PART 4- THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A GOOD NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Human needs Some global scenario Quality living The world today

Global challenges..

Population pressure
Human population has increased at an almost exponential rate. With this growth comes an increase in demand for land, food, water, energy and other resources. As human numbers grow species and their habitat diminish.

Technology: Help or helpless in population grows?

Are we safe?
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Mahatma Ghandi

Unfortunately..

Technology conceived under this worldview has led to:

climate instability, the destruction of vast quantities of ocean life, toxic releases into our environment and accompanying cancer epidemics, persistent loss of soil fertility in industrial farming, loss of the biodiversity that underlies the resilience of natural systems.

Some global scenarios

Climate instability

The melting of blue polar ice that are millions of years old

Some global scenarios

Climate instability
Pasterze Glacier, Austria (1875 vs 2004)

Portage Glacier, Alaska (1950 vs 2002)

Some global scenarios

Climate instability

Some global scenarios

Destruction of marine life

Conoco China oil spill resulting in marine pollution legislation attention, 2011 The discharge of sewage and contaminated water in rivers and water bodies in Pakistan, 2011

Are we?

Some global scenarios

Toxic spills

Marine Life At Risk From Radiation In Japan

Quality of living- Group discussion & presentation

Around the world, a central question bears on sustainability, the environment, and social and financial well-being: How much is enough? But there is an important corollary to that question perhaps even more directly important to individuals. What does quality of life mean? And how should we measure it?

Quality of living
Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of living, which is based primarily on income. Instead, standard indicators of the quality of life include not only wealth and employment, but also the built environment, physical and mental health, education, recreation and leisure time, and social belonging.

Example of quality of living: Water scenario

Yet, the irony is that while a large part of the world with adequate water is abusing and wasting water, another equally large section of humanity lives under abject water stress.

Example of quality of living

1. Water crisis issues

2Q

Quantity Quality

Example of quality of living

1. Water crisis issues

Quantity

2Q

Too Little

Water Crisis

Rivers drying out

Parched lands

Too Much

2Q
Quality

TOO POLLUTED..

Malaysia water usage

Malaysia ranks amongst the richest rainfall countries in the world. Its equatorial climate produces rainfall all year round with an average annual rainfall of 3,000 mm. Theoretically, Malaysians enjoy a per capita renewable water of more than 20, 000 cubic metres per year (this may be less due to pollution), as compared to people in Africa with per capita renewable water of less than 1,000 cubic metres per year.

Water problem in Malaysia

Still..

Malaysia still suffer water problems (both excesses and deficits) is thus a question of ineffective management. In a country with seemingly abundant water resources, rapid development has threatened our water resources, destroying and polluting them.

The world today

If these problems continue we will experience global climate instability.

Coastal cities will become devastated by rising sea levels and masses of people will be in displacement and devastation. Severe weather will grow in intensity and frequency, creating areas of flooding and draught. While dealing with disappearing farm land, mass famine and disease; natural disasters will add to economic collapse and perpetuate chaos.

We need a good nature environment

Our societal structures are quite fragile, and much of our systems for commerce, transportation, energy production, and government can be affected and even abandoned in the event of global devastation.

Back to Basics Approach

Recycle

Conserve energy
Dont waste wastes Plant more trees Research & Development Be aware

Example of sustainability approach in Western Australia

A

fully integrated water cycle system for a public building in Perth, Western Australia

Sustainability Objectives
Major focus has been to include a range of leadingedge features & technologies that will:

provide a concrete real-life example of sustainability in action create an iconic lighthouse library & community centre that makes the PG Councils sustainability pioneers on a national scale

This goal has been consistently supported by local residents as part of community consultations

Josh Byrne & Associates

Use of accredited rating system

Assessment & rating across the full suite of Green Star categories

Proposed Features & Technologies

Water Efficiency
High

efficiency fixtures, fittings & appliances

Waterless Urine

urinals

separating toilet

pans

Project Innovation
The project :
have

its own rainwater supply for 100% of internal potable uses incorporate onsite separation, treatment & reuse of greywater, brown water & yellow water

Other key water-related elements include onsite treatment of stormwater, waterless urinals, urine diverting toilet pans & high water-efficiency fixtures/fittings.

