And now Back to looking back and moving forward! Sustainability was not really born in 1987 here are some examples to prove this!

Transcription

1 And now Back to looking back and moving forward! Sustainability was not really born in 1987 here are some examples to prove this!

2 The item of the today: THE ENVIRONMENT The last leg in our three legged-stool Why the environment as a cause? Seeds of discontent in the face of anthropogenic change history of modern environmentalism Environmental Ethics and Values Anthropogenic change: when too many people do Earth-influencing activities!

3 PRESERVATION CONSERVATION Early 1900s EXPLOITATION RESOURCE MGMT. Post-WWII Time WISE Resource 1970s Development Tool Dev. Sustainable Development Our Common Future/UN Sustainability Y2K >

4 Philosophical Beginnings 1835 Emerson writes Nature Beginning of Transcendentalism 1845 Henry David Thoreau ( ) moves to Walden Pond Fathers of Environmentalism Advocation of Preservation, Fed. Ownership Messes in Massachusetts

5 An Ethic of Preservation Reverence Preserve Improvement Transcendentalism: well educated, defined by their context rebellion and what they were rebelling against Social reform, anti-slavery, women s rights New age spirituality

6 Conservation and the End of The Frontier Geo. Perkins Marsh ( ) Man and Nature (1864) 1 st modern discussion of ecology Recognized man as a destructive force Ethic of Conservation Reasonable use Meet needs while ensuring other considerations Prevent waste and pollution

7 Conservation Marches On John Muir ( ) Most famous (?) and influential Sierra Club, 1892 fought damming of Hetch Hetchy (1913) Inspired Roosevelt s innovation in government Direct hand in establishment of Yosemite (1890), Sequoia (1890), Mt. Ranier (1899), Petrified Forest (1906) and Grand Canyon NP (1908)

8 Theodore Roosevelt ( ) Friend of John Muir US Forest Service, 1905 President Big game took him west he said whoa! Gradual expansion to forestry Gifford Pinchot ( ) Chief Forester of USFS under Roosevelt Nationwide forestry/conservation movement greatest good of the greatest number in the long run

9 Robert Marshall ( ) Founded the Wilderness Society (1935) Chief of Recreation and Lands for USFS Cranked up conservation efforts in the US Aldo Leopold ( ) 19 years in the USFS Began work in 1933 on managing and restoring wildlife Sand County Almanac (1948) LAND ETHIC Gk

10 Roosevelt & Conservation John Muir Recreation & Lands (Marshall) Roosevelt USFS Forestry (Pinchot) Wildlife (Leopold)

11 Clifford Sifton ( ) Minister of the Interior responsible for opening of the west attracting farmers from Europe created the Forestry Branch Father of Conservation Rachel Carson ( ) Marine biologist Spoke out about use of pesticides and side-effects in SILENT SPRING JFK ordered the President's Science Advisory Committee to examine her claims

12 What about Canada? AFA 1875 influential Canadians joined 1882 AFA Congress in Montreal, results in Federal Forestry Commissioner 1885 Banff CFA 1900 under Sifton First NFC in Ottawa 1906 First school of forestry, U of T, , National Parks Service

13 Institutional Arrangements Institutions are defined as the "rules" in any kind of social structure, i.e. the laws, regulations and their enforcement, agreements, mechanisms and procedures Canada: Any of our Cabinet portfolios at Federal and Provincial Goverment Can include incentives for participatory management Ontario: Environmental Bill of Rights

14 Institutional Arrangements Established by the BNA Act, 1867 Distribution of Power Federal issues of national interest things related to peace, order and good government Nuclear is a federal thing, because it involves national interests Provincial health care, education, resources, etc. Municipal

15 Roots of Environmentalism Bad things happening (usually anthropogenic in nature) Different world views Values and ethics of individuals Cause Man and Nature Balance of Nature

16 Environmental Values Why value the environment? Utilitarian justification - derivation of economic benefits to society Ecological justification - preservation of earth functions essential to support life Aesthetic justification - beauty and psychological value

17 Environmental Ethics: A New Discipline Aldo Leopold s land ethic - nature does not have to be consumed to be valued - each of us is a steward of our environment Rights of future generations - human impacts of today s environment will affect future generations - intergenerational equity Combining environmental science and ethics

18 Summary of the Impetus Urban form is important in achieving sustainability Every issue you can have any place in the world is somehow magnified in an urban environment bad things in the environment led to the development of new ways of thinking, environmentalism, institutional arrangements, study of ethics

