Inadequate emission control measures Essay
HOW ECOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION POLICIES ENCOURAGE OR CONSTRAIN SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING DESIGN
The last two decennaries have witnessed progresss in engineering which are mostly geared towards minimum environmental impact, better efficiency and energy preservation. Scientific grounds suggests that most of our environmental jobs today developed as a consequence of the unequal emanation control measures in early engineerings. Attempts to work out these environmental jobs have resulted in stricter environmental ordinances and policies and the outgrowth of planetary constructs such as low C emanation, sustainable development and renewable energy. Current grounds suggests that environmental jobs can be managed by expecting possible environmental impact at the conceptual and design phases of technology-based undertakings. Spaagaren and Mol in Fisher R.
et Al ( 2001 ) peculiarly argue that farther promotions in engineering and industrialization will lend enormously towards work outing environmental jobs. Their statement advocates the usage of new and clean engineering to work out or command the jobs created by older engineerings. If implemented within a model of cost and energy efficiency, improved public presentation, dependability and credence supported by effectual authorities policies, this attack has the benefit of being matter-of-fact and measureable with implicit in economic benefits. Therefore this attack forms the footing of ecological modernization ‘ ( EM ) today.
The evident simpleness of Spaagaren and Mol ‘s attack along with the possible economic benefits has generated involvements from many stakeholders. However, the procedure through which engineerings progress or develop and the assorted ways in which the populace and stakeholders support or act upon these inventions are complex ( Kivimaa, 2007 ) . The possible elaborateness of this seemingly simple attack is highlighted by increased degrees of engagement, flexible economic policies and market forces, germinating industries and rigorous authorities ordinances in technology issues. Therefore, applied scientists are now faced with the complicated undertaking of deciding different design ends from viing societal, economic, environmental and political involvements. The polarization of sentiments on this attack is illustrated here by two distinguishable positions. On one manus, some critics have argued that technology designs and technological progresss are influenced by partizan involvements and policies. They maintain that although such technological progresss are executable and accomplishable, they may non be widely adequate utilised due to the impact of external factors.
They besides argue that new and improved engineering entirely can non accomplish better environmental protection peculiarly if left to concern self-regulatory patterns ( York and Rosa, 2003 ) . Kivimaa ( 2007 ) , in peculiar contends that policies aimed at turn toing one environmental job may stop up doing other jobs, although she concedes that the converse could besides happen, engineerings designed to work out a job in response to a policy may besides work out other jobs non targeted by that policy. On the other manus, Gibbs ( 1998 ) argues that progresss in engineering are independent in nature and are brooding of the alterations in our industrial systems as it relates with the societal and natural environment. Both statements have their virtues, but the liberty of engineering in this respect can be questioned on the footing that relationships are established within a societal environment. It is hence imperative that the users of the engineering are involved in the development procedure.
These users are a cardinal index of the sustainability of any technology design ( Jensen and Gram-Hanssen, 2008 ) .This essay explores the how ecological modernization policies affect sustainable technology designs. Scenarios have been chosen for their relevancy in footings of C emanation, energy demand, and altering engineering, in add-on to the important influence of planetary and authorities policies over them.
Definition of Key Concepts
EM is a system created by authoritiess and cardinal policy shapers in effort to extenuate, control or extinguish environmental risks/impact associated with industrialization and modernness while keeping a steady promotion in engineering with its implicit in benefits. EM involves the remodelling of economic and industrial growing to run into environmental demands ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_modernization ) . It advocates the thought that environmental sustainability programmes and economic development can be common ( Barry in Dryzek and Schlosberg, 2005 ) .Sustainable technology design merely means the optimum usage of material resources to accomplish human satisfaction while guaranting environmental protection. Hence this term by and large refers to technological inventions and progresss that are “eco-friendly” . The sustainability of designs is a map of economical, political and organizational factors. The larger deductions of sustainable technology design include: decreased energy ingestion, safer and cleaner methods of production, reduced hazard and overall environmental impact ( Henry G. et Al, 1996 ) .
