Engineering and Sustainable Development

Engr. Elisa G. Eleazar

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 Module 1: Engineering and Sustainable Development

Issues that Will

Technological
Affect the
Environmental Advances and The Changing Role The Sustainability
Sustainability Engineering
Engineering Environmental of Technology Revolution
Practice in the
Disturbances
Future

Learning Objectives

1. Define environmental engineering

2. Explain the relationship between technological advances and environmental
disturbances
3. Explain the changing role of technology
4. Explain sustainability
5. Enumerate and explain the issues that will affect future engineering practice
6. Differentiate industrial from sustainability revolution

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 Environmental Engineering
What is Engineering?`

Engineering is the profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences
gained by study, experience and practice is applied with judgement to develop ways to
utilize economically the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.
(Engineers Council for Professional Development)

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 Environmental Engineering
What is Environmental Engineering?

Environmental engineering is manifest by sound engineering though and practice in the

solution of problems of environmental sanitation, notably in:
the provision of safe, the proper disposal of or the adequate drainage of the control of water, soil and atmospheric
palatable and ample recycle of wastewater urban and rural areas for pollution, and the social and
public water supplies and solid wastes proper sanitation environmental impact of these solutions

Furthermore, it is concerned with engineering problems in the field of:

public health the elimination of the provision of adequate sanitation in urban, rural and
industrial health hazards recreational areas, and the effect of technological advances on
the environment

(Environmental Engineering Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers)

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 Environmental Engineering

Environment
everything that affects an organism during its lifetime

Pollution
any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the air,
water or land that can harmfully affect the health, survival or activities of humans or other
living organisms

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 Technological Advances and Environmental Disturbances
Production of more and better quality food
Creation of housing as protection from
extremes of climate and as living space
Building of fast and reliable means of
transportation
Invention of various systems of communication
Invention of machines to replace human or
animal power
Supply of safe water and disposal of wastes
Elimination of many infectious diseases
ENV110-1: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
The Tragedy of the Commons
Individuals or organizations consume
shared resources and then return their
wastes back into the shared resource
The individual or organization receives all of
the benefit of the shared resource but
distributes the cost across anyone who also
uses that resource
The individual or organization fails to
recognize that everyone else is acting in the
same way
As the worlds population and per capita
consumption increases, so does the urgency for
engineers to protect and enhance the environments
and communities where people reside.
6
 Technological Advances and Environmental Disturbances
Existing and Emerging Environmental Issues (UNEP)
Globalization, trade and development
Coping with climate change and variability
Growth of megacities
Human vulnerability to climate change
Freshwater depletion and degradation
Marine and coastal degradation
Population growth
Rising consumption in developing countries
Biodiversity depletion
Biosecurity

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 The Changing Role of Technology

We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

- Albert Einstein

social Sustainable Development

aspect
the design of human and industrial systems to ensure that
humankinds use of natural resources and cycles do not
lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in
future economic opportunities or to adverse impacts on
economic environmental social conditions, human health and the environment
aspect aspect development that meets the needs of the present
generation without compromising the ability of the future
generation to meet their own needs

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 Sustainability
Stockholm Declaration (UN Conference on Human Environment, 1972)
Principle 1: Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, environment
of quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility to protect and
improve the environment for present and future generations.
Principle 2: The natural resources of the earth including air, water, land, flora and fauna and especially
representative samples of natural ecosystems must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future
generations through careful planning and management, as appropriate.

Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992)

Agenda 21 goals and recommendations related to environmental, economic and social issues

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 Sustainability
World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002)
Millennium Development Goals
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Improve maternal health
Achieve universal primary education Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Promote gender equality and empower women Ensure environmental sustainability
Reduce child mortality Develop a global partnership for development

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 Issues that Will Affect the Engineering Practice in the Future
Population and Urbanization

The opportunity for the engineering

community is to continue to develop and
enhance quality of life through the
protection and restoration of ecosystems
and to design, develop, implement and
maintain infrastructure that does not
have the historical consequences of
environmental degradation, resource
consumption and adverse and unjust
impacts on society.

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 Issues that Will Affect the Engineering Practice in the Future
Health
% of Pop % of Pop Health is both a resource for, as well as an outcome
Lacking Lacking of, sustainable development. The goals of
Region
Improved Water Improved sustainable development cannot be achieved when
Supply Sanitation there is a high prevalence of debilitating illness and
poverty and the health of a population cannot be
Asia 19 52
maintained without a responsive health system and
Africa 38 40 a healthy environment. Environmental
Latin America and Caribbean 15 22 degradation, mismanagement of natural resources,
and unhealthy consumption patterns and lifestyles
Oceania 12 7 impact health. Ill-health, in turn, hampers poverty
alleviation and economic development
Europe 4 8
(WHO, 2005)

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 Issues that Will Affect the Engineering Practice in the Future
Water Scarcity, Conflict and Resolution

Water Scarcity: there is insufficient water to satisfy normal human requirements

Reasonable Access Water Stress

availability of at least 20 L / capita-day from a source within when annual water supplies drop below
1 km of the users dwelling 1,700 m3 per person

Water Scarce
when annual water supplies drop below
1,000 m3 per person

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 Issues that Will Affect the Engineering Practice in the Future
Energy and Climate Change
Expected Impacts of Climate Change
Water Increased water availability in moist tropics and high latitudes
Decreasing water availability and increasing drought in mid-latitudes and semi-arid low altitudes
Hundreds of millions of people exposed to increased water stress
Ecosystems Up to 30% of species at increasing risk of extinction
Increased coral bleaching
Food Complex, localized negative impacts on small holders, subsistence farmers and fishers
Coasts Increased danger from floods and storms
About 30% of global coastal wetlands lost
Health Increasing burden from malnutrition, diarrheal, cardio-respiratory and infectious diseases
Increased mortality due to heat waves, floods and droughts

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 Issues that Will Affect the Engineering Practice in the Future
Toxic Chemical and Finite Resources
Engineers play a significant role in reducing the risks Engineers can incorporate renewable resources into designs
associated with the use and generation of toxic and specifications; engineers can design products, processes
chemicals. and systems for high material efficiency.

Material Flows and the Built Environment

The built environment requires tremendous amounts of water, energy

and natural resources for its construction and operation.

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 The Sustainability Revolution
Industrial Revolution Sustainability Revolution
Nonrenewable energy Renewable energy
Waste Efficiency
Climate change Ecological restoration
Consumption Resource equity
Accumulation Social and environmental justice
Smog, organic pollutants Green chemistry
Transportation Accessibility
Bioaccumulation Biodiversity
Industrial design Green design

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 Module 1: Engineering and Sustainable Development

Issues that Will

Technological
Affect the
Environmental Advances and The Changing Role The Sustainability
Sustainability Engineering
Engineering Environmental of Technology Revolution
Practice in the
Disturbances
Future

Learning Objectives

1. Define environmental engineering

2. Explain the relationship between technological advances and environmental
disturbances
3. Explain the changing role of technology
4. Explain sustainability
5. Enumerate and explain the issues that will affect future engineering practice
6. Differentiate industrial from sustainability revolution

ENV110-1: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 17

 Engineering and Sustainable Development
Engr. Elisa G. Eleazar

ENV110-1: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 18