Environmental Sustainability & Health

Transcription

1 Environmental Sustainability & Health The curious thing is that no matter how different they are, the people are pre-occupied with the same things How shall I live? (Jeanette Winterson) BENV7712 Healthy Built Environments Week 4 Presentation by: Greg Paine.

2 What, to you, makes up a sustainable community? (Use as few words as possible)

3 Environmental Sustainability & Health BENV7712 Healthy Built Environments Week 4 Presentation by: Greg Paine.

4 1960s/70s ~ ~ a new a new environmental concern Major pollution events / deaths

5 1960s/70s ~ a new environmental concern Major pollution events / deaths Carson: Silent Spring (1962)

6 1960s/70s ~ a new environmental concern Major pollution events / deaths Carson: Silent Spring (1962) Erlich: The Population Bomb (1969) The Club of Rome: The Limits to Growth (1974)

7 1960s/70s ~ a new environmental concern Major pollution events / deaths Carson: Silent Spring (1962) Erlich: The Population Bomb (1969) The Club of Rome: The Limits to Growth (1974) View of earth from space (1969)

8 1970 first World Earth Day official responses

9 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) UN Environment Program

10 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) 1987 WCED report: Our Common Future UN Environment Program Sustainable Development

11 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) 1987 WCED report: Our Common Future 1992 Conference: Environment & Development (Rio) UN Environment Program Sustainable Development Agenda 21

12 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) 1987 WCED report: Our Common Future 1992 Conference: Environment & Development (Rio)) UN Environment Program Sustainable Development Agenda 21 National ESD Strategy (1992)

13 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) 1987 WCED report: Our Common Future 1992 Conference: Environment & Development (Rio) 1997 Conference: Pathways to Sustainability (Newcastle) UN Environment Program Sustainable Development Agenda 21 National ESD Strategy (1992)

14 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) 1987 WCED report: Our Common Future 1992 Conference: Environment & Development (Rio) 1997 Conference: Pathways to Sustainability (Newcastle) 2002 World Summit: Sustainable Development (J berg) UN Environment Program Sustainable Development Agenda 21 National ESD Strategy (1992) business links

15 official responses 1970 first World Earth Day 1972 Conference: Human Environments (Stockholm) 1987 WCED report: Our Common Future 1992 Conference: Environment & Development (Rio) 1997 Conference: Pathways to Sustainability (Newcastle) 2002 World Summit: Sustainable Development (J berg) UN Environment Program Sustainable Development Agenda 21 National ESD Strategy (1992) business links Millennium Goals

16 Sustainable development is: Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

17 Sustainable development is: Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept does imply limits - not absolute limits but limitations imposed by the present state of technological and social organisation on environmental resources and the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities.

18 Australia s National Strategy for ESD 3 x Core Objectives Enhance well-being via economic development that safeguards future generations. Equity within and between generations. Protect biological diversity, maintain ecological processes and life support systems. 4 x Guiding Principles Integrate environmental and economic policy/action. Deal cautiously with risk (precautionary principle). Recognising the global dimension. Value economic assets (internalise environmental costs).

19 Understanding Sustainable Development (1): The Triple Bottom Line (John Elkington) SOCIAL ECONOMIC ECOLOGICAL

20 Understanding Sustainable Development (1): The Triple Bottom Line (John Elkington) Social Justice SOCIAL ECONOMIC Healthy Environments ECOLOGICAL Ecological Economics

21 Understanding Sustainable Development (2): the Three Socio-Ecological Classes (David Korten)

22 Understanding Sustainable Development (2): the Three Socio-Ecological Classes (David Korten)

23 Understanding Sustainable Development (3): Ecological footprint (William Rees)

24 Understanding Sustainable Development (4): Causes of sustainability/unsustainability (Chew, 2001): increases in human population accumulation (consumerism) urbanisation / technology (Erlich, 1969): Impact = Population x Consumption x Technology (Diamond, 2005): relationship with neighbours our ability to learn and adapt

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31 Good news story co-benefits Health co-benefits from action on climate change Lancet series on health and climate change: Energy generation Mobility Food choices Housing Low-carbon ways of living are healthy ways of living (AAS Fenner Conference, Canberra, June 23-24, 2010)

32 connections loops relations don t need to know the whole system-only the pattern (the gist ) parts & wholes complexity wicked problems

33 Harrison, 1992 Co-benefits : systems view points

34 Co-benefits : systems view points

35 Finding synergies (co-benefits) Case study: thinking integratively HBEP Audit HBEP Fact Sheets HBEP Indicators HUD Checklist HBEP Literature Review

36 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

37 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

38 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

39 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

40 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

41 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

42 Finding synergies (co-benefits)

43 a quick exercise in systems thinking. What would happen if: we all switched to electric cars?

44 a HEALTHY CITY is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and in developing to their maximum potential. LOCAL AGENDA 21 details actions on social & economic issues, conservation of resources, strengthening the role of societal groups, forming partnerships, and implementation mechanisms. TBL often used to determine the extent to which a development will contribute to a sustainable community.

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47 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Prof. Peter Newman

48 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. Sustainability can work magic if it genuinely: It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Prof. Peter Newman

49 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. Sustainability can work magic if it genuinely: Creates a new synergy between the social, the economic and the ecological It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Prof. Peter Newman

50 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Sustainability can work magic if it genuinely: Creates a new synergy between the social, the economic and the ecological Is a long-term solution Prof. Peter Newman

51 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Sustainability can work magic if it genuinely: Creates a new synergy between the social, the economic and the ecological Is a long-term solution Is done on a partnership basis Prof. Peter Newman

52 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Sustainability can work magic if it genuinely: Creates a new synergy between the social, the economic and the ecological Is a long-term solution Is done on a partnership basis Creates hope Prof. Peter Newman

53 Actioning sustainability : the bright side Sustainability has a disarming quality as it shows us there are no experts, just complex processes that must involve partnerships. It forces us to reassess our directions. It is driven by hope. This is the magic of sustainability. Prof. Peter Newman Sustainability can work magic if it genuinely: Creates a new synergy between the social, the economic and the ecological Is a long-term solution Is done on a partnership basis Creates hope Is place-orientated, as well as global.

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