But these advantages and potencies must be weighed against cost ( economic sciences ) and societal adaptability ( credence ) . These two factors are cardinal indexs of sustainable technology design ( Adetunji et al, 2003 ) .
The Effectss of Some Ecological Modernization Policies on Sustainable Engineering Designs
EM policies in this context are intercessions from stakeholders particularly authoritiess in the development and usage of engineering in a manner non harmful to the environment but good to worlds. Examples of EM policies include: environmental revenue enhancements, environmental impact appraisal, regulative and edifice codifications, emanations trading, waste direction denationalization and precautional rule ( Bell S.
, 2009 )The building industry, for illustration, has a long history of unsustainable patterns and environmental impact ( Kilbert et Al, 2002 ) . With the menace of clime alteration, this industry is to a great extent regulated by authoritiess particularly in the developed universe. In the UK, cardinal facets of sustainable designs such as waste direction, procurance, reuse and recycling, site planning and life rhythm appraisal are closely regulated by the authorities through rigorous edifice codifications, ordinances and other enterprises. Surveies carried out by Adetunji et.al ( 2003 ) , showed increased degrees of consciousness of possible environmental impacts of building amongst stakeholders.
Consequently, these stakeholders press applied scientists to bring forth designs which are sustainable thereby driving the version of many constructing designs to run into the user demands. The survey farther showed that authorities ordinances and edifice codifications drive sustainability in building, which in bend leads to increased employee turnover. Interestingly, the biggest barrier ( in the survey ) to sustainability was identified to be the ‘client ‘ , albeit in many cases the client is besides the authorities. In Denmark, many criterions such as the ‘Greenbuild point system ‘ and Building Environmental Assessment Tool ( BEAT ) have been used to measure sustainability in edifices. However, these criterions used in Denmark have non been really successful ( Jensen and Gram-Hanssen 2008 ) . However, there seems to be an increasing alliance in the perceptual experience of the demand for sustainable edifices. The car industry presents another instance where ordinances and codifications have a immense influence. Here, regulative steps on C emanation particularly for auto fumess have continuously been intensified ( Wells and Orsato, 2004 ) .
In response to these ordinances auto shapers are compelled to prosecute in expensive research in order to bring forth more sustainable designs. Today we have ethanol goaded autos which are comparatively eco-friendly and electric autos. But inquiries have been raised refering the affordability and lastingness of these autos and therefore the consumer consumption has been less than optimum.
Good engineering that remains unutilized can non be regarded as sustainable.The Precautionary Principle is a cardinal ecological modernisation policy. It forms article 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration ( UNCED ) . “..
Where there are menaces of irreversible harm, deficiency of full scientific certainty shall non be used as a ground for proroguing cost effectual steps to forestall environmental degradation” ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle ) . One of the demerits of this system is that it could let for a border of ignorance to put in thereby sabotaging the societal and ethical facets of the hazard direction procedure ( Lee and Stokes, 2007 ) .
This is illustrated in the movie: Age of the stupid: ‘why did n’t we halt clime alteration while we had the opportunity? ‘ by Pete Postlethwaite. In this movie, attempts to construct a air current farm in a community so as to extenuate the effects of clime alteration led to protests from the host community. The undertaking applied scientist tried to carry the community on the sustainability of the air current farm undertaking but the occupants were non willing to accept the ‘risks ‘ . Besides non being convinced about immediate menaces of clime alteration, they feared that the air current farms would destruct their landscape! The undertaking was finally discontinued. Critics of the precautional rule have argued that it could be used to farther political involvements that finally limit advanced thoughts as an illustration of the comparative easiness with which it could be misapplied ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle ) .
The impact of this rule on sustainable technology designs could change. On one manus, this rule could take to specious rejection of new inventions on the evidences that operability or inauspicious effects of a design can non be ascertained. On the other manus, this rule spurs applied scientists to make more research and show more articulate cogent evidence on the viability and dependability of their designs.
