Technology And Sustainable Development

1. Introduction

2. Understanding well being

3. Sustainable Development

4. History, Definition and Understanding

5. Sustainability redefined

6. Indicators of sustainable development

7. Engineering and sustainable development

8. Guiding principles for engineers

9. Case study of Nokia Life Cycle Assessment

10.Concluding Statement

The Flow

What is SUSTAINABLE ?

SUSTAINABLE SUSTAIN ABLE= +

Ability to Sustain

What – Who – How Long

Actions of a guest / parasite By the host

For multiple generations of the guest / parasite

The role in present context

Earth is the HOST

We are GUEST [or PARASITE ?]

Our ACTIONS are to be sustained.

A glimpse……

Increasingly, human actions are taking up forms, the consequence of which are becoming unbearable for the earth. In other words, earth is rapidly loosing its capacity to sustain. We have started to behave more like a parasite than a guest. Hence the discussion on sustainability.

A transition from guest to parasite ?

A change in the way we understanding well being is increasingly being pointed as the root cause of our actions becoming unsustainable. Hence a discussion on well being.

Definition : Well Being

A state of health, happiness and prosperity

Health, Happiness and Prosperity. Are they interconnected?

Philosophy - ApartYES

Are they equally important?

D E B A T A B L E

Handling interconnected events is indeed challenging

Probability of the number 5 showing up in a toss of dice = 1/6

Probability of the heads showing up in a toss of coin = 1/2Independent

Probability that head appears when the dice shows 6

I think I will change my

course..

Dependent

How the things have changed historically

Historic Timeline

A shift in importance from Happiness to Prosperity

Consequence of the change

Not Resource Intensive Resource Intensive

Resource Utilization Resource Exploitation

Policies of the Government

Traditionally, the goal of public policy has been progress e.g. Five year plans etc.

Progress has been for defined as the continuous movement to a better future.

Progress has (un) fortunately been measured on the basis of material prosperity – i.e. greater goods and conveniences available to humanity.

No end goals ever specified with respect to progress and growth.

The holy grail of public policy

UNLIMITED GROWTHAND

INFINITE GROWTH RATE

Consequences

GROWTH Requires RESOURCES

MACHINES

MaterialManpower

Fed to

Gives OutWaste and Emission

GivesOut

Products

Limitless

Limits of natural endurance

Everything in nature (and science / technology) has a limit on the rate of change of a particular variable. In engineering examples, rate of acceleration, rate of loading, rate of heating, rate of pressure rise. Nothing can sustain anything with infinite rate. Beyond the rate of endurance, nature also reacts in an adverse fashion.

A glimpse of how nature reacts will give an indication of how wrong we have been in defining human well being.

When nature reacts

When nature reacts

When nature reacts

How has been our reaction to the unprecedented challenge thrown at us by the nature due to our own actions.

Initiating Damage Control

How the damage is sought to be controlled

By recognizing that

And working towards

The current mode or model of development with focus on material growth and resource maximization is untenable in the long run. By continuing with the current model of development entire nature and hence obviously the entire human race itself is threatened at the level of existence itself.

A development model or mode that focuses on holistic growth without resource exploitation and resource utilization rate accounting for the replenishment potential and waste absorbing potential of nature. A model that does not fail the test of time but sustain the challenges.

A model of development or growth for the betterment of humanity in particular and ecosystem in general that balances the resource extraction and waste generation rate with the replenishment potential of the earth.

A glimpse of how the world has changed over the years and how the world community has responded with various initiatives.

The changing world : Economy

World Per Capita GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) refers to the market value of all officially recognized final goods and services produced within a country in a given period.

The changing world : Population

The changing world : Obesity

The changing world : C-Sections

The changing world : Rural migration

The changing world : CO2 Concentration

The changing world : Global Temperatures

The changing world : Glaciers Shrinkage

The changing world : Why Glaciers Shrinkage is Threatening ?

Most of it is FOSSIL Water

The changing world : Polar Ice Cap

The changing world : Number of species lost

17 Species lost in the last 100 years

The changing world : Who is responsible?

Recognition of the problem : A giant step

First official recognition of the problem was in the year 1972 at Stockholm “Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment”

In the long evolution of the human race on this planet, a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unparalleled scale.

The protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development throughout the world; it is the urgent desire of the peoples of the whole world and the duty of all Governments.

Man's capability to transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can bring to all people the benefits of development and the opportunity to enhance the quality of life. Wrongly or heedlessly applied, the same power can do incalculable harm to human beings and the human environment. We see around us growing evidence of man-made harm in many regions of the earth: dangerous levels of pollution in water, air, earth and living beings; major and undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance of the biosphere; destruction and depletion of irreplaceable resources; and gross deficiencies, harmful to the physical, mental and social health of man, in the man-made environment, particularly in the living and working environment.

History of Sustainable Development : Limits to Growth

The Limits to Growth1972 book modeling the consequences of a rapidly growing world population and finite resource supplies.

Commissioned by the Club of Rome.

Authors : Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L.Meadows, Jorgen Randers, and William Behrens III.

Interaction of exponential growth interacts with finite resources

“Unless some major change in the physical, economic, or social relationships that govern world development occurred, within 100 years, society would run out of the nonrenewable resources on which industry depends triggering a collapse of the world economy bring on massive unemployment, decreased food production . The collapse can only be avoided by an immediate limit on population and pollution, as well as a cessation of economic growth.”

History of Sustainable Development : The first meet

United Nations Conference on the Human Environment[5 to 16 June 1972, Stockholm, Sweden]

First international meeting on the effect of human activities on the environment and on human lives. However, the term sustainable development was not explicitly framed.

The meeting agreed upon a

Declaration containing 26 principles concerning environment and development An Action Plan with 109 recommendations A Resolution establishing UNEP [United Nations Environmental Programme]

History of Sustainable Development : The first meet; Resolutions & Dispute

Cracks appear in negotiations and show up in the resolution

United Nations Conference on the Human Environment[5 to 16 June 1972, Stockholm, Sweden]

In the developing countries most of the environmental problems are caused by under-development. Millions continue to live far below the minimum levels required for a decent human existence, deprived of adequate food and clothing, shelter and education, health and sanitation. Therefore, the developing countries must direct their efforts to development, bearing in mind their priorities and the need to safeguard and improve the environment. For the same purpose, the industrialized countries should make efforts to reduce the gap themselves and the developing countries. In the industrialized countries, environmental problems are generally related to industrialization and technological development.

The developed countries should not expect those still developing to bear the burden of environmental concerns, and therefore, spurn their own development. "Poverty is the worst polluter“.

Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India

History of Sustainable Development : Bruntland Commission

World Commission on Environment and Development[ Bruntland Commission ]

Our Common Future / Brundtland Report11 December 1987

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

“Sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development; and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations”

First official definition of sustainable development

History of Sustainable Development : Earth Summit

United Nations Conference on Environment and DevelopmentEarth Summit

June 2-14, 1992 , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It brought together the heads or senior officials of 179 governments and produced two international agreements, two statements of principles and a major action agenda on worldwide sustainable development:

The Convention on Climate Change - limits emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).The Convention on Biological Diversity - gives countries responsibility for conserving species diversity and using biological resources in a sustainable way.The Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles - sets out the principles of sustainable development and pledges to reduce deforestation.

Agenda 21Plan for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century

History of Sustainable Development : Agenda 21 Highlights

Is a comprehensive blueprint of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the UN, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans directly affect the environment. It however is a non binding agreement.

Agenda - 21

Section I: Social and Economic DimensionsIncludes combating poverty, changing consumption patterns, population and demographic dynamics, promoting health, promoting sustainable settlement patterns and integrating environment and development into decision-making. Section II: Conservation and Management of Resources for DevelopmentIncludes atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting fragile environments, conservation of biological diversity (biodiversity), and control of pollution.Section III: Strengthening the Role of Major GroupsIncludes the roles of children and youth, women, NGOs, local authorities, business and workers.Section IV: Means of ImplementationImplementation includes science and technology transfer, education, finance mechanisms etc.

History of Sustainable Development : Agenda 21 Progress review [1997]

History of Sustainable Development : The Developed – Developing Divide

The poor and the rich share at least one inescapable common fate: they live on the same planet and depend on the same natural resources for their survival. But rich and poor live in two separate worlds. The poor, who to a large extent operate outside the money-based economy, have (especially in rural areas) close ties with the environment. The rich, who “create” and use the money-based economy, exploit the resources of the environment without really being part of it. There is consequently a fundamental opposition in the approach of rich and poor to the environment, one category contributing with varying degrees of violence to the destruction of our natural habitat, the other depending on it simply to survive.

