Life Cycle Analyses, Trans-boundary Impacts,and the Centrality of Asia to
Environmental Studies
Abigail R. JahielAssociate Professor of Environmental and International Studies
Illinois Wesleyan University
Asian Studies Teaching Colloquium on Environment, Science and Technology
Beloit CollegeOctober 1, 2010
Road Map
• Background
• Assignment: Life Cycle Analysis – (ENST 100: Environment and Society)
• Pedagogical Approach: Trans-boundary Impacts– (ENST 375: The Transboundary Environmental
Impacts of Asian Development)
ENST 100: Environment & Society
References to Asia:• Images of nature
– Religion: Buddhism, Daoism
• The Environmental Predicament– Population/Limits to Growth: China, India, Asia
• Our Consumer Society – Export of consumer society to Asia– Ecological life cycle analysis
ENST 100: Environment & Society
…a pedagogical tool for teaching about Asia
Assignment 4: Ecological Life-Cycle Analysis
How much of an impact do your everyday consumption patterns have on the environment? In this assignment, you will begin to consider this question by conducting an ecological life-cycle analysis of just one of your possessions.
•Select an object that you can’t live without and research the ecological implications of:
•1) the object’s birth•what it is made of•production process and the by-products•environmental and health impacts
•2) your use of the object•3) what will happen to the object once you are done with it.
iPhone Life-Cycle
Mining Gold(Indonesia)
Factory Production
Finished Product
Toxic Exposure
E-Waste
ENST 375: The Trans-boundary Impacts
of Asian Economic Growth
…a pedagogical approach for teaching about the environment
Asia’s Environmental Challenges• 60% of world population
– China accounts for 20%– India accounts for 17%
• Water shortage crisis proportions– 1 billion people in Asia will struggle to find fresh water
• Food security concerns– Demographics, hydrologic al problems, depleted soils, loss
of fisheries
• Deforestation • Desertification • Climate Change
Boundaries & the Transgression of Boundaries
• Boundaries: – Political – Ecological– Social (class)– Economic
• Are they co-terminus?• How solid are they?• How do they interact?• With what results?
Changing Landscapes
Commodity Crops
Dams
DeforestationMining
Climate Change
Mekong River
Dams
Mekong River
Dam(n)ingtthe
Mekong River
Himalayan Glaciers Melting
The Water Towers of AsiaThe Water Towers of Asia
Thank You
