PART 4- THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A GOOD NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Human needs Some global scenario Quality living The world today – sustainability of water

(31 March 2014 – 14 April 2014)

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.

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

Some global scenariosClimate instability

Pasterze Glacier, Austria (1875 vs 2004)

Portage Glacier, Alaska (1950 vs 2002)

Some global scenariosClimate instability

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 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.

Quantity

Quality

2Q

Example of quality living

1. Water crisis issues

2QQuantity

1. Water crisis issues

Example of quality living

Too Little…

Water Crisis

Rivers drying out

Parched lands

Too Much…

Quality

2Q

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.

• Recycle

• Conserve energy

• Don’t waste wastes

• Plant more trees

• Research & Development

• Be aware

Back to Basics Approach

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 leading-edge 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 urinals

Urine separating toilet pans

Project Innovation

The project :have its own rainwater supply for 100% of internal potable usesincorporate onsite separation, treatment & reuse domestic waste 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

Reinforce the value & practical benefits of integrating such options into their homes & lifestyle

Provide platform to influence residents, schools, educators & other key groups

Separated Wastewater Collection System

Biolytix Biogrinder

2 x Biolytix BF6 units

Brownwater pumpout

Greywater sedimentation

Greywater pumpout Urine sedimentation

3 x urine storage tanks

Dr Maya’s Supervisors!

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 areaeg. 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)

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)

Renewable Energy Projects

- Renewable energy grid (Biogas Power Plant & Biomass Power Plant)

- Solar Power / Wind Farm

- Run-of-the-river Hydro Power Project

Biofuel Projects

- Biodiesel Plant (from Palm Oil)

- Biodiesel Plant (Jatropha Plants)

- Bio-ethanol Plant (sago starch, cassava, tapioca, palm trunks etc.)

Potential opportunities

Greenhouse Gas Emission Avoidance

Biofuels

Grid Replacement

Various types of Anaerobic Tank Digestors

Selangor, Malaysia Shandong, China

Palm Oil Mill Effluent Citrus Fruit Wastes

Dresden, Germany

Zörbig, Germany

Magdeburg, Germany Magdeburg, Germany

Food Wastes

Cattle & Agriculture Wastes

Animal & Food Wastes

Cattle Wastes

Digestion Leppe, Germany Zambiza, Equador

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

Garraf, Spain

Landfill Gas Project

In partnership with

facts & figures

• Minimum requirements : 3,000,000 ton/yr of MSW

• Estimated CERs :50,000 CERs/yr

Constructed wetlandat Dal primary schoolNorway

Parameter Influent Effluent mg/l mg/lTotal - P 2,9 0,2 Total - N 29,0 12,0COD 129 24SS < 5T. coli. /100ml < 2

Photos: P.D. Jenssen

(Jenssen et al. 2005b)

Agricultural use of water and nutrients from constructed wetlands

Photo: P.D. Jenssen

Greywater treatment student housing NorwayEffluent values

Foto: P. Jenssen

Total - P 0,04 mg/lTotal - N 2,2mg/lBOD 3,9 mg/lTermotolerant coli <100

We are part of the solution…

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

What have we learned from Pt4.

Knew human needs as against human greed

Shared some global scenario about what is happening to the world

Discussed & understood quality living as against living standard (eg water)

Learned : manage water for sustainability Concluded : need to maintain good

environment