The precautional rule enhances ‘vulnerability ‘ surveies in technology designs ( UNESCO, 2005 ) and ensures that the right-of-choice of people and stakeholders in technology designs is non undermined in the pursuit for sustainability.Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) is a tool that includes policies, proposals, undertakings and processs designed to place, construe and foretell the temporal impact of an technology activity on the environment and worlds ( Munn in Henry G. et Al, 1996 ) .
In several states, ( including developing states such as Nigeria ) , it is compulsory to transport out an EIA before and after any undertaking with environmental deductions. Hence, EIA has influenced the manner technology undertakings are executed. Significant waste decrease and local content enterprises are noteworthy advantages of EIA. In the event of an incident such as oil spillage, EIA is used as a tool to guarantee full conformity with ordinances on clean-up and redress. For illustration, most local communities in Nigeria have accepted the thought of EIA and insist on it prior to the beginning of any undertaking. It is required that the catching procedure besides to the full histories for the EIA programme of any undertaking. Therefore, EIA is a step of the sustainability of any technology undertaking in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, EIA has noteworthy disadvantages which include: undertaking holds, tremendous cost deductions, uncertainness in anticipations and at times it is regarded every bit merely a papers with which to procure a contract ( Henry G et Al, 1996 ) . These call for regular assessment and enforcement of the demands in an EIA.Emissions ‘ trading ( besides known as cap and trade ) is a cardinal portion of the Kyoto Protocol pact ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading ) . It involves a mechanism whereby emanations are monetized harmonizing to bounds of industrial pollution set by single authoritiess. When a set bound of emanations is exceeded, a trade is required to spread out the bound.
As a consequence of this bound, building technology undertakings particularly in the developed universe are progressively witting of the fiscal deductions of uncontrolled C emanation. This factor has inspired a broad scope of research sponsored by industries to develop new engineerings with low emanations capablenesss, although inquiries have been raised about the genuineness and dependability of these new engineerings. There are frights that emanations trading may cut down occupations and income, every bit good as promote the debut of ‘dubious scientific discipline ‘ ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading ) . Critics of emanations merchandising have besides argued that it is a reactionist agencies of work outing pollution jobs. But this is assertion demands to be placed in a proper context. For illustration, stricter air pollution policies were implemented in Finland in the 1980 ‘s and this affected further development in Nordic Pulp, and Paper packaging industries ( Kivimaa, 2007 ) .
However, this regulative push spurred a proactive response from the industries to develop reclaimable packaging, better waste direction systems and other cost-benefit inventions. Emissions trading may be said to put an “artificial limit” on technology designs but it finally ensures that any acceptable technology design or invention will be eco-friendly. In consequence, expecting environmental policies such as the emanations trading will heighten development of more sustainable technology designs.Ecological Taxes ( or eco-taxes ) in this context are revenue enhancements intended to advance ecologically sustainable technology design in activities via economic inducements ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotax ) . These revenue enhancements have been established in most ecologically modernist states chiefly to do industries and companies have an indirect experience of their actions which have culminated into environmental jobs.
For illustration, fuel ingestion is a cardinal factor in design and purchase of new vehicles, therefore, most new vehicles self-praise of improved efficiency and low fuel ingestion. From a study in Germany, there are increasing Numberss of people utilizing public conveyance. About 80 % of respondents say the environment will exceed their precedence in the purchase of new autos while 63 % say fuel economic system. Contrary to claims by critics that eco-tax has no impact on the environment, the study claimed that C emanations reduced by approximately six to seven per centum from 2000 to 2004. This invariably implies the design of autos is leaning towards sustainability. However, surveies have besides shown that efforts to achieve sustainable designs limit design options available in auto fabrication ( Wells and Orsato, 2004 ) .
