What is our future? And how can we affect it?

Bruce R. Peachey, P.Eng., MCIC

President, New Paradigm Engineering Ltd.

October, 2000

Choices on the Road to London

What is our role going to be? What is our target? What are our indicators? What would constitute success in meeting London? Is everyone on the same page? How do we match our actions to our words?

What Role? Pundits or Realists

Pundits• Don’t confuse public with complexity, keep it simple - sound

bites

• Don’t blame the public, corporations/gov’ts are easier targets

• Rally against a common enemy

• Fossil Fuels Industry – Source of all evil. Anything else is better.

Realists• Understanding is in the details

• Most issues stem from “consumer/waster” mentality

• We are all the enemy, need to adjust our behaviour

• Conspicuous consumption – Source of the problem. All things in moderation can be sustainable.

What is Our Target? – Reactive or Proactive Processes and Products

• Based on assumption that industry is the problem• Minimize the impacts of consumer decisions• Develop products people need instead of what they want• Focus on industrial waste not consumer waste

Knowledge and Understanding• Based on assumption that society is the problem• Consumers make decisions that minimize impacts• People want what they really need• Focus on consumer waste, industrial waste follows

What are our Indicators?

How do we measure innovation, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, use of resources, waste and environmental impact

Sustainable• Balance of economics, environment and security for the future• Concensus that status quo is not sustainable so change must happen.

Proactively or reactively Renewable

• Secure supply, by definition? • Dilute sources so costly and widespread collection system• Increased diversion of an existing resource to humans from other

organisms Green – Environmentally friendly

• No human impacts on the environment• Can’t support current human population

Social Indicator = Conspicuous Consumption

Conspicuous Consumption Wastes Resources• “Perrier Water” at $3/l (mostly energy cost to transport glass

and water) vs. >$0.03/l from the tap• Only eating “perfect tomatoes” (Esthetics vs. Nutrition)• New vs. Used (Social Life vs. Design Life)• Buy vs. Rent or Lease (Status Symbol vs. Utility)

Social Issues require education and new role models.

Toxicity Indicator = Cost

Why High Tech materials are expensive:• Large resource input (energy, people)• High purity requires high processing cost

» “Pure water” vs. “Clean Water”

• Scarce components = large volumes of reject• Specialized processing (acids, heavy metals, solvents)• All lead to more emissions of toxic or potentially toxic materials

High cost means high emissions somewhere

Economic Indicator = Positive Economics

Economics are a reality• Environmentalists and engineers need to get paid• “Ethical funds” and stocks have to show a return• Financial results are society’s “scorecard”

Best “environmental” projects make $ for someone Best “economic”projects minimize environmental

impacts More profitable = Quicker and more widespread

implementation

What would Success Look Like?

Public has everything it wants • Public has it’s cake with no regrets• Problems hidden from the public or taken care of for them• Zero emissions from industry, only public allowed to emit

Public has everything it needs• Everyone has bread• Public understands impacts of its decisions• Public accountable for all it’s emissions

Is Everyone on the Same Page?

Everyone does the same thing at the same time• Maintain status quo of have’s and have nots• Nobody wants to lose something they have now

Leading wasters should take the lead to set the new standard

• Need to work to a common status for everyone• Everybody wants opportunity for next generations• Everyone aspiring to a sustainable goal

Steps to Sustainability

#1 Reduce – Become a conserver society• Reduce waste of energy, water, land, and air• Leads to secure future supply• Minimum Environmental impacts• Increases quality of life = wealth

#2 Reuse – Plan for future use• Integrate processes to conserve• But don’t violate #1

#3 Recycle – Very little is really consumed• Mass balance most materials undergo little change with use• Don’t let a little dirt stop you.

Match actions to Words

Believe that it Can be Done• If we don’t believe sustainability is achievable and desirable we

won’t be able to convince others.

Education of Public and Media• Always a challenge but never to late to start as it will never be

complete

Education of Legislators• Provide them with input on potential implications.

Set model ourselves• Get involved at the community level to encourage sustainability

Summary of Our Choices

We have committed, through London Accord to take on some responsibility.

We have the ability to choose our response We should make the choices proactively as

organizations of Chemical Engineers nationally, and as individual Chemical Engineers locally.

“There is more to life than increasing it’s speed.” • Mahatma Ghandi

Contact Information

Advanced Technology Centre

9650-20 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada T6N 1G1

tel: 780.450.3613

fax: 780.462.7297

email: info@newparadigm.ab.ca

web: www.newparadigm.ab.ca