Introduction to Sustainable

Engineering
Module 1
Introduction
• The term sustainability is the capacity to endure (continue to exist in the
same state)

• Sustainability can be thought of as a goal of sustainable development.

• Sustainable Development is a process for meeting human development

goals while maintaining the ability of natural systems to continue to
provide the natural resources.
Sustainable Development
• Until two decades ago, the world looked at economic status alone as
a measure of human development.
• The developed countries not only exploited their own natural
resources rapidly, but also used the natural resources of developing
countries.
• The rich nations got richer, while the poor nations got poorer.
• Then the developed countries began to realise that their lives are
seriously affected by the environmental consequences because of the
development based on economic growth.
Sustainable Development

• Development based on economic growth had begun to suffer from

serious environmental problems due to air and water pollution, solid
waste accumulation, deforestation etc., that seriously affected
peoples well being and health.

• This form of development did not add quality of life as the

environmental conditions has begun to deteriorate
Need for Sustainability
• Over exploitation of resources.
• Accumulation of waste.
• Reckless exploitation of natural resources which is leading to
environmental degradation.
• Population explosion in the developing world.
• Unsustainable consumption levels in the developed world.
Need for Sustainability

• The sustainability goal is to raise the global standard of living without

increasing the use of resources beyond global sustainable levels: that
is not to exceed one planet consumption.

• It is necessary for all of us to maintain an acceptable standard of

living, at the same time, maintaining sustainable use of resources.
Concept of sustainability
• “Meeting the needs of current and future generations through integrating
environmental protection, social advancement and economic prosperity.
• Thus sustainability refers to the quality of life which is to be achieved in a
manner that does not harm the quality of life of future generations.
• For the world to be sustainable, the following four principles are to be
followed.
• Reduce dependence on fossil fuels
• Reduce dependence on synthetic chemicals and other unnatural substances.
• Reduce encroachment upon nature.
• Meet human needs fairly and efficiently.
United Nations key concept
• The Earth summit held at Rio de-Janeiro in 1992 put the world on the
path of sustainable development.
• The Rio declaration propogated that eradication of poverty is
indispensable and thus development process and environment
protection must go hand in hand.
• The two aspects of Sustainable development are:
• Inter-generational equity- inter-generational equity expects the present
generation to hand over a safe healthy and resourceful environment to the
future generation.
• Intra generational equity- Intra-generational equity emphasizes that
technological development should support economic growth of the poorer
section so as to reduce the gap within nations as well as between nations.
Measures for Sustainable development
• To promote environmental education and awareness to develop a
feeling of belongings to our planet.
• Three R approach- Reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Appropriate technology- using less resources and produce minimum
waste- ecofriendly.
• Utilize resources as per carrying capacity of environment-avoid
degeneration
Basic spheres of sustainability
• Environment-ecological sustainability
• Economy- Fair distribution of wealth
• Social- Community participation
Basic spheres of sustainability
Social Sustainability
• “Social sustainability is a process for creating sustainable, successful
places that promote well being, by understanding what people need
from the places they live and work.
• Three values that forms the core of social sustainability are:
• Quality of life
• Growth
• Equality
• Socially sustainable communities are equitable, diverse, democratic
and provide good quality of life.
Social Sustainability
• But there is universal disagreement between nations, religions,
culture , political parties etc.) on what quality of life goals should be.

• Thus social sustainability is the least defined and least understood

(hence the weakest among the three spheres of sustainability) as
people cant even agree on what the quality of life is.
Environmental Sustainability
• “Environmental sustainability is improving the quality of human life
while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems”.
• Currently, environmental sustainability is receiving plenty of attention
from the media and from different governmental departments.
• This is as result of the amount of research going into assessing the
impact that human activity can have on the environment.
• When the sum total of natural resources is used up faster than it can
be replenished, degradation of the environment occurs.
• However, if human activity only uses natural resources at a rate which
they can be replenished naturally, sustainability occurs.
Environmental Sustainability

• Environmental sustainability involves making decisions and taking

actions that are in the interest of protecting the natural world
especially the capability of the environment to support human life.

• It is not simply about reducing the amount of waste we produce or

using less energy, but is concerned with development processes that
will lead to businesses becoming completely sustainable in the future.
Economic Sustainability
• “The real idea of economic sustainability is to make sure that the
industry/business is making profit without creating much environmental
harm to the balance of existing ecology”.

• Currently, the average resource consumption in the developing country is

sustainable, at the same time population is exploding which is totally
unsustainable.

• In developed economies, population increase is less (which is sustainable)

but the resource consumption is very high which is unsustainable.
Challenges
• The challenge for sustainability is to:
• Curb and manage western style consumption, at the same time

• Raising the standard of living of the developing countries

• Without increasing the resource use and environmental impact