Engineering Sustainability

Transcription

1 One Planet Living Engineers Ireland West Region CPD Course 2015 Engineering Sustainability Breandán Ó Maolagáin, Chartered Engineer

2 We should be very concerned! Since 1970, in less than 2 human generations, population sizes of vertebrate species have dropped by half. These are the living forms that constitute the fabric of the ecosystems which sustain life on Earth and the barometer of what we are doing to our own planet, our only home. We ignore their decline at our peril. Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International [Living Planet Report 2014]

3 Content The Challenges facing Humanity The State of the Planet Sustainability A Framework for Sustainability

4 An Uncomfortable Fact The way we meet our needs today is compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs the very opposite of sustainable development.

5 Climate Change Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen. [IPCC synthesis report of the Fifth Assessment Report, 2014.]

6 Resource Depletion Humanity is increasingly living beyond our means - we currently consume 50% more natural resources than the Earth's ecosystems can replenish.

7 2 important measures Biocapacity The planet s biologically productive land areas (forests, pastures, cropland and fisheries.) Can also absorb much our waste & our carbon The Ecological Footprint productive area required to; Provide renewable resources for humanity Absorb its waste. Unit: Global hectare (gha)

8 Humanity is living sustainably if; Biocapacity (earth s assets) The Ecological Footprint (humanity s demand)

9 1961 to 2010 Total Per Capita 1961 (Popn: 3.09 bn) Ecological Footprint 7.6 bn gha 2.5 gha Biocapacity 9.9 bn gha 3.2 gha 2010 (Popn: 6.9 bn) Ecological Footprint Biocapacity 18.1 bn gha 2.6 gha 12.0 bn gha 1.7 gha

10 The Growing Global Footprint

11 Per Capita Ecological Footprint (2010) 5 th Belgium 7.3 gha (4.3 planets) 8 th USA 6.8 gha (4 planets) 14 th Ireland 5.4 gha (3.2 planets) EU average 4.4 gha (2.6 planets) World Average 2.7 gha (1.6 planets)

12 We can t carry on like this! Our demands on nature are unsustainable 1.5 Earths to regenerate the natural resources Cut trees faster than they mature Harvest more fish than oceans can replenish Emit more carbon than forests and oceans can absorb.

13 How do we typically deal with this Challenge? People Politicians

14 How must we deal with these Challenges? We must now - Adopt a sustainable way of living! Consume and Produce sustainably!

15 Sustainable Development a Definition Published March 1987 (a.k.a. The Brundtland Report) "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

16 Sustainable Development - a Strategy for Ireland Produced in 1997 Celtic Tiger Poor Land Use Planning Biodiversity loss Pollution of waters Not effective at all!

17 Our Sustainable Future a Framework for Sustainable Development for Ireland Silent launch in June Themes, 11 Principles 70 Measures, short, medium and long term Top down approach No mention in Planning Policy Statement 2015!

18 One Planet Living A vision of a world in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness.

19 One Planet Living was developed by Bioregional An entrepreneurial charity Champions a better, more sustainable way to live Works with partners around the world Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) International NGO Conservation, research and restoration of the environment.

20 10 Principles of One Planet Living Health & happiness Equity & local economy Culture & community Land use & wildlife Sustainable water Local & sustainable food Sustainable materials Sustainable transport Zero waste Zero carbon

21 Health and happiness Encouraging active, sociable, meaningful lives to promote good health and well being.

22 Local and sustainable food Supporting sustainable and humane farming, promoting access to healthy, low impact, local, seasonal and organic diets and reducing food waste.

23 Equity and local economy Creating bioregional economies that support equity and diverse local employment and international fair trade.

24 Sustainable materials Using sustainable and healthy products, such as those with low embodied energy, sourced locally, made from renewable or waste resources.

25 Culture and community Respecting and reviving local identity, wisdom and culture; encouraging the involvement of people in shaping their community and creating a new culture of sustainability.

26 Sustainable transport Reducing the need to travel, and encouraging low and zero carbon modes of transport to reduce emissions.

27 Land use and wildlife Protecting and restoring biodiversity and creating new natural habitats through good land use and integration into the built environment.

28 Zero waste Reducing waste, reusing where possible, and ultimately sending zero waste to landfill.

29 Sustainable water Using water efficiently in buildings, farming and manufacturing. Designing to avoid local issues such as flooding, drought and water course pollution.

30 Sustainable Water Irish Water shambles Conservation grant Marine water plastics Septic Tank Systems Ground Water Ineffective WWTP Lack of WWTP

31 Zero carbon Making buildings energy efficient and delivering all energy with renewable technologies.

32 Applications for OPL Principles Single building Multi-building development Village Town City County Region Country

33 One Planet Living Principles in Action

34 Engineers Ireland West Region Engineering the West Team Major Report in 2011 Annual Conference OPL Framework 60 Recommendations

35 Bicester, Oxfordshire Designated Eco-Town (1 of 4) in 2009 Eco-Bicester Living Lab Bioregional and Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development Virtual Lab for research and innovation

36 North-West Bicester Development Eco-development 5,000 zero-carbon properties 1 st Phase 393 homes District Heating, PV Bus <400m, every 15 minutes, in home travel info

37 NW Bicester Health and happiness Pro-cycle culture, green space and local food growing to promote healthy and happy living Equity and local economy 30% of housing to be affordable, creation of 430 jobs on site over five years, eco business centre for start up businesses

38 NW Bicester Culture and Community Eco pub, community centre & cafe as social hubs Land use and wildlife 40% of site to be open space, nett biodiversity gain targeted

39 NW Bicester Sustainable Water Water efficiency target of 80 litres/household/day, Site-wide rainwater collection Local and Sustainable Food Two community orchards, 0.5 hectares of allotments

40 NW Bicester Sustainable materials target a >40% reduction in embodied CO 2 in construction, compared to a conventional housing baseline. Sustainable Transport Increase non-car journeys to 50% or more of all residents travel by 2026 (from local baseline of 35%)

41 NW Bicester Zero Waste Zero waste to landfill during construction, 80% recycling/reuse/composting rate targeted for household waste Zero Carbon True zero carbon status with large scale use of rooftop photovoltaic panels, high levels of energy efficiency, a district heating system

42 Conclusion We now must - Realise that we can t continue as we are Engage in honest, open, informed debate Adopt sustainable consumption & production One Planet Living Framework is a model

43 We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children. [ancient native American saying] We are taking the Earth from our Children!

44 We need to do this for ourselves! Ní neart go cur le chéile!

45 References WWF Living Planet Report 2014: Summary. [McLellan, R., Iyengar, L., Jeffries, B. and N. Oerlemans (Eds)]. WWF, Gland, Switzerland. Bioregional One Planet Living Global Footprint Network Engineering the West to 2020 Reinventing our Region Our Sustainable Future A Framework for Sustainable Development for Ireland Urban Land Institute Building Healthy Places Initiative