Resource Issues and Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Figure 14-33

Sustainable development “Improving quality of life while conserving resources for future generations” Conservation Sustainable use and management of resources to meet human needs while maintaining them for use by future generations. Preservation Maintenance of resources in their present condition Value of nature does not derive from fulfilling human needs. Impact on economic growth Economic growth ↗ Pollution ↗ But, pollution also lowers potential economic growth WWF says we are overcapacity in use of resources Others say, “resources” can be redefined

Resources a substance in the environment that is useful to people economically/technically feasible to access socially acceptable to use Finiteness as a way of classifying natural resources Renewable resources are essentially unlimited in supply and can’t be depleted while nonrenewable resources form so slowly that they can’t practically be replenished How are resources misused? we deplete (“use up”) scarce resources we pollute our air, water and soil

Pollution Compared to a Country’s Wealth

Pollution

Pollution Occurs when more waste is added than a resource (air, water, land) can accommodate or exceeds its environmental capacity.

Air Pollution (on three scales) Concentration of trace substances at a greater level than occurs in average air. Mostly generated by motor vehicles, industry and power plants Global scale Global warming Greenhouse effect

Global Warming

Air Pollution (on three scales) Concentration of trace substances at a greater level than occurs in average air. Mostly generated by motor vehicles, industry and power plants Global scale Global warming Greenhouse effect The ozone layer and CFCs (chloroflourocarbons)

Air Pollution (on three scales) Concentration of trace substances at a greater level than occurs in average air. Mostly generated by motor vehicles, industry and power plants Global scale Global warming Greenhouse effect The ozone layer and CFCs Regional scale Acid precipitation and acid deposition

Acid Deposition in North America & Europe

Air Pollution (on three scales) Concentration of trace substances at a greater level than occurs in average air. Mostly generated by motor vehicles, industry and power plants Global scale Global warming Greenhouse effect The ozone layer and CFCs Regional scale Acid precipitation and acid deposition Local scale Carbon monoxide Particulates Hydrocarbons and photochemical smog

Smog in Mexico City

Water pollution When the volume of discharge exceeds the capacity of rivers, lakes and oceans to accommodate it Sources point source (contamination vector can be identified) water-using industries municipal uses (sewage systems, etc.) nonpoint source (contamination vector is diffused) Agriculture (fertilizers, animal waste, etc.)

Water pollution When the volume of discharge exceeds the capacity of rivers, lakes and oceans to accommodate it Sources point source (contamination vector can be identified) water-using industries municipal uses (sewage systems, etc.) nonpoint source (contamination vector is diffused) Agriculture (fertilizers, animal waste, etc.) Impact on aquatic life Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Warmed and overly salinated water also are problems

Water pollution When the volume of discharge exceeds the capacity of rivers, lakes and oceans to accommodate it Sources point source (contamination vector can be identified) water-using industries municipal uses (sewage systems, etc.) nonpoint source (contamination vector is diffused) Agriculture (fertilizers, animal waste, etc.) Impact on aquatic life Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Warmed and overly salinated water also are problems Wastewater and disease In MDCs: strict regulation has reversed decades of abuse In LDCs: water-born disease (cholera, typhoid, dysentery) are major causes of death

Land pollution Solid-waste disposal Sanitary landfills ½ of U.S. waste “Concentrates” rather than disperses Leakage into ground water 2 alternatives to landfills: incineration and recycling Land pollution

Land pollution Solid-waste disposal Hazardous waste disposal Sanitary landfills ½ of U.S. waste “Concentrates” rather than disperses Leakage into ground water 2 alternatives to landfills: incineration and recycling Hazardous waste disposal Heavy metals, electrical equipment, strong solvents Municipalities have special drop off points In 2007 = about 47 million tons disposed of in the United States Some companies try to ship to LDCs Land pollution

Pollution Solution? (I couldn’t resist)

Recycling The separation, collection, processing, marketing and reuse of unwanted material In the U.S. recycling has steadily ↗ since 1970 1970: 7% 2007: 33% Recycling collection Pick-up and processing Recyclables are collected in four ways: curbside, drop-off, buy-back, and/or deposit Manufacturing of recycled products Paper: clean, well-sorted, uncontaminated and dry Plastic: different types need separation (#s) Glass: 100% recyclable with no loss of quality Aluminum: most common metal accepted

Sources of Solid Waste

Other pollution reduction strategies Reduce throwaway component of packaging No more styrofoam “cap and trade” uses a market concept Polluters are given allowances to discharge Markets formed to buy unused allowances from those who don’t use them Therefore it rewards companies to pollute less

Consumption (depletion)

Water Scarcity (stress and crisis) Biggest problem with water is the uneven distribution of fresh water supply. 1.2 billion lack access to clean drinking water “top global risk to society” – World Economic Forum Two types Economic water scarcity Enough supply but lack infrastructure for use. No irrigation systems, water treatment, etc. Physical water scarcity Just not enough water http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7821082.stm

Problems Stress from agriculture Stress from population growth Green Revolution, monocultures, etc. could lead to food shortages LDCS = India, Northern China MDCs = Mississippi Delta, California Stress from population growth Sub-Saharan Africa Rust Belt to Sun Belt migration Stress between groups Israeli-Arab compete for West Bank aquifer Nile River (Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt) Central Asian (“Stans”) deplete the Aral Sea

