Engineers and Sustainability: Environmental Ethics

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1 Engineers and Sustainability: Environmental Ethics Terms and Definitions Anthropocentricity and Western Ethics Technology s Role in Sustainability Approaches to Ecological Management The Engineer s Role Terms and Definitions Growth versus Development (Herman Daly) To grow means to increase in size by the addition of material or accretion. To develop means to expand or realize the potentialities of; bring gradually to a fuller, greater or better state. (Farrell, 222) Growth versus Development (Herman Daly) Daly also concludes that growth has limits while only development can be sustainable indefinitely Sustainable Development Herkert quotes the 1987 Brundtland Commission s definition of sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Herkert, 215) Sustainable Development (CCPE) Engineers Canada (was CCPE) defines sustainability as: Ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, through the balanced application of integrated planning and the combination of environmental, social, and economic decision-making processes. Sustainable Development (ASCE) Sustainable development is a process of change in which the direction of investment, the orientation of technology, the allocation of resources, and the development and functioning of organizations [is directed] to meet present needs and aspirations without endangering the capacity of natural systems to absorb the effects of human activities, and without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and aspirations. (CCPE National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability, Nov. 2005) Harris et al, 218

2 Sustainable Development It is economic and technical activity that is required to meet our needs and aspirations. Harris et al(218) Cannot ignore the needs of today (Farrell, 222) Sustainable Development There are two constraints on this development: that the resulting activity be absorbable by the environment, and that future generations be able to also meet their needs and aspirations. Harris et al (218) Sustainable Development Up to this point, engineering organizations have acknowledged a role in ecology and economics, but have generally discounted or ignored any role in the social systems aspect of sustainability. The Environment Earth s environment can be thought of as the integration and interaction of all the natural systems that have any effect on the operation of any other system, including each other, or on any of the inhabitant life forms The Environment The Environment What is natural? What is natural? Humankind, and the effects of its growth, as an integral part of natural systems. This philosophy states that we are an inseparable part of the environment and whatever changes result from our existence are part of the natural course of events

3 The Environment What is natural? Humankind as central to, but separate from, the rest of the natural environment. This philosophy starts from a base assumption that what is natural is what would happen to natural systems if we were not here at all to interfere (either positively or negatively). The Environment Geographical What we do is not limited to as small geographical area but is felt many miles away (in the artic for example) Large smoke stack keeps the exhaust away from the stack but what about many miles away!! The Environment Geographical Anthropocentricity and Western Ethics We must think of the earth as a biosphere, A CLOSED SYSTEM WITH MANY COMPLEX AND INTERDEPENDENT COMPONENTS. Anthropocentricity : EVENTS IN TERMS OF HUMAN VALUES AND UTILITY Anthropocentricity and Western Ethics Much of our initial concern for the environment was based on this human-centred view; how was a changing environment going to affect the health and welfare of humans. Anthropocentricity and Western Ethics How can we view the environment? We could see the environment as having a direct effect on our health, usually in a negative sense if it contains toxins or irritants. We need to rethink this approach!

4 Anthropocentricity and Western Ethics We can also view it as having instrumental value in that humans will benefit from the enjoyment of nature Harris et al ( 234) Anthropocentricity and Western Ethics Humans should view themselves as part of the environment instead of as owners of it. A philosophy held by aboriginal people around the world for many years ALDO LEOPOLD IN A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC ETHICAL VIEWS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Utilitarianism!!! most good for the most people. Tend to violate individual rights Laws are now recognizing an individual s right to an environment that won t negatively affect their health Technology s Role in Sustainability Farrell mentions the concept of carrying capacity of the biosphere as a measure of how much human activity can be safely absorbed by our ecological systems without jeopardizing the future Harris et al (228) Technology s Role in Sustainability Beder concludes that since there has been no agreement on controlling other factors that affect the impact on the environment, the responsibility for sustainable development will rest primarily with technology Technology s Role in Sustainability She describes a functional relationship between environmental impact and population (number of people), affluence (resource use per person), and technology (impact per unit of resource used).

