A Question of Ethics Michael Donnelly (Realeyes Sustainability) Patricia Mackey (Sustainable NI)

Why sustainability matters

What is Sustainable Development? “To enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs & to enjoy a better quality of life… …without compromising the quality of life of future generations” Securing the Future, UK's Sustainable Development Strategy, HM Government 2005

Why sustainability matters: living within environmental limits Population increase from 6 to 9 bn Consumption per head increases 4 - 6x Clean air & water, Stable climate Viable forests & fisheries, Biodiversity Source: The Natural Step

An alternative view of development Aim = Growth 3. ECONOMY 2. SOCIETY 1. ENVIRONMENT Where we need to be Aim = Quality of Life for All 3. ENVIRONMENT 2. SOCIETY 1. ECONOMY Where we are now….

Five principles of sustainable development Living within environmental limits: Respect limits of environment, resources & biodiversity Ensure natural resources to support life remain unimpaired Ensuring a strong, healthy & just society: Meeting diverse needs of all Promote personal wellbeing, social cohesion & inclusion Create equal opportunity Achieving a sustainable economy: Strength, stability, prosperity & equal opportunity Polluter Pays Efficient resource use Promoting good governance: Participative governance across society Engage people’s creativity, energy & diversity Using sound science responsibly: Policies developed & implemented according to sound science Precautionary Principle Public attitudes & values reflected Source: Securing the Future, UK's Sustainable Development Strategy, HM Government 2005

Beyond the environment: the triple bottom line CLIMATE BIODIVERSITY & RESOURCES WASTE WATER SHORTAGES POLLUTION Living within environmental limits: Ensure natural resources to support life remain unimpaired EMPLOYMENT LABOUR RIGHTS HEALTH Ensuring a strong, healthy & just society: Meet diverse needs of all; promote wellbeing, inclusion & equal opportunity GROWTH & REGENERATION Achieving a sustainable economy: Strong, stable, efficient & fair

Global Challenges

Climate Change: Why it’s happening Without heat trapping “Greenhouse gases” Earth would be 25C cooler Human activity is increasing levels of greenhouse gases in atmosphere CO2 has increased from 280 to 380 ppm Rising between 2 and 3 ppm/year Main source is fossil fuel combustion for energy and transport Average surface warming of 1 to 6C expected

What’s at stake: projected global risks Monbiot: 90% cut by 2030 Tyndall: 90% cut by 2050 UK Gov: 60% cut by 2050 1oC Rice yields fall 15% Increasing extreme weather events Indian Ocean coral dies 400m extra in water stress 5m extra in hunger 18% species loss Greenland icecap melts 2oC 97% coral reefs bleach Arctic summer sea ice melts 2.3-3bn water shortage 200m more at risk from malaria Ecosystem collapse >2oC Major city flood risk >50% species loss “Runaway” climate change - Forest die-back - Permafrost melt - Carbon release from soils Human cost?

We already have the solutions Public Transport Passive Design Energy Efficiency Renewables Emissions Trading

Pollution: damaging health and the environment “UK air pollution more dangerous than Chernobyll” 24,000 premature deaths per year (Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution) Over 100,000 man-made chemicals exist Only 3,500 have been adequately tested for health and environmental impacts Over 300 man-made chemicals can be found in the average European’s blood With globalisation, Europe is exporting its pollution overseas Upstream prevention is cheaper than downstream clean up

Waste: our throwaway economy 10 x 10 x 10,000 kg raw materials Manufacture 1000 kg finished product 6 months 100 kg long-term durables EXTRACT CONVERT USE DISCARD Consumption should not be an end in itself: need to rethink value and efficiency

Global Inequality

Poverty: an ever widening gap UK average high street coffee price $2 20% of world survives on less than $2 per day

Biodiversity: the sixth extinction Up to 50% of species could be wiped out by climate change Widespread decline in wildlife populations Habitat destruction and loss of wilderness Over-harvesting of timber, fisheries Falling fertility from pollution Invasion of alien species

The goal: One planet living Ecological footprint = equivalent area of land required to meet an individual’s needs Food, fibre, waste, energy, space Measured in “Global hectares per capita” (gha) “Equal sustainable share” = “Global average footprint” = “UK average” = 1.8 gha 2.2 gha 5.6 gha

30 Coffee Cup Exercise Group Exercise Work as groups mins Coffee Cup Exercise Work as groups First map out the lifecycle of a cup of coffee: From raw materials to disposal! Identify impacts Social, environmental and economic How can this be improved?