12.02, wennersten — lecture on sustainable development

Department of Industrial Ecology/KTH/Ronald Wennersten

Sustainable Development

What´is the problem?

Department of Industrial Ecology/KTH/Ronald Wennersten http://www.nasa.org

Painting the future • Dramatic increase in global population • Population concentration in Mega cities • Low birth rate/low death rate demographic state • Increase in income • Increased demand on services/resources • Rapid societal transformation • Dramatic environmental degradation • Signs of dysfunctions in planetary processes • Vigorous reliance on technology


Todays industrial system – a linear flow of resources

UnlimitedResources

Materialextraction

Production Consumption UnlimitedWaste

Ecosystemdamage

Powered by cheap fossile fuels

Problems•Limitied resources•Waste•Environmental degradation•Conflicts


From local effects


To regional effects The Aral Sea


The Aral Sea


To global effects


Pollution affecting the earth

• The way we live influence the planet.Human activity makes a foot print through change on earth.

Ecological footprint


Huge change since 1950s

Exponential growth of:• Consumption• CO2 emissions• Technology

development

From Will Steffen’s presentation


Ecosystem services

• Ecosystem Services are the processes by which the environment produces resources that we often take for granted such as clean water, timber, and habitat for fisheries, and pollination of native and agricultural plants.

What is the carrying capacity?


Hazardous substances


•Around 30 000 chemicals on the commercialmarket

•Around 2 800 substances are produced involumes more than 1 000 tons/year

•Since 1993 around 5 substances in EU has been “completely” been investigatedconcerning risks for humans and environment

The situation today


A growing hole in the earths ozone layer

We have started to realize that

The sky is the limit



1.Brundtland Commission, 1987Safeguarding possibilities for future generations

2. Rio Conference, UNCED, 1992The 40 chapters in Agenda 21

3. The natural Step FoundationFour systems conditions for sustainable development


In 1987 the United Nations Commission on Environment and Development ( the Bruntland Commission) drew attention to the fact that economic development often leads to a deterioration, not an improvement, in the quality of people's lives. Just because it is new does not mean that it is better - or at least not for everybody!

The Commission therefore called for

a form of sustainable development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs



THE NATURAL STEP'S PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITYThe Natural Step's definition of sustainability includes fourscientific principles that lead to a sustainable society.

These principles, also known as "conditions" that must be met in order to have a sustainable society, are as follows:


Substances from the Earth's crust must not systematicallyincrease in the biosphere. This means that in sustainable society, fossil fuels, metals and other materials are not extracted at a faster pace than theirslow redeposit into the Earth;s crust.

Substances produced by society must not systematicallyincrease in nature. This means that in a sustainable society, substances are not produced at a faster pace than they can be broken down in nature or into the Earth's crust.

The physical basis for the productivity and the diversityof nature must not be systematically diminished. This means that in a sustainable society, the productive surfaces ofnature are not diminished in quality or quantity, and we must not harvestmore from nature than can be recreated.

We must be fair and efficient in meeting basic human needs. This means that in a sustainable society, basic human needs must be metwith the most resource-efficient methods possible, including a just resourcedistribution.


Carrying Capacity

Technical and Economicalviability

Social acceptanceTechno-CentricConcerns

Eco-CentricConcerns

Socio-CentricConcerns

The relation between Eco Centric, Techno Centric, and Socio Centric concern

The dimensions of sustainability


Carrying Capacity

Technical and Economicalviability

Social acceptanceTechno-CentricConcerns

Eco-CentricConcerns

Socio-CentricConcerns

The relation between Eco Centric, Techno Centric, and Socio Centric concern

Time

MoralThe dimensions of sustainability



Local - Now

Global - Future

Global - Now


Is technology going to save the world?


We need science and technology to solveproblems that havebeen created by science and technology


Technology is the technical means people use to improvetheir surroundings. It is also a knowledge of using toolsand machines to do tasks efficiently.

We use technology to control the world in which we live. Technology is people using knowledge, tools, and systems to make their lives easier and better. People use technology to imrove their ability to do work.

Through technology, people communicate better. Technology allows them to make more and betterproducts. Our buildings are better through the use of technology. We travel in more comfort and speed as a result of technology. Yes, technology is everywhere and can make life better.

Definition of technology


But –Are we becoming prisoners in the world of technology?


Is technology evil?


•Individuals•Authorities•Politicians•Companies•NGOs

Who is controlling the developmentof technology


Is technology good or bad?

Is technology the driving force for economic development?

Is there a given direction for development?

Who should control the development of technology (GMF)?

How can developing countries make a technology leap and not get the technological and institutional lock in?

Reflections


Four interacting parts

TechnologyEconomics

Health EcosystemsInteraction


•The root cause for the growing ecological crisis is the massive and frequently indiscriminate use of natural resources, including energy carriers, land and water.

At the present time, worldwide use of natural resources increases dramatically, in part due to an increasing world population, but much more pronounced because of economic growth of emerging countries like China and India. www.factor10-institute.org/



If all people on earth should live like we do in western Europé

We will need two more earths


www.factor10-institute.org/

On the average, more than 30 tons of non-renewable natural resources are invested today for every ton of goods, with increasing tendency.

In order to approach ecological sustainability, the resource productivity in western countries has to be increased by at least a Factor 10, compared to todayA demateralization of this magnitude will also dampen the energy demand by ca. 80% opening completely new vistas for de-carbonization and for supplying sufficient energy to the 2 billion poor of this world.


MIPS stands for material input per unit service (utility)


Use of material in products

While the amount of material in a technical product has decreased…

…the global use of material has increased due to more wealthy people.

1970 1980 1990 2000

flow

per

uni

t

1970 1980 1990 2000

glob

al fl

ow


An example for energy

During the past 30 years the energy efficiency in the aviation sector has increaed with 50%

The total fuel consumption for the aviation sector has increased because the volume of flights has increasedfaster than the increase in energy efficiency för


A technical solution can be defined as a solutions demanding changes only in technology based on natural sciences without demands for changes in values, ethics, moral etc.

Are there technical solutions for asustainable society?


When people get more moneythey will spend it in a way that willdemand new resources


Decisions taken by individuals will be the best decisions for societyAdam Smith, The Wealth of the Nations, 1776

By exploiting the commons for free individualsand companies will profit mote than those who don´tThe Tragedy of the CommonsGarret Hardin, Science, 1968


The role of the consumer

o How can information to consumers be developed?

o Who is forming our visions of the future?

o How are our visions of the future affecting our behavior?

o Alternative lifestyles starting from health, religion or voluntary simple ness


Are there “Sustainable Technologies”

Can we create visions for a Sustainable Future?

Holistic concepts in research, education, planning

Reflections


Are we creativeas engineers?


How are we educated?


What is a sustainable energy system?

http://www.nasa.org

12.02, wennersten — lecture on sustainable development

Technology

sustainable society

sustainable developmentin

sustainable developmentwhatis

todays industrial system

techno centric

earths crust

eco centric

diversity of nature