5 Technology s Role in Sustainability Impact Environmental = f ( Population, Affluence, Technology), or Imp = Pop Aff Tech, where resource usage environmental impact Pop = number of people, Aff =, Tech = person unit of resource used Impact Environmental = f ( Population, Affluence, Technology), or Imp = Pop Aff Tech, where resource usage environmental impact Pop = number of people, Aff =, Tech = person unit of resource used We can reduce the impact by reducing the resource usage per person or to reduce the impact on the environment per unit of resource (Could also reduce the population or usage ) Technology s Role in Sustainability So how do we do it? End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean Technologies Fix the problem at the end where the stuff is being dumped versus fixing the problem at the source. This is just a clean up process rather than addressing the source End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean Technologies Tracking the original process Use less resources Reduce impact End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean Technologies Example 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing) Embraced this philosophy and became more efficient and saved money

6 End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean Technologies Another alternative is to use clean technologies that live in harmony with the environment right from the very start, ie don t just try to improve existing technologies, come up with new clean technologies End-of-Pipe Solutions versus Clean Technologies Another alternative is reexamine our approach to satisfying the needs and aspirations of society Eg: How can we meet the needs of this project by using these existing materials? rather than Can we use any of these existing materials in this project? Or given the project, what materials can we use vs. given the material, can we use them in our project. Humphries A Guide for Cleanliness How clean must something be? A cleaner solution often involves trading off the benefits to society versus a measurable amount of environmental degradation Balancing Health and Wealth (Harris) A Guide for Cleanliness A purely utilitarian approach may not be appropriate (Harris et al) DEGREE OF HARM CRIERION Harris et al Balancing the Ecological Budget Where the risk to humans is significant, the technology must be clean enough to remove that risk, regardless of the costs. Where human health or safety is not a concern, then other cost-benefit criteria may be employed to determine a suitable level of cleanliness. Technology can not only be applied to minimize or eliminate negative effects on the environment, it can also be used to reverse them When we apply technologies to improve the carrying capacity of the environment, or reverse effects caused by non-human sources, we achieve an improvement.

7 Approaches to Ecological Management Crisis Oriented Management Crisis Oriented Management Cost-Oriented Environmental Management Enlightened Environmental Management Do what is necessary as it arises if it is a crisis Managing for Sustainability Preventative Engineering Cost-Oriented Environmental Management Enlightened Environmental Management Managing environmental issues and conforming to regulations and requirements as a normal part of operations. Adopt friendly technologies when it proves economically justified to do so Frequently pro-active and will go beyond regulation and laws to improve their environmental beneficence Managing for Sustainability Managing for Sustainability Farrell suggest some tools to assist in assessing, prioritizing and managing the environment for sustainability Cost benefit analysis GDP GNP can be used to monitor developmental progress Policy tools (guidelines) backed up by regulations Natural Capital translates ecological assets into equivalent capital terms allowing comparison to be made

8 PREVENTIVE ENGINEERING (Young and Vanderburg) A materials life cycle approach to design that supports sustainable future The Engineers role!!! Responsibility for health and safety embedded in all codes of ethics Every aspect of the life of a product from resource extraction to disposal and reuse is considered Should sustainability be embedded directly in our codes? How far should we go? Why should/must engineers go beyond their responsibility for the public and bear responsibility for protecting and improving the environment? One argument is that Engineers are the purveyors of technology, and that technology (or technological development) is the major cause of environmental degradation Engineers have a responsibility to fix the problems because they know how. But do they have sufficient knowledge about the biological side or indeed, social side of issues? Are we stepping outside our areas of expertise and hence violating our own code of ethics? A second argument is that Engineers have the power to help projects proceed or to have them cancelled. If engineers show a concern about the environment in this capacity, others will necessarily follow.

9 Requiring engineers to protect the environment may cause moral conflicts for individual engineers. There are still areas of controversy regarding the environment, and an individual engineer has both a personal right to a dissenting opinion, as well as a professional right to conscientiously refuse or participate on moral grounds. In Canada, the engineering profession can look to Engineers Canada (formerly the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers: CCPE) for some guidance Guideline Summary From the Final Draft November 10,2005 National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability Professional engineers are committed to environmental protection and safeguarding the well being of the public. Professional engineers: 1. Should develop and maintain a reasonable level of understanding, awareness, and a system of monitoring environmental and sustainability issues related to their field of expertise; 2. Should use appropriate expertise of specialists in areas where the engineer s knowledge alone is not adequate to address environmental and sustainability issues; 3. Should apply professional and responsible judgment in their environmental and sustainability considerations; 4. Should ensure that environmental planning and management is integrated into all their activities which are likely to have any adverse effects; 5. Should include the costs of environmental protection among the essential factors used for evaluating the economic viability of projects for which they are responsible 6. Should recognize the value of environmental efficiency and sustainability, consider full life-cycle assessment to determine the benefits and costs of additional environmental stewardship, and endeavor to implement efficient, sustainable solutions; 7. Should engage and solicit input from stakeholders in an open manner, and strive to respond to environmental concerns in a timely fashion; 8. Should comply with regulatory requirements and endeavor to exceed or better them by striving toward the application of best available, cost-effective technologies and procedures;