Contrary to the German experience, Wells and Orsato besides mentioned that the car industry has by and large non performed good with regard to carbon emanations and fuel economic system and that the progresss in car technology have reduced the force per unit area faced by companies in the industry. Just like emanations trading, there is some agnosticism that regressive properties of eco-taxes outweigh its progressive properties. Many car companies have now resulted in amalgamations to counter hard fiscal state of affairss which they mostly blame on authorities reforms. Eco-tax has undisputedly created consciousness for lesser energy ingestion in the German auto industry. This has in bend resulted in improved auto designs which are eco-friendly. Eco-tax has now been introduced into most EU states ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.greengrowth.
org/download/15dec06/ GBGMemorandum2004.pdf ) .
Summary and decision
Ecological modernisation policies foster relevant research on the development of cleaner engineerings, advance re-use and recycling through advanced technology design, addition consciousness on clime alteration and recommend energy preservation in a wider position. The proactive application of ecological modernization policies has more advantages in sustainable technology design than the reactionist attack. This shows that applied scientists have a immense function to play in doing their designs sustainable. However, the fiscal, socio-technical and ethical facets of ecological modernisation which are cardinal to sustainable technology design demand to be addressed.
Green engineering must non merely be developed, it must besides be widely utilized. Sustainability can merely be to the full achieved when people accept and use new inventions.In decision, ecological modernisation is a positive development that needs to be approached in an ethical mode in order to to the full tackle its potencies towards accomplishing sustainability in technology designs. The complexness of accomplishing sustainability in technology design can be farther simplified by taking proactive steps towards minimized environmental impact.
Mentions
Adetunji I, Price A, Fleming P, and Kemp P.
, Sustainability in the UK Construction Industry – A Review, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Engineering Sustainability Vol 156, Issue ES4, December 2003, pp185-199Age of the stupid: ‘why did n’t we halt clime alteration while we had the opportunity? ‘ by Pete Postlethwaite.Barry J, Ecological Modernization in: Dryzek J and Schlosberg D, Debating the Earth: The Environmental Politics Reader, Oxford University Press, Chapter 21, 2005, pp 303-321.Bell S. 2009, Lecture notes on Systems Society and Sustainability: Ecological Modernisation, University College London.Gibbs D.
1998, Ecological Modernization: A Basis for Regional Development? Paper Presented to the Seventh International Conference of the Greening of Industry Network ‘Partnership and Leadership: Building Alliances for a Sustainable Future ‘ , Rome 15-18 November 1998Henry G. and Heinke G. 1996, Environmental Science and Engineering, Prentice-Hall, IndiaJensen J and Gram-Hanssen K, Ecological Modernisation of Sustainable Buildings: a Danish Perspective, Building Research and Information, Vol 36, Issue 2, 2008, pp 146-158 www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713694730 ( Accessed 23 -11-2009 )Kivimaa P.
, The Determinants of Environmental Invention: the Impacts of Environmental Policies on the Nordic Pulp, Paper and Packaging Industries, European Environment, Vol 17, January 2007, pp 92-105 www.interscience.wiley.com ( Accessed 23-11-2009 )Koontz T. , Collaboration for Sustainability? A model for Analyzing Government Impacts in Collaborative-Environmental Management, Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, Vol 2, Issue 1, Spring 2006, pp15-24 hypertext transfer protocol: //ejournal.nbii.
org ( Acccessed 23-11-2009 )Wells P. And Orsato R. The Ecological Modernisation of the Automotive Industry, Government for Industrial Transformation. Proceedings of the 2003 Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, Environmental Policy Research Centre, 2004, pp 373-385.York R and Rosa E. , Key Challenges to Ecological Modernization Theory, Organisation and Environment, Vol 16 No. 3, September 2003, pp 273-288 hypertext transfer protocol: //www.
sagepublications.com ( Accessed 21-11-2009 )Kilbert et Al, 2002 Mol A P and Spaagaren G. Ecological Modernisation Theory in Debate: ( hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary _principle ) .( UNESCO, 2005 ) hypertext transfer protocol: //unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001395/139578e.pdf # 33hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_tradinghypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotaxhypertext transfer protocol: //www.greengrowth.org/download/15dec06/GBGMemorandum2004.pdfhypertext transfer protocol: //www.ccels.cf.ac.uk/archives/other/launch/leepaper.html
