Post on 08-Apr-2015
Why do we needsustainable development?
Piotr Skubała, University of Silesia, Department of Ecology, Katowice, Poland
I. What does sustainability mean ?
II. Do we take care of the Earth?
III. How is the degradation of the Earth in
scientists’ opinion?
IV. What are basic laws in nature?
V. When did environmental problems ariseand what were our countermeasures?
IWhat does sustainability mean?
“Sustainable development is developmentthat meets the needs and aspirations of thecurrent generation without compromisingthe ability to meet those of futuregenerations”
Sustainable development
Brundtland Commission (World Commission onEnvironment and Development - WCED)“Our common future” (1987)
Brundtland Commission 1987
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister in Norway (1981,1986-1989, i 1990-1996)
Sustainable development
Society Environment
Economy
Society Environment
Economy
Sustainabledevelopment
Limitations to sustainable development:
Sustainable development
Limitations to sustainable development:
- technology
- social organisation and economy
- resistance of Earth’s biosphere to degradation
- moral constraints!
Sustainable development
“Sustainable development is developmentthat meets the needs and aspirations of thecurrent generation without compromisingthe ability to meet those of futuregenerations”
Sustainable development
Brundtland Commission (World Commission onEnvironment and Development - WCED)“Our common future” (1987)
“Sustainable development is developmentthat meets the needs and aspirations of thecurrent generation without compromisingthe ability to meet those of futuregenerations”
Sustainable development
“basic needs” “wants” or “desires”
?
“Some people suggest that we are now on thebrink of the third great revolution of humanrace: that following the Agricultural Revolutionand the Industrial Revolution there will now bethe Sustainability Revolution”
Mather and Chapman (1995)
II Do we take care of the Earth?
Planetary ecological clock
Every second the area of 5 footballfields of rainforest disappears.
Planetary ecological clock
Every day 25 000 people die becauseof lack of water or its poisoning.
Planetary ecological clock
Every day 550 thousand animals diein torture in scientific laboratories,
200 millions every year.
Planetary ecological clock
Every day more arable soil disappearsthen is created during 1000 days.
Planetary ecological clock
Every hour 60 new people suffer fromcancer in U.S.A.
The ozone hole is a cause.
Planetary ecological clock
Every day 250 thousands of sulphur acidfall down as acid rain. It kills the life in
thousands of lakes and devastated millionhectares of forests.
http://www.svl.dircon.co.uk/
Mediterranean Sea
8500 species of plants and animalsare threatened by extinction.
http://demo.lutherproductions.com/bibletutor/level1/program/start/places/meditsea.htm
Mediterranean Sea
Progressive drying out
http://www.grida.no/aral/aralsea/english/arsea/map2.htm
India
http://www.amitkulkarni.info/pics/goa_2002/digital_image_pages/goa_images5.shtml
India
65% territory of the country is degraded.
Bangkok
http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Gallery2004/Stickman2004-09.jpg
Bangkok
60% of human population sufferfrom diseases caused by pollution.
http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Gallery2004/Stickman2004-09.jpg
Bangladesh
http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/c
ountry/bangladesh.html
Bangladesh
http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/bd_tour.html
81% of country is degraded.
Indonesia
http://www.worldonphoto.com/imagepages/2i43s.htm
Indonesia
There are the highest number of threatenedmammal species (135) in the country.
http://www.worldonphoto.com/imagepages/1i37s.htm
Pacific islands
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcpacific.htm
Most islands are threatened by flood.
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcpacific.htm
Pacific islands
Indian Ocean
http://www.aboveandbelow.net/FotoBelow/Sudan2000/Pagine/a-indiceSudan.htm
10 millions km2 (equal the territory ofUSA) is covered by clouds of pollution.
http://www.aboveandbelow.net/FotoBelow/Sudan2000/Pagine/a-indiceSudan.htm
Indian Ocean
Persian Gulf
http://www.aboveandbelow.net/FotoBelow/Sudan2000/Pagine/a-indiceSudan.htm
1.2 millions of barrels of hydrocarbons get atPersian Gulf each year. Concentration of oil is3 times higher than in North Sea.
http://www.aboveandbelow.net/FotoBelow/Sudan2000/Pagine/cernia-coralli.htm
Persian Gulf
Chad Lake
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/lakes/lakes1/chad.html
Since 1963 the surface of the lake isdiminished from 25 000 km2 do 9 000 km2.(progressive drying)
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/lakes/lakes1/chad.html
Chad Lake
Madagascar
Madagascar
27% of animal species will extinct duringthe next decade.