10 9. Should disclose information necessary to protect public safety to appropriate authorities; and, 10. Should actively work with others to improve environmental understanding and sustainability practices Code of Ethics (Proposals) Harris et al concludes that, with a few exceptions, there is generally no support or clear direction to care for the environment beyond its effect on humankind (i.e. the public). They forward two proposals for code of ethics Code of Ethics (Proposals) 1. Although engineers should be required to hold paramount human health in the performance of their engineering work (including health issues that are environmentally related), they should not be required as professionals (that is, required by the codes) to inject nonhealth-related environmental concerns into their engineering work. Code of Ethics (Proposals) This is designed to accommodate the argument related to scope of practice, and to avoid creating conflicts for societies or individual engineers. Code of Ethics (Proposals) Engineer s right to organizational disobedience whether on personal grounds or an interpretation of professional obligations Code of Ethics (Proposals) Where organizational constraints permit, engineers shall not be required to participate in projects that violate their professional obligations as determined by the codes, their professional obligations as determined by their individual interpretations of professional responsibility, or personal beliefs. Engineers shall also have the right to voice responsible objections to engineering projects that they believe are wrong, without fear of reprisal. Engineers shall have the right to support programs and causes of their own choosing outside the workplace.

11 Laws and Regulations The engineer must also give due consideration to applicable laws and regulations regarding the environment. And as in the case of safety, the engineer should keep in mind two important characteristics about these laws and regulations: they should be considered a minimum, and they are evolving! Laws and Regulations Recall that laws and regulations are generally society s declaration of what is considered minimum acceptable behaviour.. In many cases the regulations may lag our current capabilities, and the engineer should again employ imaginative forecasting and autonomous forethought to help decide what is ethically acceptable Laws and Regulations In addition to our increasing capability to protect the environment, our understanding of how to do it and our will to do it are also evolving. Laws and Regulations Another effect of our increasing understanding is a greater public consciousness of environmental issues, and as a result a stronger social will to strive for long term sustainability Laws and Regulations As a minimum, engineers should be informed and current about any legislation which could potentially affect their practice. Laws and Regulations Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) The Canada Water Act (1985) allows for conviction and fines for those contravening the act. The Alternative Fuels Act (1995) See notes

12 Laws and Regulations The diligent engineer must, as a minimum, consider a periodic review of such legislation an essential part of keeping their knowledge current. Design Approaches clean design, is a combination of appropriate technology as discussed by Beder (233) and the materials life cycle approach discussed by Young and Venderburg Design Approaches The concept involves i) considering the environmental implications of all the phases and components of a particular development (project, product or service For example, the energy required for resource extraction and transportation, where that energy comes from, the effect of depleting a resource, possible future substitutes or sources for that resource, what will happen to the product when it is disposed (if applicable), any side effects or waste etc Design Approaches The concept involves ii) starting with the objective of making the overall project at least environmentally neutral Design Approaches The concept of appropriate technology is basically the shift in focus from fixing to preventing Design Approaches Examples include finding a process that doesn t produce toxins versus removing them from the effluent before discharge into a waterway, or finding alternate ways to illuminate buildings and streets versus building another power plant.

13 Design Approaches A complementary idea known as reverse abstraction design is based roughly on S. I. Hayakawa s concept of an abstraction ladder in relation to language introduced in Language in Thought and Action. Reverse abstraction backs up by asking Why is this needed? and attempts to find a sustainable solution at each level. Parking lot example Summary Why do we need a parking lot?, so people who work here have a place to park their vehicles. The problem is now one of transportation instead of parking and other more sustainable solutions may be available. For instance, improving public transportation or providing a bicycle path. If we back up another step on the ladder, we could ask Why do they [have to] work here?. Options like tele-commuting or other work-at-home or schedule provisions can be considered. The engineer must be involved, sharing their technological expertise The Engineer cannot resolve such issues alone. The engineer for the future must be a willing and proactive part of a multidisciplinary team that works with, and within, the rest of society to help ensure that future generations in all countries enjoy the benefits that harnessing technology can produce.