Engineers and Sustainability

Terms and Definitions
Engineers and Sustainability:

Environmental Ethics
{
Terms and Definitions

Anthropocentricity and Western
Ethics
Technologys Role in
Sustainability
Approaches to Ecological
Management
The Engineers Role
Growth versus Development (Herman

Daly)
To grow means to increase in size by the
addition of material or accretion.
To develop means to expand or realize the
potentialities of; bring gradually to a fuller,
greater or better state.
(Farrell, 222)
Sustainable Development
Growth versus Development

(Herman Daly)
{
{
Daly also concludes that growth has

limits while only development can
be sustainable indefinitely
Sustainable Development (CCPE)

{
Engineers Canada (was CCPE)

defines sustainability as:
Ability to meet the needs of the
present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs, through the
balanced application of integrated
planning and the combination of
environmental, social, and economic
decision-making processes.
(CCPE National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability, Nov. 2005)
Herkert quotes the 1987 Brundtland

Commissions definition of
sustainable development as
development that meets the needs
of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own
needs
(Herkert, 215)
Sustainable Development (ASCE)

{
Sustainable development is a process of

change in which the direction of
investment, the orientation of technology,
the allocation of resources, and the
development and functioning of
organizations [is directed] to meet
present needs and aspirations without
endangering the capacity of natural
systems to absorb the effects of human
activities, and without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their
own needs and aspirations.
Harris et al, 218
{
It is economic and technical activity

that is required to meet our needs
and aspirations. Harris et al(218)
{
Cannot ignore the needs of today
There are two constraints on this

development: that the resulting
activity be absorbable by the
environment, and that future
generations be able to also meet
their needs and aspirations. Harris et al
(218)
(Farrell, 222)
The Environment
{
Up to this point, engineering

organizations have acknowledged a
role in ecology and economics, but
have generally discounted or
ignored any role in the social
systems aspect of sustainability.
The Environment
What is natural?
The Environment
Earths environment can be thought

of as the integration and interaction
of all the natural systems that have
any effect on the operation of any
other system, including each other,
or on any of the inhabitant life
forms
What is natural?
{
Humankind, and the effects of its

growth, as an integral part of
natural systems.
This philosophy states that we are
an inseparable part of the
environment and whatever
changes result from our existence
are part of the natural course of
events
The Environment
What is natural?
{
Humankind as central to, but

separate from, the rest of the
natural environment.
This philosophy starts from a base
assumption that what is natural is what
would happen to natural systems if we
were not here at all to interfere
(either positively or negatively).
The Environment
Geographical
{
Geographical

Ethics
We need to rethink this approach!
Anthropocentricity :
z
We must think of the earth as a

biosphere, A CLOSED SYSTEM
WITH MANY COMPLEX AND
INTERDEPENDENT COMPONENTS.
Much of our initial concern for the

environment was based on this
human-centred view; how was a
changing environment going to
affect the health and welfare of
humans.
Large smoke stack keeps the

exhaust away from the stack but
what about many miles away!!

Ethics
The Environment
What we do is not limited to as

small geographical area but is felt
many miles away (in the artic for
example)
EVENTS IN TERMS OF HUMAN

VALUES AND UTILITY

Ethics
{
How can we view the environment?
We could see the environment as

having a direct effect on our health,
usually in a negative sense if it
contains toxins or irritants.

Ethics
{ We
can also view it as having

instrumental value in that
humans will benefit from the
enjoyment of nature

Ethics
{
Humans should view themselves as

part of the environment instead of
as owners of it.
A philosophy held by aboriginal
people around the world for
many years
ALDO LEOPOLD IN A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC
Harris et al ( 234)
ETHICAL VIEWS AND THE

ENVIRONMENT
{
Utilitarianism!!! most good for the most people.

z
Technologys Role in Sustainability
Tend to violate individual rights

Laws are now recognizing an
individuals right to an environment
that wont negatively affect their health
Farrell mentions the concept of

carrying capacity of the biosphere
as a measure of how much human
activity can be safely absorbed by
our ecological systems without
jeopardizing the future
Harris et al (228)