Depletion of aquifers/groundwater

Energy supply and demand biomass most important source of fuel in LDCs 5/6ths of world’s supply from 3 main sources: coal, natural gas, and oil fossil fuels = the residue of plants and animals buried millions of years ago They are nonrenewable and therefore finite biomass most important source of fuel in LDCs

Proven Reserves of Fossil Fuels

Energy Consumption Usage is split 50/50 between MDC and LDCs But per capita usage in 3x higher in MDCs used by businesses, home heating and transportation MDCs must import supplies from LDCs to meet needs US has made efforts to decrease dependence on foreign sources Conservations methods (increase auto mpg, turn down thermostat, etc.) but low prices and bad habits return. SUVs Increased production = fracking, shale, tar sands US currently is largest producer of natural gas? oil by 2015? Is energy independence in sight? US production the cause of oil surplus = ↘ prices? LDCs using more due to development, prices ↑ China is expected to be the world’s biggest energy user by 2015 OPEC (Org. of Petroleum Exporting Countries) “cartel”/oligopoly that controls world oil prices by controlling supply

Per Capita Energy Consumption Figure 14-1

“Proven” vs. “Potential” reserves Proven = reasonable certainty of being able to extract with current tech. unevenly distributed Coal ≈ 130+ yrs. China (39%), US (16%) Petroleum ≈ 40+ yrs. SW Asia (40%), C. Asia (15%), Russia (11%), US (10%) Natural Gas ≈ 40+ yrs. Russia (27%) Potential = thought to exist New discoveries Enhanced recovery Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” contaminated ground water depletion of ground water air, noise pollution seismic activity Unconventional sources Oil shale, tar sands, oil sands = other substances saturated with petroleum “Proven” vs. “Potential” reserves

Coal Production Figure 14-4

U.S. Energy Consumption Figure 14-2

Renewable resources Nuclear energy “Potential??” accidents Three Mile Island (1979) Chernobyl, USSR (1986) Fukushima, Japan (2011) Radioactive wastes Long-term danger Yucca Mountain, NV (til 2010) now stored on-site Bomb material Proliferation/Terrorist access Limited uranium reserves Australia ¼, Kazakhstan 1/6 Could use a breeder reactor High cost

Percentage of Electricity Generated from Nuclear Power

Other Leading Renewable Resources Biomass = wood/other plant life takes more energy to grow crops than energy produced deforestation, reduction in soil fertility biomass sources have other uses (food, clothing and shelter)

Sugar cane Maize 5,573 13,900 3.6 (1%) 10 (3.7%) 6,800-8,000 Comparison of key characteristics between the ethanol industries in the United States and Brazil Characteristic  Brazil  U.S. Units/comments Feedstock Sugar cane Maize Main cash crop for ethanol production, the US has less than 2% from other crops. Total ethanol fuel production (2011)[3] 5,573 13,900 Million U.S. liquid gallons. Total area used for ethanol crop (2006)[91] 3.6 (1%) 10 (3.7%) Million hectares (% total arable).[139] Productivity per hectare[4][91][139][140] 6,800-8,000 3,800-4,000 Liters of ethanol per hectare. Energy balance (input energy productivity)[6][13][91] 8.3 to 10.2 1.3 to 1.6 Ratio of the energy obtained from ethanol/energy expended in its production. Estimated GHG emissions reduction[2][91][141] 86-90%(2) 10-30%(2) % GHGs avoided by using ethanol instead of gasoline, using existing crop land (No ILUC). Ethanol fueling stations in the country 35,017 (100%) 2,326 (1%) As % of total gas stations in the country. Ethanol's share in the gasoline market[27][51] 50%(6) 10% As % of total consumption on a volumetric basis. Cost of production (USD/gallon)[4] 0.83 1.14 2006/2007 for Brazil (22¢/liter), 2004 for U.S. (35¢/liter).

Other Leading Renewable Resources Biomass = wood/other plant life takes more energy to grow crops than energy produced deforestation, reduction in soil fertility biomass sources have other uses (housing, food, clothing) Hydroelectric power 2nd largest source of electricity after coal Brazil, Canada = high dependence China = biggest producer = Three Gorges Dam = environmental disaster

Electricity From Hydroelectric Power

Other Leading Renewable Resources Biomass = wood/other plant life takes more energy to grow crops than energy produced deforestation, reduction in soil fertility biomass sources have other uses Hydroelectric power 2nd largest source of electricity after coal Brazil, Canada = high dependence China = biggest producer = Three Gorges Dam = environmental disaster Wind power Noisy, lethal to birds and bats, visual blight

Other Leading Renewable Resources Geothermal energy energy from the Earth’s interior most accessible near fault lines, volcanic areas

Other Leading Renewable Resources Geothermal energy energy from the Earth’s interior most accessible near fault lines, volcanic areas Solar energy Passive = captures energy without special devices Active = collect solar energy and convert it to electricity Photovoltaic cells (large projects or individual rooftop) recently cost = nonrenewable energy in certain areas = grid parity Increased efficiency, Chinese manufacturing/government support

Renewable energy in motor vehicles Batteries Electric cars But how is the electricity produced? Biofuels Hydrogen fuel cells Hydrogen + oxygen = water + energy, dawn of the hydrogen economy?

The End.