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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A Challenge for Engineers Ata M. Khan March 2002 PRESENTATION STRUCTURE Problems Solution: Sustainable Development Role for Engineers Conclusions Problems Limited supply of world’s non-renewable resources Rapidly increasing demand – world population will double in ~70-100 years Non-renewable resource use (e.g. enrgy): excessive rate – no regards for future generations Problems (Continued) 87% of the energy used/yr is non-renewable (including fossil fuels nuclear energy) Serious emission problems around the world (air pollutants greenhouse gases) Health environmental problems Problems (Continued) Industrial society: serious waste disposal problems Fertile land and fresh water are in short supply in many countries Many fresh water supplies, including aquifers are becoming polluted  Solution: Sustainable Development World Commission on the Environment Development – the Brundtland Commission (1987): “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.  Natural Resources Canada defines Sustainable Development as: “The integration of environmental, economic and social considerations – as the key to ensuring we maintain our quality of life and continue to create jobs, without compromising the integrity of the natural environment or the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Principles of Sustainable Development: Defined by the Ontario Roundtable on the Environment Economy Anticipation prevention Full cost accounting Informed decision-making Living off the interest Quality of development (now called smart growth) Respect for nature the rights of future generations Anticipation Prevention, Full Cost Accounting, Informed Decision-making Study alternatives (scenarios) and their effects – including long term impacts - Economic, social, environmental effects - Include exter