19 New Ideas/Ideology Where did Environmentalism Come From? Response to anthropogenic change Often a 180 response to the stimulus that is subsequently moderated! Humanization of non-human things intrinsic worth

20 Why does Anthropogenic Change Really Matter? Pervasive Affects all areas of the environment Cumulative effects of years of industrialization Moral responsibility to care for the earth and its inhabitants? Crosses all segments of sustainability

21 Urban Environments >5000 years ago, development Habitation in bands of huntergatherers, mutual benefit Are completely artificial environments absorb resources, produce waste, impinge on their hinterlands Most are now automobile-based, adds a new dimension of problems, issues Size and distribution expanded post I.R. unprecedented growth rates

22 The Rise of Cities Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited.

23 In 1970, only 4 cities had pop. 10 million; in 2000, 24 Mexico City the world s largest conurbation 1250 km 2, up from 27.5 km 2 in 1900 BOSNYWASH N. America: conurbation/megalopolis High densities of people, coupled with I = PAT, = acute environmental problems.

24 Urban Environmental Issues Changes to atmosphere and climate Microclimate Air quality Noise, light pollution

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26 Urban Environmental Conditions and Trends Microclimate - Heat island effect: temperatures are typically 1 to 2 degrees Celsius higher in the city than surrounding rural area - reduction in wind speed - human produced heat - rapid runoff of precipitation - atmospheric pollutants - heat storage and reradiation by buildings/streets Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited.

27 Urban Environmental Conditions and Trends Energy vehicles - Each of the 15 million cars and light trucks on Canada s roads emits over 4 tonnes of pollutants annually into the atmosphere Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited.

28 Surface and Ground Water Contamination Modification of channels Modification of hydrologic cycle Competing/multiple uses Over pumping/subsidence Brownfields

29 Urban Environmental Conditions and Trends Solid waste -cost municipalities > $3 billion each year for management and disposal - Landfilling and incinerating are the main approaches to solid waste management - In 2000, Canadians generated 750 kg of waste per person Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited.

30 Garbage Production & Servicing Solid waste management expensive, $ and Social (NIMBY) Landfilling/incineration costs Canada a top waste producer at about 637 kg/year/ca Growth outstrips servicing: Addis Ababa 40% Bogota 50% Kampala (Uganda) 90% Karachi 65%

31 Sprawl Transportation, service costs, auto reliance Loss of agricultural lands Urban shadow/urban fringe Loss of green space

32 Urban Environmental Conditions and Trends Loss of agricultural land - 20% of Canada s highcapability (Class 1-3) agricultural land is located within 80 km of the 23 largest cities Copyright 2009 Nelson Education Limited.

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36 Problems With Level of Development (aka: spatial variations) Water supply Waterborne diseases Untreated sewage Atmospheric pollution Hazards and catastrophes (natural and man-made) Environmental Health Issues: water, land, air

37 Human Activity and Biodiversity 1. Habitat alteration due to physical changes 2. Competition from non-native biota 3. Harvesting 4. Toxic contaminants 5. Urbanization 6. Cumulative agents of change

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40 Species at Risk Resource extraction: impacts to native species and people Case study: 3 Canadian Species at Risk: pink coreopsis; Peary caribou; aurora trout COSEWIC

41 Species at Risk Indicators - key statistics that represent or summarize some aspect of the state of ecosystems Double breasted cormorant - national indicator species for organochlorine levels in wildlife

42 Spaces at Risk Sustaining wild spaces occupied by wild species Case study examples: Grizzly bears and humans in Banff National Park Trans-Canada highway and CPR

43 International Calls to Action Loss of Biodiversity: an international concern UN Convention on Biodiversity World Conservation Monitoring Center Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna World Conservation Union Niagara Escarpment is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

44 Canada s Protected Areas Role of Parks Canada - mandate - Panel on Ecological Integrity National Parks Marine Conservation Areas (i.e. Fathom Five) World Heritage Sites (i.e. L anse Aux Meadows, Nahanni NP) Ramsar Sites (i.e. Pelee Island, Jack Miner) Biosphere Reserves (i.e. Niagara escarpment)

45 Making Canadian Cities More Sustainable Urban form: more compact Conservation: water, energy, materials, water quality, natural features Enhance public transportation Planning: holistic approach to policy and governance Nelson Education Limited.