Urine Separating Toilet Pans

80% of nitrogen & 50% of phosphorus in wastewater come from urine (~1% of wastewater)

Generally sterile
Peak phosphorus ~ 50 years? Rock phosphate increased by 700% in price to US$367/t over 2007/08

Wastewater

Source separation with treatment & reuse onsite to irrigate landscape Diversion & overflow to sewer allows safe onsite reuse in urban areas Maximise nutrient capture & reduce loads discharged to sewer & ocean outfall

Community Education Opportunities

Create

support, pride & enthusiasm the value & practical benefits of integrating such options into their homes & lifestyle platform to influence residents, schools, educators & other key groups

Reinforce

Provide

Separated Wastewater Collection System

My Supervisors!!
Brownwater pumpout

Biolytix Biogrinder

Greywater sedimentation

2 x Biolytix BF6 units

Greywater pumpout

Urine sedimentation

3 x urine storage tanks

What else we can do to contribute a better environment

Revenue from Carbon Credits enable development of costly environmental projects. Balanced & sustainable economic development. New impetus to drive private sector involvement in investing in projects that reduce GHGs emissions. eg. GHGs (eg. Methane Gas) avoidance projects (landfill gas projects) Biofuels (eg. Biodiesel, bioethanol etc.) Renewable energy projects (from Biomass, biogas, mini-hydro, solar, wind) Contribution to the socio-economic development / well-being of the society especially in the rural area eg. Rural electrification projects (using mini-hydro) New employment opportunities (plantation of feedstock for bio-ethanol / bio-diesel production)/ New Industries Direct impact on the environment of the local community (cleaner air, water and surrounding)

Potential opportunities

Waste to Wealth Projects (Immediate Opportunities) - Biogas Plant (Methane Capture) from Palm Oil Mill Effluents (POME) - Biogas Plant (Methane Capture) from wastewater of sago starch factories - Biomass Power Plant (Empty Fruit Bunch) - Landfill Gas Project (Methane Gas Avoidance)

Greenhouse Gas Emission Avoidance

Renewable Energy Projects - Renewable energy grid (Biogas Power Plant & Biomass Power Plant) - Solar Power / Wind Farm - Run-of-the-river Hydro Power Project

Grid Replacement

Biofuel Projects
- Biodiesel Plant (from Palm Oil) - Biodiesel Plant (Jatropha Plants) - Bio-ethanol Plant (sago starch, cassava, tapioca, palm trunks etc.)

Biofuels

Various types of Anaerobic Tank Digestors

Selangor, Malaysia Shandong, China Zrbig, Germany

Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Citrus Fruit Wastes Food Wastes

Dresden, Germany Magdeburg, Germany Magdeburg, Germany

Animal & Food Wastes

Cattle Wastes

Cattle & Agriculture Wastes

Landfill Gas Project

Digestion Leppe, Germany

Garraf, Spain

Zambiza, Equador

Methane Gas Avoidance Project Harnessing and flaring of methane gas gathered from municipal sanitary landfill

facts & figures

Minimum requirements : 3,000,000 ton/yr of MSW Estimated CERs :50,000 CERs/yr

In partnership with

Constructed wetland at Dal primary school Norway

Photos: P.D. Jenssen

Parameter Total - P Total - N COD SS T. coli. /100ml

(Jenssen et al. 2005b)

Influent Effluent mg/l mg/l 2,9 0,2 29,0 12,0 129 24 <5 <2

Agricultural use of water and nutrients from constructed wetlands

Photo: P.D. Jenssen

Greywater treatment student housing Norway Effluent values

Total - P 0,04 mg/l Total - N 2,2mg/l BOD 3,9 mg/l Termotolerant coli <100

Foto: P. Jenssen

We are part of the solution

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we owe it to our children.