{
Beder concludes that since there

has been no agreement on
controlling other factors that affect
the impact on the environment, the
responsibility for sustainable
development will rest primarily with
technology

{
She describes a functional

relationship between
environmental impact and
population (number of people),
affluence (resource use per person),
and technology (impact per unit of
resource used).
Impact Environmental = f (Population, Affluence, Technology),

or
Imp = Pop Aff Tech , where
resource usage
environmental impact
, Tech =
person
unit of resource used
Pop = number of people, Aff =

{
Impact Environmental = f (Population, Affluence, Technology),

or
Imp = Pop Aff Tech , where
resource usage
environmental impact
Pop = number of people, Aff =
, Tech =
person
unit of resource used
{

{
So how do we do it?
We can reduce the impact by

reducing the resource usage per
person or to reduce the impact on
the environment per unit of
resource
(Could also reduce the population or usage)
End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean

Technologies
Fix the problem at the end where
the stuff is being dumped versus
fixing the problem at the source.
This is just a clean up process rather
than addressing the source

Technologies
{
Tracking the original process

z
z
Use less resources

Reduce impact

Technologies
Example 3M (Minnesota Mining and

Manufacturing)
Embraced this philosophy and
became more efficient and saved
money

Technologies
Another alternative is to use clean

technologies that live in harmony
with the environment right from
the very start, ie dont just try to
improve existing technologies, come
up with new clean technologies

Technologies
Another alternative is reexamine our

approach to satisfying the needs
and aspirations of society
Eg:
How can we meet the needs of this project by

using these existing materials? rather than Can
we use any of these existing materials in this
project?
Or given the project, what materials can we use vs. given the
material, can we use them in our project.
Humphries
A Guide for Cleanliness

A Guide for Cleanliness
{
How clean must something be?
A purely utilitarian approach may

not be appropriate (Harris et al)
A cleaner solution often involves

trading off the benefits to society
versus a measurable amount of
environmental degradation
Balancing Health and Wealth
(Harris)
DEGREE OF HARM CRIERION Harris et al
Balancing the Ecological Budget
Where the risk to humans is

significant, the technology must be
clean enough to remove that risk,
regardless of the costs.
Where human health or safety is not a

concern, then other cost-benefit criteria
may be employed to determine a suitable
level of cleanliness.
Technology can not only be applied

to minimize or eliminate negative
effects on the environment, it can
also be used to reverse them
When we apply technologies to
improve the carrying capacity of
the environment, or reverse effects
caused by non-human sources, we
achieve an improvement.
Approaches to Ecological
Management
{
Crisis Oriented Management
Cost-Oriented Environmental
Management
Enlightened Environmental
Management
Managing for Sustainability
Preventative Engineering
Cost-Oriented Environmental
Management
Managing environmental issues and
conforming to regulations and
requirements as a normal part of
operations.
Adopt friendly technologies when
it proves economically justified to
do so
Farrell suggest some tools to assist

in assessing, prioritizing and
managing the environment for
sustainability
Crisis Oriented Management
Do what is necessary as it arises if it

is a crisis
Enlightened Environmental
Management
Frequently pro-active and will go

beyond regulation and laws to
improve their environmental
beneficence

Cost benefit analysis
GDP GNP can be used to monitor
developmental progress
Policy tools (guidelines) backed up by
regulations
Natural Capital translates ecological
assets into equivalent capital terms
allowing comparison to be made
PREVENTIVE ENGINEERING
The Engineers role!!!
(Young and Vanderburg)

THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION AND
ECOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY
A materials life cycle approach to

design that supports sustainable
future
Responsibility for health and safety

embedded in all codes of ethics
Every aspect of the life of a product

from resource extraction to disposal
and reuse is considered
Should sustainability be embedded

directly in our codes?
How far should we go?

{
Why should/must engineers go

beyond their responsibility for the
public and bear responsibility for
protecting and improving the
environment?

