Sustainable Development

Year 1 Chemical Engineers University of Bath

The state of the world -water use in the mining industry

Updated 2009

Agenda

• What the future holds in terms of population, economy and resource demand

• What this means for the planet• Sustainable Development as a

response and its possible implications

• An introduction to the Assignment

World Population

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

20502040203020202010200019901980197019601950

Year

Billion

s

Population growth rates

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

1234567891011121314151617181920

decades 1950 - 2050

Perc

enta

ge

China, 292

South America,97

Africa, 308

Other Asia, 371

India, 212

Urban population growth 2005-25

Rio Tinto

Source: IISI, World Bank, Global InsightRio Tinto

Rio Tinto

Human Development Report 2007/8 UNDP Country Fact Sheets

The Gap between rich and poor

34%

17%

44%

5%

-ve income growth, more inequalities

+ve income growth, less ve inequalities

+ve income growth, more inequalities

-ve income growth, less inequalities

Inequality has increased in many countries, with or without growth -10

year comparison

World Development Indicators 2007 – World Bank – 59 countries on $1-2 per day

Agenda

What the future holds in terms of population, economy and resource demand

• What this means for the planet• Sustainable Development as a

response and its possible implications

• An introduction to the Assignment

OneOne

WorldWorld

http://assets.panda.org/downloads/living_planet_report_2008.pdf

http://assets.panda.org/downloads/living_planet_report_2008.pdf

What is happening to our planet

• Croplands, forests, grassland, wetlands and fisheries continue to decline

• Water availability changing

• CO2 etc levels continue to rise with consequent increase in climate variability

• Biodiversity decreasing• Poverty gap not closing• Global conflict increasing

http://assets.panda.org/downloads/living_planet_report_2008.pdf

Agenda

What the future holds in terms of population, economy and resource demand

What this means for the planet• Sustainable Development as a

response and its possible implications

• An introduction to the Assignment

The challenge

Continuing to grow the world’s economies to alleviate poverty without destroying the fundamental ecological systems which sustain life as we know it.

Tom Burke

Interpreting SD – In context

GlobalSustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs WCED (Brundtland), ‘Our Common Future’ 1987

Country, state, regionUK Government (2008) We want to live within environmental limits and ensure a strong, just and healthy society by means of a sustainable economy good governance and sound science. Priority areas are: sustainable production and consumption, climate change, natural resource protection and environmental enhancement and creating sustainable communities.

BusinessRössing, Uranium Mining company Namibia (company)ensuring that the positive developments taking place during the years of mining have a long lasting positive effect on the people of the region and Namibia building employees’ capacity to contribute to their future wellbeing minimise inevitable environmental impacts of mining are after closure remain enough natural resources for the children of future generations to have a livelihood in the region.

Individual to make and want to make sound choices in the face of the inherent complexity and uncertainty of the future.

Is the choice effective?

Is it just?

Is it modest?

Techno-economic

Social

Ecological

Sustainable Development Trade Offs

SD High groundA balance between T-ESE

So what of those future generations

• Being more efficient and careful now• Changing the nature of resources• Setting aside wealth for the future• Changing the nature of opportunity

• Or letting them take care of themselves when the time arrives

Chemical Engineer’s role

• We will use our skills to improve the quality of life: foster employment, advance economic and social development, and protect the environment.

• This challenge encompasses the essence of sustainable development. We will work to make the world a better place for future generations.

IChemE London communiqué

Efficiency Improvements

IndustryYears Efficiency gain

per unit of output

EU Chemical 1985-1996

34% less energy

US Chemical 1974-1998

43% less energy

European Paper 1975-1997

50-80% less water

European and Canadian Paper

1990-1998

10.5% less energy

Steel in OECD 1971-1991

20% less energyOECD 2001

Agenda

What the future holds in terms of population, economy and resource demand

What this means for the planetSustainable Development as a

response and its possible implications

• An introduction to the Assignment

Mine

Waste rock to store

Mine

Waste rock to store

Mineral treatme

nt

Haulage

Grinding

Mine

Waste rock to store

Mineral treatme

nt

Concentrate

Fine waste

(tailings) to store

For further

processing

Waste Disposal

Tailings Dam

http://www.rossing.com/environ_stewardship.htm

Assignment

• Prepare a statement on the global water situation.

• Calculate the water balance for a mining operation in a water stressed area

• Suggest how the balance can be improved

• Look for pitfalls in what you suggest

Useful Links

http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/lpr_2008.pdf

www.guardian.co.uk/water/story/0,13790,1148543,00.htm

www.wbcsd.org (search for water reports under publications and reports)

http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/index.shtml