal tax revenue Agricultural fertilizer use Emissions & VMT reductions CSO tunnels ISDS improvements Septic tanks & cesspools LID and GI Fishing & Tourism Energy demand Wastewater treatment Property values Resident beach visits Recreational fishing Nutrient loadings Economy Improved treatment Finfish & shellfish abundance Fish kill likelihood Pathogen loadings Aquaculture Near-shore turbidity Aquatic ecosystem impairment Legend Sustainability Indicator Causal link Potential Intervention Climate change Rain Algae blooms Waterway engineering Surface water conditions Dissolved oxygen Environment

  23. Graphical Interface

  24. Final Thought “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein 1879-1955

  25. Acknowledgments Dr. Paul Anastas Assistant AdministratorOffice of Research & DevelopmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency Interim National Program Director, Safe and Sustainable Water ResourcesOffice of Research & Development, U.S. EPA http://www.epa.gov/research/priorities/waterresources.htm Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta

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