6 Ruth Allington Geoscientists and Sustainability Tues Pm

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The concept of sustainable

development and the critical role ofgeoscientists in delivering it

4 IPGC Vancouver, 24thJanuary 2012

Ruth AllingtonPresident European Federation of GeologistsJoint Senior Partner, GWP Consultants LLP

Isabel Fernandez FuentesBrussels Office Director, European Federation of Geologists


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Outline

What do we mean by sustainability?

What does the professional geoscientist

contribute? How is this contribution made most

effectively?


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What do we mean by

sustainability?

Sustainable development is generally consideredto be that which is: viable, has an equitable impact on society, and an acceptable impact on the environment

Imperative to consider the three componentsboth individually and collectively to achieve anacceptable balance

Sustainability can be considered at a variety of

scalesfrom project to nation or continent Sustainability often illustrated as three pillars orthree interlocking circles:


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Social

impact

Environmental

impactEconomic

successViable

EquitableBearable

Sustainable

Development

zone

(triple bottom

line or

win-win-win)

Diagram after Adams, W. M. (2006). The Future of Sustainability: Re-thinking Environment and

D l t i th 21

st

C t R t f th IUCN R d Thi k M ti 29 31 J 2006


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Environmental issues often considered to besynonymous with sustainabilitythe other two pillarsoverlooked

Environmental concerns often concentratepredominantly on the biosphere and aesthetics (visualand landscape impacts)

Also, in the late 20thand 21stcenturies, theatmosphere (CO2, climate change)

The geosphere is less appreciated by the public atlarge but is clearly fundamental to considerations ofsustainability (especially in relation to their safety): Water

Natural hazards (stability, danger to the public) Responsible use of natural resources New landscapes and changed sub-surface conditions Soils, microclimate, slopes

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES


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WHAT DOES THE

PROFESSIONAL

GEOSCIENTIST CONTRIBUTE?

Wh t d b th


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What do we mean by the

professional geoscientist?

Applied geoscientists and those engaged inresearch and/or teaching and training

University teachers and researchers

Geologists employed by research institutes andgeological surveys

Exploration, mining and petroleum geologists

Geologists engaged in: cleanup of contaminated

ground, construction, waste disposal and storage,natural hazard prediction and risk reduction,exploitation of water resources, renewable energyetc.


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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Who else is involved?

Chemists

Biologists Ecologists

Hydrologists

Water engineers Environmental economists


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ECONOMIC IMPACT Examples of the involvement of

Geoscientists: Mapping and modelling of earth resources,

vulnerability mapping (geological surveys)Assessment of resources and reserves of

minerals and construction materials Specification of site investigation scopes and

budgets Specification of ground stabilisation or

remediation schemes and budgets


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ECONOMIC IMPACT

Who else is involved? Engineers

Accountants

Lawyers

Shareholders, banks and other investors

Company executives

Communities


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SOCIAL IMPACT Examples of the involvement of

Geoscientists:

Preparation of publicly available informationon natural hazards and associated risks

Public and worker safety assessmentsrelating to slope stability for alternativedesigns

Communication of findings of environmentalor economic studies (public reporting,briefing of public authorities or communityliaison)


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SOCIAL IMPACT Who else is involved?

Social scientists

Policy makers

The public (individuals and communities)

Workers

Companies


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Is my sustainability your

sustainability? The developer

financial return,

securing an official permit, achieving a social licence to operate

The public Concern about cherished landscapes

Fear about danger/health/nuisance

Scepticism about profits at their expense


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Is my sustainability your

sustainability?

Local, national, international regulation Bringing the whole thing together (or not)

Providing a framework within which

compromise can be achieved to deliverlocally, nationally or internationally agreedpolicy and regulation based on sustainabilityprinciples, irrespective of the parties

entrenched positions (or not.)

onc us ons:


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onc us ons:Achieving sustainability in

practiceSome success factors: Excellence in all relevant technical and scientific areas

(education, training, ethical practice) Genuine interdisciplinary effort within a logical

framework (project management, horizontal policies

and regulation preventing silos and turf wars) Professionals who understand that being technically

excellent is not enoughan appreciation of theimportance of their contribution and those of others is

just as important (perhaps more so)

Effective communication with the publicpoliticians,regulators, ordinary people (public engagement, publiceducation, effective listening)

onc us ons:


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onc us ons:Achieving sustainability in

practiceSuccess factors: JOINED UP THINKING AND SHARED

VALUES AND UNDERSTANDING OFPROFESSIONALISM IN THEIR PERSONALPRACTICE, WHETHER REGULATED OR NOT: Educators and trainers Practitioners Public employees receiving scientific, technical and

engineering advice and communicating it to thepublic

Government devising land-use and other policiescrucial to public safety


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Contact information:

www.eurogeologists.eu

[email protected]

[email protected]@gwp.uk.com
http://www.eurogeologists.eu/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.eurogeologists.eu/

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6 Ruth Allington Geoscientists and Sustainability Tues Pm