{

{
But do they have sufficient knowledge about

the biological side or indeed, social side of
issues? Are we stepping outside our areas of
expertise and hence violating our own code of
ethics?
One argument is that Engineers are

the purveyors of technology, and that
technology (or technological
development) is the major cause of
environmental degradation
Engineers have a responsibility to fix the
problems because they know how.

A second argument is that

Engineers have the power to help
projects proceed or to have them
cancelled. If engineers show a
concern about the environment in
this capacity, others will necessarily
follow.

{
Requiring engineers to protect the

environment may cause moral
conflicts for individual engineers.
There are still areas of controversy
regarding the environment, and an
individual engineer has both a
personal right to a dissenting
opinion, as well as a professional
right to conscientiously refuse or
participate on moral grounds.

{
Guideline Summary From the

Final Draft November 10,2005
National Guideline on
Environment and Sustainability
Professional engineers are
committed to environmental
protection and safeguarding the
well being of the public.

3. Should apply professional and responsible
judgment in their environmental and
sustainability considerations;
4. Should ensure that environmental planning and
management is integrated into all their activities
which are likely to have any adverse effects;
5. Should include the costs of environmental
protection among the essential factors used for
evaluating the economic viability of projects for
which they are responsible

{
In Canada, the engineering

profession can look to Engineers
Canada (formerly the Canadian
Council of Professional Engineers:
CCPE) for some guidance

{
Professional engineers:
1. Should develop and maintain a reasonable
level of understanding, awareness, and a system
of monitoring environmental and sustainability
issues related to their field of expertise;
2. Should use appropriate expertise of specialists
in areas where the engineers knowledge alone is
not adequate to address environmental and
sustainability issues;

6. Should recognize the value of environmental
efficiency and sustainability, consider full life-cycle
assessment to determine the benefits and costs of
additional environmental stewardship, and endeavor to
implement efficient, sustainable solutions;
7. Should engage and solicit input from stakeholders in
an open manner, and strive to respond to
environmental concerns in a timely fashion;
8. Should comply with regulatory requirements and
endeavor to exceed or better them by striving toward
the application of best available, cost-effective
technologies and procedures;

{
9. Should disclose information

necessary to protect public safety to
appropriate authorities; and,
10. Should actively work with

others to improve environmental
understanding and sustainability
practices
Code of Ethics (Proposals)

1. Although engineers should be required
to hold paramount human health in the
performance of their engineering work
(including health issues that are
environmentally related), they should not
be required as professionals (that is,
required by the codes) to inject nonhealth-related environmental concerns
into their engineering work.

{
Engineers right to organizational

disobedience whether on personal
grounds or an interpretation of
professional obligations

{
Harris et al concludes that, with a

few exceptions, there is generally
no support or clear direction to care
for the environment beyond its
effect on humankind (i.e. the
public).
They forward two proposals for code
of ethics

{
This is designed to accommodate

the argument related to scope of
practice, and to avoid creating
conflicts for societies or individual
engineers.

Where organizational constraints permit,
engineers shall not be required to participate in
projects that violate their professional obligations
as determined by the codes, their professional
obligations as determined by their individual
interpretations of professional responsibility, or
personal beliefs. Engineers shall also have the
right to voice responsible objections to
engineering projects that they believe are wrong,
without fear of reprisal. Engineers shall have the
right to support programs and causes of their own
choosing outside the workplace.
Laws and Regulations

{
The engineer must also give due

consideration to applicable laws and
regulations regarding the
environment. And as in the case of
safety, the engineer should keep in
mind two important characteristics
about these laws and regulations:
they should be considered a
minimum, and they are evolving!

{
In addition to our increasing

capability to protect the
environment, our understanding of
how to do it and our will to do it are
also evolving.

{
As a minimum, engineers should be

informed and current about any
legislation which could potentially
affect their practice.