Seychelles
http://www.sey.net/
85% of coral-reef was degradedduring one year (1997-1998) .
http://www.sey.net/isl_mahe.htm
Seychelles
Great Lakes
http://www.great-lakes.net/gis/
43 threatened zones
http://www.great-lakes.net/gis/
Great Lakes
Mexico
http://www.lumika.org/mexico/natural_scenes/2.htm
5 000 people die due to pollution each year.Concentration of ozone is 10 times higherthan natural.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/mexico/a011.html
Mexico Gulf
Since 1997 surface equal to the territory ofNew Jersey (20 195 km2) has lacked oxygen.
http://www.gulfofmexicofoundation.com/
Mexico Gulf
Caribbean
http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/index.html
30% of coral-reef is threatened. The numberof endemic species diminished by 1.7% eachyear.
http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/index.html
Caribbean
Brazil
http://www.josecaldas.fot.br/engl/project/muriqui/
Brazil
15 millions hectares of rainforest was cutbetween 1988-1997.
http://www.josecaldas.fot.br/engl/project/canastra/
Rio de Janeiro
http://www.copacabana.com/images/srj08.jpg
Rio de Janeiro
4 millions of inhabitants live in settlements ofextreme poverty.
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/paodeacucar.gif
Argentina
http://www.lostworldarts.com/south_america/new_page_83.htm
Argentina
62% of the country is degraded. Over 50% ofmammal and bird species are threatened.
http://www.mountainlight.com/gallery.latin/aa0407pic.html
Greenland
37 000 km3 of the glacier melts each year(Belgium + Luxembourg)
http://mytrip.dk/esider/ebsider/image704.html
Greenland
Antarctica
http://www.mountainlight.com/gallery.antarctic/aa0841pic.html
In September 2000 the ozone holereached extreme size (28 300 000 ha).
http://www.mountainlight.com/gallery.antarctic/aa0828pic.html
Antarctica
Based on materials from United Nations. Prepared by WorldWildlife Fund.
IIIHow is the degradation of theEarth in scientists’ opinion?
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
Called for by UN Secretary General in 2000
Largest assessment ever undertaken
of the health of ecosystems
Prepared by 1360 experts from 95 countries
ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES
Approximately 60% (15 out of 24) of the
ecosystem services are being degraded orused unsustainably
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Mathis Wackernagel* & William Rees
„Our Ecological Footprint. Reducing HumanImpact on the Earth” (1996)
EF is a measure of how much biologically
productive land and water area an individual, acity, a country, a region, or humanity uses toproduce the resources it consumes and toabsorb the waste it generates.
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
„Ecological footprint”
Biocapacity = 1.8 ha/person
Average ecological footprint =
2.2 ha/person
EUROPE 2005. The Ecological FootprintReport of European Union
GLOBAL FOOTPRINT NETWORK; WWF
2003 – humanity’s Ecological Footprint exceeded
the Earth’s biocapacity by over 20%
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
REDEFINING PROGRESS
[Californian Institute works with a broad array ofpartners to shift the economy and public policy
towards sustainabiliyty
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT OF NATIONS
2005 UPDATE (March 2006)
World's Ecological Footprint Exceeds Biocapacity by
Nearly 40%
50 000 – 150 000 species / year
140 – 416 species / day
Loss of Species Diversity
6 - 17 species / hour
Paul R. i Anne H. Ehrlich (1981)
The ecosystem rivet hypothesis
Loss of Species Diversity
http://www.samoloty.ow.pl/str003l1.htm
Paul R. i Anne H. Ehrlich (1981)
The ecosystem rivet hypothesis
IV What are basic laws in nature?
BASIC ECOLOGICAL LAWS
(American biologist)
Barry Commoner
„The Closing Circle” (1971)
Laws of Ecology
Barry Commoner (1971)
1. Everything is Connected to Everything Else
“...there are no separate individualbeings. All creatures are, to someextent, connected with others anddepend on them”Lewis Thomas [Dowd 1991]
Laws of Ecology
Barry Commoner (1971)
1. Everything is Connected to Everything Else
2. Everything Must Go Somewhere
3. Nature Knows Best
4. There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
This is us, Earth. We realize it sooner or later,
but there is no getting around it. If we do notlearn to live in harmony with the food chains,with the ecosystems, then gradually they willcome out of balance, and then they will die. Itis all a cycle and we are in it; we cannot
escape.
Robert Baden-Powell [Dowd 1991]
VWhen did environmental problems ariseand what were our countermeasures?
