LECTURE NO.

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Environmental Issues and Strategies

Environmental Engineering
a multi-disciplinary field which studies the
processes related to pollution found in the
different ecological systems in air, water and
land.
It deals with identifying environmental
processes, determining the effects of all types
of waste and specifying the appropriate
mitigative and/or treatment options

Pollution
an undesirable change in the physical, chemical and biological
characteristics of air, water or land that can harmfully affect the health,
survival or activities of humans or other living organisms.

Global Environmental Realities

Ozone Layer depletion
Greenhouse effect
Acid Rain
Marine Pollution
Depletion of tropical forests
Toxic solid waste disposal

Philippine Environmental Realities

Resource depletion
Environmental degradation
Deforestation species extinction
Air, water and marine pollution
Eutrophication

Negros Occidental Environmental Realities

(based on PEMO report June 2001)
7% Forest Cover (2000)
50% soil erosion
rare species of flora and fauna lost/endangered
stripped mangrove forests
flooding
four major rivers of Negros Occidental are claimed to be biologically dead
not a single river is safe for drinking
surface water use is essentially for irrigation

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 of the 31 municipalities/cities 28 have municipal refuse collection and
disposal services with the following facilities: 52 open dump trucks and 17
closed type trucks (JICA 1998 Report)
Only 24% households are served for solid wastes
LGUs usually practice the simple open dumping system

Direct and Indirect Impacts

Low income and poverty
Displacement of cultural communities
Social conflict and instability
Poor health and nutrition
Hydrological instability and siltation

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES

Sustainable Development
the development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. -
World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), 1987

Philippine Agenda 21 (PA 21)

program of action adopted by the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in June 1995
national agenda for sustainable development
Section 1.3: The essence of sustainable development is the harmonious
integration of a sound and viable economy, responsible governance,
social cohesion and ecological integrity, to ensure that development is a
life-sustaining process

Growth is VOICELESS when there are unequal political structures, corruption,

lack of political will, patronage and political dynasties
Growth is JOBLESS or RUTHLESS when there are poorly planned agricultural
strategies and growth corridors, large debts and one-sided liberalization
Growth is FUTURELESS when there is degradation of the environment, loss of
biodiversity, loss of rights to the natural resource base
Growth is ROOTLESS when cultural diversity and cultural values are lost, when
production and consumption become excessive and when prevailing attitudes
become materialistic.
-Adopted from Section 1.2, PA 21

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PA 21s Principles of Sustainable Development
Primacy of developing human potential
Holistic Science and appropriate
technology
Cultural, moral and spiritual sensitivity
Self-determination
National Sovereignty
Gender sensitivity
Peace, order and national unity
Social justice, inter- and intra-
generational equity and spatial equity
Sustainable population
Ecological soundness
Biogeographical equity & community-based resource management
Global Cooperation
Participatory democracy
Institutional viability
Viable, sound & broad-based economic development

ECOLOGICAL PARAMETER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The integrity and carrying capacity of the environment are not degraded in
the process of development.
Environmental management tools are adopted in policy and decision
making for all stages of economic production.
Policy decisions are based on studies on the biological limits to natural
resource productivity.
Environmental protection is viewed by all social institutions as a shared
responsibility.
Access and control of common resources such as water and biodiversity
are assured for communities.
Biological diversity is conserved through institutional support and direct
involvement of local communities.
Government institutions regularly review and strictly enforce
environmental laws.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PER ECOSYSTEM
ECOSYSTEM / ISSUES
FOREST
Expanding marginal,
degraded, unproductive
upland areas
Unsustainable management
of remaining production
forests
Under-utilization of non-
timber resources
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
Deterioration of shore and
water quality due to
pollution
Food Security
Improper use of pesticides
and inorganic fertilizers
URBAN ECOSYSTEM
Rapid urban population
growth
Poor living conditions
Uncontrolled land
development or conversion
Management of hazards,
disasters and risks
Quality of air pollution from Promote sustainable transport systems
transport and industry
Water pollution from
domestic and industrial
effluents
COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEM
Conflicting uses of coastal
and marine ecosystem
Deterioration of shore and
water quality
Socio-economic issues
SD STRATEGIES
Study the extent of forest resources
Enhance sustainable management
Intensify research and development
Expand people-oriented forestry programs
Institutionalize multi-sectoral Forest
Protection Committees
Promote indigenous technologies
Monitor erosion and sedimentation
Strengthen local food production
Stabilize food supply & pricing
Maintain a buffer stock for lean periods
and seedbanks for indigenous species
Adopt a food subsidy program
Promote environmentally-friendly biological
techniques and organic farming
Reintroduce traditional varieties
Promote population management and
intermediary city development
Promote sustainable land use planning
Conduct geohazard survey and integrated
risk management
Develop/innovate technology for air
pollution control
Promote energy-efficiency and self
regulation in the industry sector
Conduct carrying capacity studies of
priority coastal areas
Conduct programmatic EIA for coastal and
marine development projects
Strictly enforce protection measures
Modernize Bantay-Dagat
Provide mechanisms to facilitate fisheries
cases/Penalize violators of laws through
criminal liability
Review fisheries lending schemes
Conduct research and development on
alternative livelihood programs
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ACTIVITY # 1- 1
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Fill up the table for other ecosystems and critical resources. Identify the
Sustainable Development strategies that could be employed in each.