Environmental damage, which often only represents a financial loss for the rich, is a much more serious matter for the poor. It is an issue of survival for them.

History of Sustainable Development : Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Climate Change ProtocolDecember 1 – 11, 1997, Kyoto, Japan

Sustainable Development with specific agenda of Climate Change

Agenda 21 was legally non binding agreement. Most of the nations failed to indicate progress on the environmental front necessitating a LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT.

It sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions amounting to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008- 2012.

Recognized that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity. A heavier burden was placed on developed nations under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” .

Countries are required to meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the additional means of meeting respective targets by way of three market-based mechanisms are provided. Emissions trading Clean development mechanism Joint Implementation

History of Sustainable Development : Kyoto Protocol

CARBON TRADING allows countries that have emission units to spare - emissions allocated to them but not "used" - to sell this excess capacity to countries that are over their targets.India and China are likely to emerge as the biggest sellers and Europe is going to be the biggest buyers of credits.

CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission- limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission reduction project in developing countries. Operational since 2006, the mechanism has already registered more than 1,650 projects and is anticipated to produce CERs amounting to more than 2.9 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, 2008–2012.

JOINT IMPLEMENTATION allows any developed country to invest in emission reduction projects in any other developed country as an alternative to reducing emissions domestically. In this way countries can lower the costs of complying with their Kyoto targets by investing in greenhouse gas reductions in an Annex I country where reductions are cheaper

History of Sustainable Development : Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Protocol Ratification Status as of June 2009

Signed No intention to signUndecided

History of Sustainable Development : Mockery of Kyoto Protocol

The US contains 4% of the world's population but produces about 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions.

History of Sustainable Development : Mockery of Kyoto Protocol

History of Sustainable Development : The Millennium Summit

The Millennium SummitSeptember 6 – 8, 2000 , New York

MillenniumDevelopment

Goals

MillenniumDevelopment

Goals

Over a period of 30 years from Stockholm to New York Millennium summit, a fluctuations was seen in the degree of importance to be attached to economic growth, poverty eradication and environmental concerns due to arrival on the scene of developing and developed blocks. This necessitated a re-look the definition of sustainability.

Redefining Sustainability : An Overview

Limit To Growth ofPopulation / Economy(Recognized due to Resource dwindling)

Calling ForCurtailing

ofGrowth

World has bothrich and poor

with the poor faroutweighing therich in numbers

However

Affects the poormore than the rich and threatens their

survival and society as a whole

And

Women and children are the most and

worst affected

Also

Affects investment intechnologies withpotential to solve

environmentalproblems Curtailing Growth

is no solution

HoweverGrowth

RemainsA

Problem

Redefining Sustainability : The economic group was saying…..

Encouraging economic development and infrastructure also increases the capacity for change.

USA & G77

Redefining Sustainability : The environmental group was saying…..

Concrete prescriptions, rules, and enforcementmust curb environmental degradation.

European Union

Redefining Sustainability : The societal group was saying…..

Sustainable development is about protecting theenvironment as well as

economic and social justice.

Norway, Canada & Japan

Redefining Sustainability : Meanwhile the earth was saying…..

Sustainable Development : The new form

Sustainable Development : The new form

Sustainable Development : The three pillars : 2000 Millennium Summit

We reaffirm our commitment to achieve the goal of sustainable development. To this end, we commit ourselves to undertaking concrete actions and measures at all levels and to enhancing international cooperation, taking into account the Rio principles. These efforts will also promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development — economic development, social development and environmental protection — as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Sustainable Development : An intelligent master stroke OR a grand compromise

Only time will tell.

Formalization of the definition of sustainable development brought to fore the need to identify a monitoring mechanism. Identification of Indicators of development became the key and first necessity towards the same.

In simple terms, an indicator is an entity that helps us understand where we are, which way we are going and how far we are from where we want to be . In other words it gives us our current position with respect to some reference.

Indicators of Sustainable Development : What is an indicator?

Chapter 40 of Agenda 21 calls on countries and the international community to develop indicators of sustainable development.