Emerging of environmental problems
in the 1950s
Time
Sp
rea
d a
nd
sev
erit
y o
f en
vir
on
men
tal
pro
ble
ms
Local problems
Regional problems
Global problemsVisi
ble
wast
e
Invisi
ble
wast
e
1950-s 1970-s 1990-s
Development of environmental problems from 1950s to today
Diluting the waste
Environmental problems and countermeasures
Dilution as solution to pollution
Diluting the waste
„End of pipe”solutions
Recycling the waste
Clean production
Sustainable cyclic society
Environmental problems and countermeasures
“Each of us must accept totalresponsibility for the earth’s survival. Weare the curators of life on earth, standingat the crossroads of time”
Helen Caldicott(Australian physician, environmental activist)
http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/People/helen_caldicott.html
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“We should require a substantiallynew manner of thinking if humanityis to survive”
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
a. John Paul IIb. Dalaj Lamac. Albert Einstein
“We should require a substantiallynew manner of thinking if humanityis to survive”
a. John Paul IIb. Dalaj Lamac. Albert Einstein
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafika:Albert_Einstein_1947.jpg
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Our fate depends not only on that,what we do for ourselves, but also onthat, what we do for Gaia as a whole”
a. Vaclav Havelb. Tony Blair c. Gerhard Schroeder
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Our fate depends not only on that,what we do for ourselves, but also onthat, what we do for Gaia as a whole”
a. Vaclav Havelb. Tony Blair c. Gerhard Schroeder
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafika:Havel.jpg
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“The earth does not belong to man;man belongs to the earth. This weknow. All things are connected like theblood which unites one family. Allthings are connected “
a. Chief Seattle (Suquamish chief, North America)b. John Paul IIc. Dalaj Lama
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“The earth does not belong to man; man
belongs to the earth. This we know. All
things are connected like the blood which
unites one family. All things are connected “
a. Chief Seattle
(Suquamish chief, NorthAmerica)b. John Paul IIc. Dalaj Lama
http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/chiefsea.html
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Ask the animals, and they shall teachyou; the birds of the air, and they shallinstruct you. Speak to the Earth and itshall teach you”
a. Saint Francisb. Bible
c. Sitting Bull (Indian Lakota)
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Ask the animals, and they shall teachyou; the birds of the air, and they shallinstruct you. Speak to the Earth and itshall teach you”
a. Saint Francisb. Biblec. Sitting Bull (Indian Lakota)
http://www.silk.net/RelEd/graph/bible.gif
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“The XXI century will be the age ofecology or it will not be at all”
a. Al Gore (former vice-president of USA)b. Henryk Skolimowski (Polish philosopher)c. Paul Singer (founder of the philosophy of animal rights)
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“The XXI century will be the age ofecology or it will not be at all”
a. Al. Gore)
b. Henryk Skolimowski(Polish philosopher)c. Paul Singer
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henryk_Skolimowski
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“In our every deliberation, we mustconsider the impact of our decisionson the next seven generations”
a. Brundland Commission
b. Iroquois Indiansc. Constitution of the U.S.A.
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“In our every deliberation, we mustconsider the impact of our decisionson the next seven generations”
a. Brundland Commission
b. Iroquois Indiansc. Constitution of theU.S.A.
http://www.crystalinks.com/iroquois.html
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Ecology is my religion today. I livesurrounded by nature and fight withinconsiderate consumption”
a. Tom Cruiseb. Sylvester Stallonec. Robert Redford
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Ecology is my religion today. I live
surrounded by nature and fight with
inconsiderate consumption”
a. Tom Cruise
b. Sylvester Stallone c. Robert Redford
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000602/
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
“Before I flew I was already aware of how smalland vulnerable our planet is; but only when I sawit from space, in all its ineffable beauty andfragility, did I realize that humankind’s mosturgent task is to cherish and preserve it for futuregenerations”
a. Sigmund Jahn (German astronaut)
b. Mirosław Hermaszewski (Polish astronaut)c. Neil Armstrong (American astronaut)
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/cosmonauts/english/volynov_boris.htm
WHO SAID THIS ABOUT NATURE?
a. Sigmund Jahn (German astronaut)
b. Mirosław Hermaszewski (Polish astronaut)c. Neil Armstrong (American astronaut)
“Before I flew I was already aware of how smalland vulnerable our planet is; but only when I sawit from space, in all its ineffable beauty andfragility, did I realize that humankind’s mosturgent task is to cherish and preserve it for futuregenerations”
THANK YOU
Why do we need sustainable development?
Piotr Skubała, University of Silesia, Department of Ecology, Katowice, Poland