ECOSYSTEM/RESOURCES/ISSUES SD STRATEGIES

FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
Degradation of water quality
Need to harmonize development
activities in areas affecting
freshwater ecosystem
Need for water resource
assessment

MINES/MINERALS
Environmental disturbance
during mining operations
Mine safety
Lack of geological information
on solid waste disposal and
geohazards
Lack of information for decision-
making and public awareness

BIODIVERSITY
Loss of biodiversity
Problems in implementation of
National Integrated Protected
Areas Law
Conservation of endemic
species

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CURRENT AND EMERGING TRENDS
1. Global competitiveness
Increased productivity
Improved product quality
Scarcity of resources
Cost effectiveness
2. Consumerism
Demand for environment-friendly
products
Green is in
3. Environmentalism
Environmental compliance
Fines, penalties and liabilities
4. Work force Issues
Healthy and safe work environment
Health insurance premiums
5. Community
Right-to-know
NIMBY syndrome

EMERGING TRENDS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

COMPLIANCE PREVENTION

End-of-pipe Life cycle

control approach

EHS functional Multi-function

isolation integration

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CLEANER PRODUCTION PROCESSES

One that cost-effectively reduces

wastes, minimize worker exposure to
toxic materials, optimizes use of raw
materials, improves product
competitiveness in local and world
markets, and enhances a companys
image of responsibility

RELATED TERMS
Preventive Technology
Waste/pollution minimization
Pollution prevention
Eco-technology
Low- and non-waste technologies
Zero waste technology
Green productivity

BENEFITS
Reduced Risk of liability
Reduced operating costs
Improved corporate image
Increased productivity
Public health and environmental benefits
Worker health and safety
Improved global competitiveness

SOURCE REDUCTION

1. Product change
Design for less environmental impact
Increase product life

2. Process Change
Input material changes
Material purification
Material substitution or use of less toxic materials
Technology changes
Lay-out changes
Increased automation
Improved operating conditions
Improved equipment
New technology
Improved Operating Practices
Procedural measures
Management practices

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 Material handling improvements
Production scheduling
Inventory control
Training
Segregation

RECYCLING
1. Recovery and reuse
Return to original process
Raw material substitute for
another process

2. Reclamation
Processed for resource recovery
Processed as a by-product

ACTIVITY # 1- 2
CLEANER PRODUCTION

Read each situation carefully. Identify if they practice CP or end-of-pipe. Explain

why.

1. An electronics firm cleans printed circuit boards (PCBs) using

trichloroethylene (a chlorinated organic solvent). In the PCB cleaning
process, the trichloroethylene evaporates into the air and is exhausted out
of the factory by fans. There is no solid-hazardous waste generated by the
operation. Due to the high cost of imported trichloroethylene, the
electronics firm eliminated its use by switching to an alkaline based
aqueous cleaner.
2. A major tinning operation coats steel with layer of tin and chromium to
improve corrosion resistance of the material. The finished product is
manufactured into paint cans, food tins and other metal containers by
downstream manufacturers. The tinning operation generates wastewater
loaded with pollutants such as chromium, cyanide and sulfuric acid. The
facility has a wastewater treatment plant that neutralizes wastes and
precipitates out the metals prior to discharge. The wastewater treatment
process generates roughly 100,000 kg pf solid-hazardous waste per year.
To reduce the volume of hazardous waste generated, the facility
purchased a filter press. The filter press squeezes water out of the sludge
and reduces the facilitys annual solid hazardous waste generation by
50%.