{
Recall that laws and regulations are

generally societys declaration of what is
considered minimum acceptable
behaviour.
. In many cases the regulations may lag
our current capabilities, and the engineer
should again employ imaginative
forecasting and autonomous
forethought to help decide what is
ethically acceptable

{
Another effect of our increasing

understanding is a greater public
consciousness of environmental
issues, and as a result a stronger
social will to strive for long term
sustainability

{
Canadian Environmental Protection

Act (1999)
The Canada Water Act (1985)
allows for conviction and fines for
those contravening the act.
The Alternative Fuels Act (1995)
See notes

{
The diligent engineer must, as a

minimum, consider a periodic
review of such legislation an
essential part of keeping their
knowledge current.
Design Approaches
{
The concept involves i) considering the

environmental implications of all the phases and
components of a particular development (project,
product or service
The concept of appropriate

technology is basically the shift in
focus from fixing to preventing
clean design, is a combination

of appropriate technology as
discussed by Beder (233) and the
materials life cycle approach
discussed by Young and Venderburg
Design Approaches
{
For example, the energy required for resource

extraction and transportation, where that energy
comes from, the effect of depleting a resource,
possible future substitutes or sources for that
resource, what will happen to the product when it
is disposed (if applicable), any side effects or
waste etc
Design Approaches
{
Design Approaches
The concept involves ii) starting

with the objective of making the
overall project at least
environmentally neutral
Design Approaches
{
Examples include finding a process

that doesnt produce toxins versus
removing them from the effluent
before discharge into a waterway,
or finding alternate ways to
illuminate buildings and streets
versus building another power
plant.
Design Approaches
{
A complementary idea known as

reverse abstraction design is
based roughly on S. I. Hayakawas
concept of an abstraction ladder in
relation to language introduced in
Language in Thought and Action.
Parking lot example

{
{
Why do we need a parking lot?,

so people who work here have a place to park their
vehicles. The problem is now one of transportation
instead of parking and other more sustainable solutions
may be available.
For instance, improving public transportation or
providing a bicycle path.
If we back up another step on the ladder, we could
ask Why do they [have to] work here?. Options like
tele-commuting or other work-at-home or schedule
provisions can be considered.
Reverse abstraction backs up by

asking Why is this needed? and
attempts to find a sustainable
solution at each level.
Summary
{
The engineer must be involved, sharing

their technological expertise
The Engineer cannot resolve such issues
alone. The engineer for the future must
be a willing and proactive part of a multidisciplinary team that works with, and
within, the rest of society to help ensure
that future generations in all countries
enjoy the benefits that harnessing
technology can produce.

Engineers and Sustainability

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Terms and Definitions

Engineers and Sustainability:

Terms and Definitions

Growth versus Development (Herman

Growth versus Development

Daly also concludes that growth has

Sustainable Development (CCPE)

Engineers Canada (was CCPE)

Herkert quotes the 1987 Brundtland

Sustainable Development (ASCE)

Sustainable development is a process of

It is economic and technical activity

Cannot ignore the needs of today

There are two constraints on this

Up to this point, engineering

Earths environment can be thought

Humankind, and the effects of its

Humankind as central to, but

Anthropocentricity and Western

We need to rethink this approach!

We must think of the earth as a

Much of our initial concern for the

Large smoke stack keeps the

Anthropocentricity and Western

What we do is not limited to as

EVENTS IN TERMS OF HUMAN

Anthropocentricity and Western

How can we view the environment?

We could see the environment as

Anthropocentricity and Western

can also view it as having

Anthropocentricity and Western

Humans should view themselves as

ETHICAL VIEWS AND THE

Utilitarianism!!! most good for the most people.

Technologys Role in Sustainability

Tend to violate individual rights

Farrell mentions the concept of

Technologys Role in Sustainability

Beder concludes that since there

Technologys Role in Sustainability

She describes a functional

Impact Environmental = f (Population, Affluence, Technology),

Pop = number of people, Aff =

Technologys Role in Sustainability

Impact Environmental = f (Population, Affluence, Technology),

Technologys Role in Sustainability

We can reduce the impact by

End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean

End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean

Tracking the original process

Use less resources

End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean

Example 3M (Minnesota Mining and

End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean

Another alternative is to use clean

End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean

Another alternative is reexamine our

How can we meet the needs of this project by

A Guide for Cleanliness

How clean must something be?

A purely utilitarian approach may

A cleaner solution often involves

DEGREE OF HARM CRIERION Harris et al