ENEN2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Triple Bottom Line, Life-Cycle Assessment, Intergenerational Equity
11 Jun 2018
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Lecture 11
Cradle to cradle design – is what we want
System consists of
-input, output and processes
-they act upon sources and sinks
-they are nested and illustrate the relationship
System thinking
–multi and inter-disciplinary
-offers a different perspective on understanding
problems
Sustainability can be approached as a systems
problem
Why do we need to be thinking about system
thinking (input, output, process)?
-because of change in environment, change in
carbon footprint – need to keep up with
population
How does a system perspective effect engineering
decision making?
What does it mean to be sustainable or to be
sustainably develop?
1.Equity (sharing and fairness)
-Inter-generational – saving resources for future
generations
-Intra-generational – development that protects and
enhances environmental and social equity
2.Ecological footprint-to just consume (footprint
meaning)
-do not exceed the carrying capacity - the
maximum population size of the species that the
environment can sustain indefinitely, given the
food, water and other necessities available in the
environment
How does sustainability interact?
Weak sustainability
-intergenerational equity allows substitution of
human-made capital for natural capital
-the focus in on economic growth rather than the
broader concept of development
-market generated projects
-tradeoffs are made between economic activity and
environmental quality
Strong sustainability
-Intergenerational equity involves substantial
conservation of bio-diversity, ecological integrity,
cultural diversity and other capital and the
enhancement of well being
-well-being includes ecological, social and
economic indicators – but not a commitment to
economic growth
-public sector and community stimulate projects
-ecological limits or constraints are sat on
economic activity to avoid damaging critical capital
Engineering project decision making needs to
consider:
-energy efficiency
-water efficiency
-material efficiency
-environmental impact
-sustainability performance and measurement
-ecological respect and conservation of biodiversity
-enhanced well being
Industrial ecology – provides a framework for
reviewing sustainability in engineering decision
making
Core elements of Industrial Ecology
➢ Biological analogy
-application of ecological principles to
human industrial systems
➢ Systems perspective
-life cycle perspective
-use of systems modelling
-multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary in
orientation
➢ Technological change
-technological innovation for
environmental improvement
➢ Role of companies
-critical role for corporate sector for
improving environmental outcomes
➢ Dematerialization and eco-efficiency
-doing more with less, in our industrial
ecosystems
➢ Forward looking research and practice
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Sustainability involves the design and
management of sustainable technology,
research into environmental and social impacts
and limitations, living within global limitations
and management of resources from cradle to
cradle.
Sustainability concepts
1. Design –
2. Operation
3. Maintenance
4. After use stage
Who is driving the sustainable engineering
challenge?
-international protocols (Kyoto protocol)
-climate change
-population growth
-a planet with finite resources... including finite
energy
Engineers Australia’s sustainability police (2014)
NGERS (national greenhouse energy reporting
2012)
Renewable energy target (across Australia except
WA)
Engineering Australia’s sustainability policy (2014)
Purpose
Engineers Australia and its members are committed
to creating and delivering outcomes that will
ensure:
➢ The long-term survival of life on earth in a
fair and equitable manner
➢ Sustainability means that future
generations will enjoy environmental,
social and economic conditions – that are
better than he present generation
➢ Code of ethics – requires us to develop
engineering solutions that repair and
regenerate both natural and social
capital, while maintaining economic
health strategies
0429085290 JOHN
Why do we need sustainability measurement
indicators or assessment frameworks?
-cant manage what you cant measure
Triple bottom line – for 21st engineering
-companies are required to focus on what is
describe as triple bottom line of sustainable
development: economic prosperity, environmental
equality and social justice
-public concern about the environmental problems
remains high – TBL is an accounting framework
that incorporated 3 dimensions of performance:
social, environmental and financial. It differs from
the traditional reporting frameworks as it includes
ecological and social measures – are difficult to
assign appropriate means of measurement
-TBL dimensions are commonly called the 3 P’s
people, planet, profit
Sustainability indicators
-indicators – helpful tool in decision making
- are critical points of a system which
should be monitored, measured, analyzed
-used to assess the progress or performance of
suitability in a system
-any tangible indicator – must have a numerator
and denominator
Indicators of a sustainable community points to
areas where the links between the economy,
environment and society are weak. They help to see
the source of problems, area of problems and how
to fix those problems
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA)
-A methodological framework – to facilitate the
estimation and assessment of environmental
impacts caused by products or service during its
life cycle
Step 1: goal and scope definition
Step 2: life cycle inventory analysis LCI
Step 3: lice cycle assessment LCIA
Step 4: interpretation
Main impact catergories?
Material flow assessment
Inventory analysis – calculate the amount of each
in relation to the functional unit
LCI – creating a list of all the components of the
products life cycle that fall within the defined
system boundary
1.construct a process flowchart that shows:
-raw materials
-manufacturing processes
-transport
-waste management
-material inputs
-product and by products
-solid waste, air and water emissions
Main impact categories
GHG emissions
Land use change
Toxic emissions
Aquatic eutrophication
Human respiratory conditions
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Cradle to cradle design is what we want. Sustainability can be approached as a systems problem. Because of change in environment, change in carbon footprint need to keep up with population. Intra-generational development that protects and enhances environmental and social equity. Do not exceed the carrying capacity - the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, water and other necessities available in the environment. Intergenerational equity allows substitution of human-made capital for natural capital. The focus in on economic growth rather than the broader concept of development. Tradeoffs are made between economic activity and environmental quality. Intergenerational equity involves substantial conservation of bio-diversity, ecological integrity, cultural diversity and other capital and the enhancement of well being. Well-being includes ecological, social and economic indicators but not a commitment to economic growth. Ecological limits or constraints are sat on economic activity to avoid damaging critical capital.
