🌿Intro to Environmental Science Unit 13 – Sustainable Development & Green Tech

Key Concepts & Definitions

• Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs
• Green technology utilizes science and technology to protect the environment and conserve natural resources
• Renewable energy sources can be replenished naturally in a short period of time (solar, wind, hydro)
• Carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, or product
• Life cycle assessment evaluates the environmental impact of a product through its life cycle from raw material extraction to waste management
  • Includes four main stages: material extraction, manufacturing and processing, use and maintenance, end-of-life disposal or recycling
• Circular economy is an economic system that minimizes waste and makes the most of resources through reuse, recycling, and regeneration
• Environmental sustainability ensures the demands placed on the environment can be met without reducing its capacity to allow all people to live well, now and in the future

Historical Context

• The concept of sustainable development emerged in the 1970s and 1980s in response to growing concerns about the environmental and social impacts of economic growth
• The Brundtland Commission, formally known as the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), was created in 1983 to address growing concern about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources
  • The commission's report, "Our Common Future," published in 1987, coined the term "sustainable development" and provided a framework for integrating environmental and social concerns into economic decision-making
• The Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, resulted in the adoption of Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action for sustainable development in the 21st century
• The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, set legally binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels

Environmental Challenges

• Climate change caused by the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leading to rising global temperatures, sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather events
• Deforestation results in the loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and contributes to climate change through the release of stored carbon
• Air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes can cause respiratory problems, acid rain, and contribute to climate change
• Water scarcity and pollution threaten the availability and quality of freshwater resources essential for human health, agriculture, and ecosystems
  • Causes include overuse, contamination from industrial and agricultural activities, and climate change
• Soil degradation from unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, and urbanization reduces soil fertility and productivity
• Loss of biodiversity due to habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change disrupts ecosystems and the services they provide
• Waste management challenges arise from the increasing generation of solid waste, particularly plastic waste, which can persist in the environment for hundreds of years

Sustainable Development Goals

• The United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address global challenges
• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
• Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
  • Targets include increasing the share of renewable energy and doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all
• Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation
• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
• Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development
• Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss
• Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Green Technologies & Innovations

• Renewable energy technologies harness energy from natural sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass) to generate electricity with lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels
  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight directly into electricity using solar cells made of semiconductor materials
  • Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy of moving air and convert it into electricity
• Energy storage technologies (batteries, pumped hydro, compressed air) enable the integration of variable renewable energy sources into the grid by storing excess energy for later use
• Electric vehicles (EVs) powered by rechargeable batteries produce zero tailpipe emissions and can reduce dependence on fossil fuels when charged with renewable energy
• Green building design incorporates energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and sustainable materials to reduce the environmental impact of buildings
  • Features can include high-performance insulation, energy-efficient appliances, green roofs, and rainwater harvesting systems
• Sustainable agriculture practices (precision farming, crop rotation, integrated pest management) aim to optimize crop yields while minimizing environmental impacts
• Waste-to-energy technologies convert waste materials (municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste) into usable heat, electricity, or fuel
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial processes and store them underground to mitigate climate change

Policy & Regulations

• Carbon pricing mechanisms (carbon taxes, cap-and-trade systems) aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon and creating financial incentives for companies to reduce their emissions
• Renewable energy mandates and targets set by governments require a certain percentage of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by a specific date
• Energy efficiency standards for appliances, buildings, and vehicles set minimum requirements for energy performance to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
• Sustainable procurement policies require government agencies to consider environmental and social criteria when purchasing goods and services
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies require manufacturers to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle, including end-of-life management
• Plastic bag bans and taxes aim to reduce plastic waste by discouraging the use of single-use plastic bags and encouraging the use of reusable bags
• International agreements (Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol) provide frameworks for global cooperation on addressing environmental challenges such as climate change and ozone depletion

Economic Implications

• Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency can create jobs in the clean energy sector and stimulate economic growth
  • The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that the renewable energy sector could employ 42 million people globally by 2050
• Transitioning to a circular economy, which prioritizes the reuse, repair, and recycling of materials, can create new business opportunities and reduce waste management costs
• Sustainable tourism practices can generate income for local communities while minimizing negative environmental and social impacts
• Sustainable supply chain management practices, such as sourcing materials from certified sustainable sources and reducing packaging waste, can improve a company's reputation and bottom line
• Internalizing environmental costs through policies such as carbon pricing can level the playing field for clean technologies and encourage innovation
• Stranded assets, such as fossil fuel reserves that may not be burned due to climate policies, pose financial risks for investors and companies
• Climate change impacts, such as increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, can have significant economic costs in terms of damages to infrastructure and disruptions to business operations

Future Trends & Opportunities

• The falling costs of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar PV and wind, are making them increasingly competitive with fossil fuels
  • Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that by 2050, wind and solar will account for 50% of global electricity generation
• Advances in energy storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, could enable the large-scale integration of renewable energy into the grid
• The growth of the electric vehicle market is expected to accelerate, driven by falling battery costs, government incentives, and increasing consumer awareness
  • The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that the global electric vehicle fleet could reach 245 million vehicles by 2030
• The development of smart grid technologies, which use digital communications and control systems to optimize the distribution and use of electricity, could improve energy efficiency and reliability
• The rise of green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, could provide a clean alternative to fossil fuels in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as heavy industry and long-distance transport
• Nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and urban green spaces, can provide multiple benefits including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and improved human well-being
• The growing demand for sustainable products and services, driven by increasing consumer awareness and preferences, presents opportunities for businesses to differentiate themselves and capture market share