Indicators of Sustainable Development : The current version / Structure

CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development – 3rd edition

The CSD Indicators of Sustainable Development serve as reference for countries to develop or revise national indicators of sustainable. The previous two editions of the CSD indicators were published in 1996 and 2001. They have been intensively tested and applied by many countries around the world.

Structure of Indicator

DIVISION THEME SUB-THEME INDICATOR

Indicators of Sustainable Development : 14 Themes

S O C I E T Y E C O N O M Y E N V I R O N M E N T

5 - THEMES 3 - THEMES 6 - THEMES

Poverty

Governance

Health

Education

Demographics

EconomicDevelopment

Global EconomicPartnership

Consumption andproduction

patterns

Natural hazards

Atmosphere

Land

Oceans, seas andCoasts

Freshwater

Biodiversity

Indicators of Sustainable Development : Societal

Theme Sub Theme Indicator

Poverty Income poverty % of population living below poverty line.

Income inequality Ratio of share in national income of highest to lowest quintile.

Sanitation Proportion of population using an improved sanitation facility.

Drinking Water Proportion of population using an improved water source.

Access to Energy Share of households without electricity or other modern energy services.

Living Conditions Proportion of urban population living in slums.

Governance Corruption % of population having paid bribes

Crime Intentional homicides per 100,000 population

Indicators of Sustainable Development : Societal

Theme Sub Theme Indicator

Health Mortality Under-five mortality rate life expectancy

Health care delivery Percent of population with access to primary health care facilities Immunization against infectious childhood diseases

Nutritional status Nutritional status of children

Health status and

risks

Morbidity of major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis

Education Education Level Net enrolment rate in primary education

Adult secondary schooling attainment level

Literacy Adult literacy rate

Demographics Population Population growth rate

Dependency ratio

Tourism Ratio of local residents to tourists

Indicators of Sustainable Development : Continuous Update

Engineering is a field that either directly or indirectly affects both humans and the ecosystem. Engineering has a major role to play in the aspect of sustainable development.

Sustainability and Engineering : Definition of Engineering

The profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind”

Accreditation Board of Engineering & Technology

Sustainability and Engineering : Definition of Engineering

Activity ToDeliver

Constraints

Knowledge

Sustainability and Engineering : Engineering is a web of constraints

Engineering is a web of Constraints

Sustainability and Engineering : Demands of Sustainable Development ?

Growth with constraints

Sustainability and Engineering : Logically, engineers fit the bill.

Sustainability and Engineering : Logic apart, Responsibility ?

Engineering & Technology has become a part of every aspect of our life

Sustainability and Engineering : Logic apart, Responsibility ?

World Population : 6,700,000,000

4,600,000,00060% of

population

1,000,000,00015% of

population

1,416,338,24521% of

population

1,200,000,00018% of

population

500 – 800charge

dischargecycles of

battery life

CRT : 0.25WPSILCD: 0.16 WPSI

Plasma : 0.30 WPSI

1100 BillionLiters

Petrol / Diesel

175 W Full Power35 W Sleep Mode

Even a minor interventiontowards improvement

can do wonders

Sustainability and Engineering : A case of fuel consumption by engines

Life Cycle Assessment of Crude OilA Well To Wheel Assessment

10 % 10 %

Energy Return On Energy Invested [ ERoEI ] = 5 : 1

Sustainability and Engineering : A case of fuel consumption by engines

1,000,000,000 1100 BillionLiters

ERoEI = 5 : 1

1375 BillionLiters

2.5 Kg Carbonper Kg Crude

2750 Billion Kg Carbon

Sustainability and Engineering : A case of fuel consumption by engines

An average 1% improvement in the efficiency of the engine can give us a saving of about 45 Billion Liters of Oil per year converting to a reduction of about 112.5 Billion Kg of Carbon Emissions into Atmosphere.

