Sustainable Development and its Overall Impact - Assignment Example

Sustainable Development and its overall impact Task 1 Examine the Sustainable Development Principles in Table 1 page 16 and compare and contrast them with the principles you have been given previously in this module. Do you feel there are any omissions that should be included? The first principle on sustainable development as given in its aspect prompts for working in the direction of setting a vision of sustainable development and determining goals to fulfil that vision. The second aspect on principles is related to the content of any appraisal to create a comprehensive system focussing on issues of utmost importance. These principles are related to adopting a holistic outlook with the purpose of developing a wholesome view over the role and effect of utility functions. It stresses on taking a precautionary view by improving the electricity utility functions, if possible to be relevant with latest scientific knowledge to save environmental hazards from the serious damage. The essential factors in the context of economic growth, environment improvement and equal social distribution in utility functions need to be given due attention. A deadline should be fixed including human and eco-system time-scales if possible. All local and long-term effects of the measures taken should be recorded in that wider time-frame. Strategies, procedures and evaluations should be such that make it feasible to perform and fulfil the selected targets. The third aspect on sustainable development principles is related to major problems in the process of appraisals regarding openness, effective communication and participation. These principles dwell on increased level of transparency in the functioning related to appraisals and dealing with the government and public and reporting outcomes by participating in reporting functions and appraisals. The final aspect deals with the need for building incessant strength in conducting appraisals on missions uncompleted and making new strategies to fulfil them at institution level and work on building efficiency and start related processes to measure it. Compare and Contrast Comparing the principles read in the module with the given principles in table 1, such as living within environment limits, the module principle tackles the sustainable environment issue quite practically, taking the resources and bio-diversity aspects into consideration so that exploitation of the planet’s resources is made in a controlled way to save them for future generations. Indirectly, it considers the long-term impact of conserving natural resources into consideration. The module also discusses the precautionary principle but with more precise expectations than given in the table. Another principle discussed in the modules is related to sustainable economic outcomes, which is also briefed in table 1 under the principle of ‘Essential elements,’ but the scope of the principle, as discussed in the module is quite wider encompassing economic opportunities and ensuring that only those companies are penalised that do not adhere to these principles. Module discusses the need for strong, healthy and just society, which is in no way directly linked to the principles of sustainable development but it points towards the outcome of sustainable development to be realised through equitable distribution of resources for the social benefit of all human beings. The issue of promoting good governance, as discussed in the module covers all issues given in aspect three but when comparing it with the principles in aspect three, the scope of the principles seems to be covering wider ground, stressing more on effective communication between all the stakeholders. There seems to be some omission in the discussed modules on the fourth aspect that stresses on the need for building incessant strength for conducting appraisals on the functions and jobs accomplished. Task 2 Identify why these projects are of importance with respect to biodiversity. From the text, why do you think that it have been a success and what can we learn from them in ensuring biodiversity is included in the agenda within this country? The projects run by Eskom in partnership with non-government organisations and community groups are of great importance with respect to biodiversity as they provide critically crucial inputs and leads to Escom on finding related risks and opportunities in biodiversity besides providing useful support in the control over the effects in the region. The partnership has been fruitful in testing such devices that reduce the chances of bird collisions and electrocutions. Escom has gained success in greatly reducing the incidents of bird mortality through electrocution with the live electrical wires by fixing a bird flapper disk to the live electric wires for providing clear visibility. Similar other initiatives haven brought success in providing quality supply of electricity. They have not only served the cause of enriching the region with biodiversity but also been cost-effective as well besides providing long-term infrastructural impacts o the biodiversity of the region. Such exercises have helped Escom in strength building within to take preventive action. The projects on biodiversity have been a great success and a learning experience for all stakeholders. In the case of Mt. Owen mine, it has increased the biodiversity value of the Ravensworth State Forest in Australia by developing a new forest to flourish without any risk from grazing, firewood removal and pleasure activities. By implementing the biodiversity offset strategy, a like-for-like environment has got created as a reward against the occurred damage to the habitat because of mining activity. It enabled strategising to make use of additional area by enlarging mining in the given project area. Functions such as mine rehabilitation, restoration research and flora & fauna conservation has impacted positively by bettering the biodiversity value than it was before the mining. Further, security of the forest has been tightened with the aim of preserving and maintaining the ecological richness of the region for future times. Further, more area was roped in to develop wood lands along the Ravensworth State Forest to grow native trees and shrub species local to the forest and adjoining area, which has helped in the growth of fauna back in the region. Similar activities performed by the mining management confirms and strengthens our belief that in view of the good job done by the mining company in Ravensworth State Forest, the government would include in its agenda to promote biodiversity with the efforts of all stakeholders. It would help in accomplishing such community-based projects with the support of civil society. Task 3 Read Case Studies 38/39 (page 75-76). Why is it important for companies and individual to recognise that they are part of a community and what would be the expected long term benefits of engaging in community projects? It is very important for companies and its employees to understand the need for becoming a part of the