Reflections to Aid in the Decision of Whether or Not to Upgrade the Universitys Car Parking Area - Essay Example

Name of Student: Professor’s name: Course: Date submitted: Reflections to aid in the decision of whether or not to upgrade the university’s car parking area The reasons behind my selection of the vignettes to address the necessity to upgrade the University’s parking area Determining as to how appropriate it is to have a University parking area would require considerations made in order to ensure that such a move is in the best interest of those residing in the campus. While conventional issues such as the amount of money required to make the upgrade would be the most considered, shedding some new light on the issue by considering the effect such a move has on the whole ecosystem would lead to the best possible decision being made. My selection of the first three vignettes is based on the fact that environmental sustainability is a factor to be considered before having this decision made. These three vignettes also describe how the awareness, or lack thereof, on sustainability affects the final decision that is made. The fourth vignette is selected for reflection on the basis of the analysis of the economic impact that human decisions have on the environment. This is a reflection made in the rightful direction by that the cost benefit analysis of the decision to have the upgrade of the parking area is made. This acts as the final ground for the decision that should be in such a way that the benefits should exceed the costs. Reflection one- Initialising a growth process and handling the impact that the process has. My first reflection is based on the vignette that presents Dr Ward Ward’s opinions on the issue of averting the oncoming climate changes in his publication entitled “The possible peak and decline of Industrial civilisation” The world is at the peak of development and much of the focus is placed on growth and more growth (Ward, 2). This actually translates to the creation a situation where the handling of the effects arising from such growth will have to be handled (Ward, 2). This leads me to assert that having to upgrade the University parking area is a growth activity which will see to it that more students and even staff get to park their cars. In the final run, there may be those who will be compelled to purchase their own cars in order to keep up with the lifestyle. It is very clear that the upgrading of the University parking area triggers growth almost automatically. Looking into what this growth will translate into is the next action to be considered is a step in the right direction. The fact that an increase in the number of vehicles parking in the University translates to increased environmental pollution around the University area and ultimately the ecosystem is a clear indicator that if environmental sustainability is to go by, the upgrade would be declined, as the best course of action. The Vignette by Ward presents less travel as a possible solution towards averting the oncoming catastrophic global climate change (Ward, 3). In line with Ward’ argument, it should be the objective of the human race to work towards the creation of a world that has less vehicles on the roads (Ward,4). The sure basis for this argument is the reduction of the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. There is a move on the divestment from the use of fossil fuels as sources of energy to power vehicles. Effort has been directed towards the creation of renewable sources of energy that adhere to sustainability. In the upgrade of the University parking area, there is the encouragement of the use of vehicles at a higher rate as there would be if there was not such an upgrade happening. It is to the best interest of the rest of the ecosystem to avoid the upgrade henceforth. Reflection 2- The creation of a safe campus environment based on environmental sustainability considerations. This is a reflection based on Dr Jian Zuo’s report, on His research on the possibility of the creation of ‘Green Universities”, entitled Higher Education for Sustainable Development: a stakeholder study. Sustainability is a trending issue globally and a lot of effort is being put by environmentalists in their bid to save our planet from the impending climate change doom. In the making an upgrade of a University’s parking area, a consideration inclined towards environmental sustainability would be the most acceptable and right one (Zou,108). While this may make sense to a decision maker who has knowledge on the need for sustainability, it may be of essence to consider the rest of the University’s fraternity. A positive or negative regard of the upgrade may be best accepted if there is general awareness on sustainability. The walk towards having a ‘Green University’ is based on sensitizing those involved in the Universities to promote sustainability awareness. This goes together with having a management system put in place for sustainability to occur (Zou, 112). A sustainable curriculum in which the students get to interact with more course materials should be a necessity. Student opportunities to contribute towards sustainability should be created (Zou, 114). This would enable the students display their understanding of sustainability and in their application of the facts that they have on environmental sustainability, they would be sure to make more informed choices (Zou, 114). Finally, the decision on whether to make the upgrade or not can be based on the conclusions of Dr Jian Zou whose motive to have the ‘ Green Universities’ established is geared towards have the top priorities in terms of the perceived importance being predominately environmentally oriented (Zou , 114). The creation of a safe campus environment is another thing that the administration would have to address by establishing if the move promotes safety or creates a dangerous environment (Zou, 114). Reflection 3- challenging students’ perceptions of sustainability using an earth systems science approach My third reflection is based on the journal article by Ian Clark and Yvonne Zeegers entitled “Challenging students’ perceptions of sustainability using an earth systems science approach” A major realisation made from this journal is the fact that the reaction of students towards situations related to sustainability are different before and after the knowledge on sustainability is imparted on them as seen in the research conducted to determine how they perceived sustainability before and after the course oriented seminar on Sustainability (Zeegers, 1). Students without prior background on sustainability factors have been associated with the making of decisions that do not have a balanced perspective as regards to the consideration of environmental sustainability factors (Zeegers,7). The journal brings to my knowledge that the survey conducted in order to establish the statistics related to sustainability had its responses coded into three categories: environmental, social and economic factors had different findings realised before and after the seminar (Zeegers, 3). More responses regarding the consideration of environmental sustainability factors were received in the questionnaires received after the seminar (Zeegers, 10). There was also a shift in perspective in the way students handled issues related to sustainability as regards to responsibility on an individual and community level (Zeegers, 10). Based on fact, it likely that the students would either come up against the upgrade of the parking area through a peaceful demonstration championing for sustainability which would portray social responsibility. On an individual level, the students would chose to ignore the upgrade of the parking area and to carry on with their other means of transport. This is in itself a show of the personal commitment towards environmental sustainability. Going by this, the upgrading of a University’s parking area would be perceived in different light in regards to the awareness with the students. In an institution with a culture that promotes environmental sustainability and which has its course objectives geared towards imparting knowledge on sustainability will treat the upgrade in a different perspective all the same. It is more likely that they will oppose the act since it is detrimental to the ecosystems wellbeing in the long run. Those without such knowledge will more likely consider the socio factors. They may be more inclined to have the upgrade made on the basis of wanting to have more vehicles accommodated or for the sake of class in comparison to other institutions. Reflection 4-The cost benefit analysis of the upgrade of the University’s parking area This reflection is based on Paul C Sutton’s report entitled: “Coastal Wetlands and Storm Protection: A spatially explicit estimate of ecosystem service value”. The decision as whether or not to upgrade the University’s parking area can best be made by also considering effect the decision would have on ecosystem services. Ecosystem services include climate regulation and mitigation of natural hazards. In the view of ecosystem services as public goods, it is in order to make a consideration on the cost-benefit analysis of a course of action (Sutton,4). It is a conventional move to make decisions in which benefits exceed the costs. In this case, the upgrade of the parking area has its costs and it also possesses it benefits to its users. The costs may be addressed on the basis of the amount of cash that will be spent for this venture. It may also be addressed on the basis of the negative environmental impacts that the upgrade will have. The benefits in this case relate more to having increased parking space, to car owners. In the light of the sustainability issue, it may imply that upon the declining of the idea to have the upgrade happening, the ecosystem remains as it is (Sutton, 4). Estimates made on the economic value that human decisions leading to the destruction of the environment can be a sure way to address the choice to have activities that cost man but still have benefits to him (Sutton, 3). The figures act as the guiding light to the decision making process. Regression analysis is applicable in this case where all factors are put into consideration (Sutton, 4). Works Cited Read More