Sustainability and Engineering : Engineering, the key to sustainable development

Sustainability and Engineering : Light bulbs, a case of engineering intervention

The guiding principles lay out a general direction an engineer can follow while moving towards sustainability and sustainable development. A total of 12 guiding principles are identified.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 01

Look beyond your own locality and immediate future

Identify the potential positive and negative impacts of proposed actions, not only locally and soon but also outside our immediate local environment, organization and context, and into the future

Guiding principles for Engineers : 02

Innovate and be creative

There cannot be a single “Mother of All” solutions. The situation is complex due to interconnectivity between society, economy and environment. Hence innovation and creativity is the key.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 03

Seek a balanced solution

Not just seek to balance the adverse and positive impacts on economic, social and environmental factors in the challenge we are addressing but seek gains in all three. This in a way is an attempt towards rectifying some previous mistakes.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 04

Seek engagement from all stake holders

Society will ultimately say what is needed or wanted for any development, sustainable or otherwise. So reaching decisions in this area requires engagement of stakeholders to bring their different views, perceptions, knowledge and skills to bear on the challenge being addressed.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 05

Make sure you know the needs and wants

It is important to recognize that many engineering challenges are driven by what people want to have – such as even better motor cars – rather than just what they need – a means of transport. In addition, ‘wants’ are often characterized as ‘needs’ when they are in fact just perceived needs, and a more modest solution may ultimately be acceptable.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 06

Plan and manage effectively

Express aims sufficiently clearly and in open ended terms. Seek to improve or at least maintain the existing sustainability practices. Ensure that the efforts and resources applied to tackle unsustainable practices remain proportional to the problem.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 07

Give sustainability the benefit of doubt

When the outcome of an action is not certain, give the benefit of doubt to that practice which is more sustainable.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 08

If polluter must pollute, then they must pay as well

The adverse polluting effects of any decision should in some way be paid for or compensated for by the proponent of an engineering project, scheme or development. The penalty must be some action beyond monitory. The most important thing however is, pollution as a possibility must be excluded.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 09

Adopt a holistic “cradle to grave” approach

Use whole life cycle tools to improve decision making and wherever uncertainties exist keep as many future options as possible.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 10

Do things right, having decided on the right thing to do

Guiding principles for Engineers : 11

Beware of cost cutting that disguises as value engineering

Sustainability comes with some cost. Avoid sacrificing the sustainability desires incorporated in the design when seeking cost reductions.

Guiding principles for Engineers : 12

Practice what you preach

One’s own everyday practices should not be at variance with what is being asked about of others. We must not expect from others what we cannot do.

Sustainability assessment of Mobile Phones – An initiative by NOKIA

Driver : European Commission’s Integrated Product Policy [IPP]

Theme : Reduce the environmental impacts from products throughout their life cycle, harnessing, where possible, a market-driven approach, within which competitiveness concerns are integrated.

A typical mobile phone, like many electronic products, consists of 500–1000 components. Most of these components are made up of a large variety of materialsand substances. The commercial sources of these components could be situated anywhere in the world, making supply management a key issue in attempting to control environmental impacts.

The examination in the study of the different phases of the life cycle of a mobile phone showed the complexity of its components and the large number of stakeholders involved in its life. The main phases are extraction and processing of raw materials, components manufacture, transport of components to the phone assembly plant, phone assembly, transport of the phones to the distribution network, use and, finally, end-of-life.

Sustainability assessment of Mobile Phones – An initiative by NOKIA – Findings

The use phase and component manufacture phase are the biggest contributors to life-cycle

In the use phase, the stand-by power of the charger – assuming it is left plugged in and not switched off – accounts for the majority of the environmental impacts.

In the component manufacturing phase, the energy consumption of the manufacturing processes account for the major portion of environmental impacts.

The most important environmental issue for a mobile phone, in all the life cycle phases, is energy consumption.

The Printed Circuit Board, Integrated Circuits and Liquid Crystal Display are the components with the highest environmental impacts

In the transportation phase, air freight accounts for almost all of the environmental impacts

The collection and proper management of the mobile phones (and accessories) at the end of their life is critical to prevent any material and substance dispersions to the environment. Positive environmental impacts are achieved by the recovery of metals, especially precious ones such as gold and platinum

From the perspective of a mobile system the energy consumption of radio base stations during the use phase is the most significant contributor to environmental impacts

Sustainability is all about owing up responsibility.

Sustainability is all about giving up ownership and moving towards belongingness. The earth does not belong to us. We just belong to earth for a short duration in the long life span of earth.

Sustainability is about giving up wants in favor of needs.

Sustainability is about taking long term consequence into consideration when taking decisions.

Signing Off With A ResolveTo Care