community, as all their functions of doing business get fruitful only there where people and society at large need help in various portfolios of life. Companies and their employees can fulfil that vacuum easily. Creating a positive environment is also in the interest of the company and its staff; they can indirectly compensate by working for selected social causes of the surrounding communities, the resources of which are getting exploited by them. Companies and employees get long-term benefits by engaging in social welfare projects; they get in return the goodwill of not only of the people living there but also future business expansion initiatives may get approved by the regulatory bodies without any hurdle. Task 4 Read Case Study 25 (page 49-51). This study recognises the like between water use and electricity generation. The study identifies four ways in which the issue is being tackled. Comment on each and discuss the statistics which are presented within the study. The case study on reducing water consumption in power generation by Escom in South Africa discusses various four ways of conserving the scarce water resources needed in the production of electrical energy and electricity. Water being the essential resource in producing electrical energy, Escom has been successful in reducing water usage, which is evident from the fact that between 1993 and 2004, in comparison to the quantity of produced energy, which increased 43%, the increase in water use was only27%. Dry-cooling technology used by Escom has helped in saving water to the extent of 85% of the total water supply otherwise getting evaporated in a traditional wet-cool power station. Dry-cooling technology is less cost-effective than wet-cooling because of high operational and capital costs involved in its functioning. In Matimba Power Station, near Ellisras in the Northern Province, which is the biggest, instant dry-cooled station worldwide, producing more than 4 000 MW by using a closed-circuit cooling technology like the radiator and fan system used in motor vehicles. It has reduced water consumption to nearly 0.1 litres per KWh of electricity in comparison to nearly 1.9 litres on average for wet-cooled stations, thus, helping in reducing the usage of scarce water resource effectively. Desalination is another way of conserving water if the design of the power plant allows it. It is done by cascading of water from good to poor quality t finally trap all pollutants in the ash dams. This way salts are extracted from the minimum possible quantity of water. Positioning of the desalination plants near the power plants facilitates reuse of polluted mine water. The Tutuka Power Station uses dry ashing system in its wet-cooled station. It throws the moistened ash in the ash dump on overland conveyors. Ash is brought about the normal temperature through blow-down water flowed from the concentrated cooling water system. The strength of the system was reinforced by designing another desalination plant in 1985 to clean extra blow-down water, which was once again strengthened in 1998-99 to treat more water coming from the nearby New Denmark colliery to be reused at the power station. It has enabled in managing the salt load better way and quantity of water to match the waste water on the dry ash dump, cutting the quantity of water sent to the ash dump and at the same time minimising the risk of water flowing to the Vaal River from both the power station and the nearby colliery. Another way of conserving water is via developing water infrastructure of water pipelines and dams. Escom has in collaboration with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, particularly on the Mpumalanga Highveld has taken the task of joining Vaal Dam to the water supply system on the Mpumalanga Highveld to ensure guaranteed water supply for the coming twenty years. Water metering and monitoring is yet another way devised by Escom to conserve water. Water supply to the power stations is measured at the outlet of the power station terrace. Eskom and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry have upgraded metering to a parameter of perfection of 0.5%. It conducts regular monthly reading of water meters and the remaining water helps in quantifying capability of the power plant and find out possible issues. Escom has done efficient monitoring of the power station by registering the repair work and making it a part of the monitoring and management process for working of the power plant. With the help of automated computerized system, all major leaks in raw water pipelines become instantly visible; it identifies the reduced water levels in the raw water pools at the power stations. To conserve water efficiently, all minor leaks are continuously searched and entered in company records for quick repair action. Task 5 Pages 93 and 94 identify the strategies that can be implemented when trying to ensure sustainability. Select five from the lists that you consider critical and explain why in each case. Strategies on sustainability front, as discussed in the case studies gathered by CIAB, include environmental, social and economic strategies that have been used in the coal-producing and –using sectors. In environmental strategies’ category, there is one strategy that stresses on supporting major nature conservation programmes. Saving natural resources like water is very critical for bringing efficiency in energy production, as is evident from case study 25 on reducing water consumption in energy generation by Escom in South Africa. Another important environmental strategy is to develop low pollution technologies and measures such as taken in the case study 25 to conserve water resources through various ways such as dry cooling technology, desalination, developing a network of water infrastructure and introducing water metering and inspection. Another critical sustainable environment strategy should be to promote renewable energy development, as natural energy resource are limited and would be consumed sooner if varied renewable energy resources are not developed such as solar energy and wind energy. The future of the planet depends on successful exploitation of renewable energy resources to fulfil the increasing energy needs. Without complying with environmental regulations we cannot gain success in controlling the increasing pollution level. Whether it is the CO2 emission of harmful gases or negligence by individuals and companies public and private at global level, until global and national level regulatory parameters are not fixed, we cannot save the planet from the approaching crisis on conservation of natural resources based on sustainable environmental principles. Another strategy that needs to be implemented is to integrate environment and social problems into planning and decision making. Social awareness on environmental issues can create consciousness among people on the need to work in the direction of sustaining our natural resources like coal and water. Reference OECD/IEA. 2006. Case studies in sustainable development in the coal industry. Coal Industry Advisory Board. Read More