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Sustainable Development
Today…
The Story Of Stuff Ethical Relevance Sustainable Engineering Sustainable Business Appropriate Technology
The Story of Stuff
Global Impacts
Metal – South Africa Petroleum – Iraq Plastics – China Assembly – Mexico
Oil and food
So What?
Inputs and Outputs – we’re working with a global economy
When we’re talking about sustainable solutions Impact can be hard to predict
Dioxin – An Organochlorine
Do not break down easily – long-lasting Build up, accumulating in food, water,
bodies Linked with cancer, infertility, immune
suppression, birth defects Generational delays in effects create
inability to link cause, creating difficulty in legislature efforts
So What?
The Law is the only limit, and many businesses challenge these – when we’re looking for guidance where should we look; research? Legislation?
We’re not just degrading our environment, we’re degrading our evolution
Recycling
A good thing! – But for who?
Down-cycling?
Manufactured Landscapes – clip of recycling electronic waste in China
So What?
We need more dramatic change
This is going to be difficult
“Around us there is a breakdown of values in business and government…It is the fact that we are not willing to sacrifice for the ethics and values we profess. For an ethic is not an ethic, and a value not a value, without some sacrifice for it, something not taken, something not gained. We do it in exchange for a greater good, for something worth more than just money or power and position.” – Jerry Kohlberg
Ethics…
If we live in a global society – how far-reaching is our ethical obligation as engineers? As human beings?
If our actions have global consequences do we need to more proactively consider our global impacts?
Power Constructs
How can we influence any of this?
Politics
Economics
Technology
Engineers: ImplementingEngineers: Creating
What are we talking about?
What does Sustainable mean?
What do we mean by development?
Can we actually have sustainable development?
Triple Bottom Lines
Economy Ecology Equity
Triple Bottom Lines
Sustainable Engineering
Look beyond your own locality & immediate future
Innovate and be creative Seek a balanced solution Seek engagement from all stakeholders Make sure you understand needs and
wants
Sustainable Engineering
Plan and Manage Effectively Give Sustainability the benefit of the
doubt If polluters must pollute, they must pay
as well Adopt a cradle to grave approach Do things right, having decided the right
thing to do
Sustainable Engineering
Beware cost cutting that masquerades as value engineering
Practice what you preach
Cradle to Grave?
Cradle to Cradle– Signal your intention– Restore– Be ready to innovate further– Understand and prepare for the learning
curve– Exert intergenerational responsibility
Sustainable Business
Replace nationally and internationally produced items with products created locally and regionally
Take responsibility for effects on the natural world
Do not require exotic sources of capital in order to develop and grow
Sustainable Business
Engage in production processes that are human, worthy, dignified, and intrinsically satisfying
Create objects of durability and long-term utility whose ultimate use or disposition will not be harmful to future generations
Change consumers to customers through education
Appropriate Technology
What does sustainable development look like in other countries?
What does Appropriate Technology mean? Why is it important?
Appropriate Technology
Appropriate Technology
El Tofo, Chile
Site of Fog Collection Project
Mesh Fog Collectors (1990)
Fog Collection Nets In Operation (1994)
In 2002, only 9 of the 94 mesh collectors were still hanging…Why?
Group Questions
Community Preparation– What were the probable deficiencies?– What would you have done differently?
People, Resources, Structures– What was missing?– Strengths/Weaknesses?
What now?– Where would you begin if asked to plan a project
now for El Tofo?
Thank you!