Global Sustainability

"Nonrenewable Resources: Scarcity + Abundance"

~ECONOMICALLY RECOVERABLE RESERVES commonly used to calculate resource's lifetime ~reasons ERR changes: -resource is extracted + used -new resource deposits are discovered -changing price + technological conditions ~identified vs. indicated/ inferred vs. hypothetical reserves ~SUBECONOMIC RESOURCES: COSTS OF EXTRACTION ARE TOO HIGH BUT IF PRICES RISE OR EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVE, THEY MAY BECOME PROFITABLE ~expected resource lifetime = (economic reserves)/ (annual consumption) ~RESOURCE RENTS: INCOME DERIVED FROM OWNERSHIP OF A SCARCE RESOURCE

Gaia Hypothesis

~James Lovelock ~life regulates conditions on Earth for life

"A Guerrilla Gardener in S. Central LA"- Finley, TEDTalk

~"growing your own food is like printing your own money" ~gardening is therapeutic ~kids will eat what they grow

Gifford Pinochet's Conservatism

~1st director of US Forest Service ~conserve natural resources + use them in a more economically efficient manner ~lack of understanding of ecology

UVa Sustainability Plan 2016-2020

~23 goals + 101 actions ~increase sustainability awareness + engagement ~enhance sustainability research + teaching ~reduce emissions + increase efficiency ~focus on reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, building energy use, nitrogen loss, and materials + waste

Gigantism

~Bunting- "Small is Beautiful" ~mass production, mass media

SYSTEMS THINKING AS A SET OF TOOLS

~CAUSAL LOOP DIAGRAM: -visual representation of dynamic interrelationships emphasizing cause + effect; interconnections between elements -usefulness: a) capture hypothesis about structure; b) eliciting mental models; c) communicating feedback processes -elements: variables, links, causality, loops, delays ~archaetype: something that serves as a model or basis for making copies ~SYSTEMS ARCHAETYPES: model behavior pattern described by causal loop diagram -common archaetypes: reinforcing structures, balancing structures, advanced structures ~limits to growth (carrying capacity): -leverage points: suspend your mental models, anticipate slowing or limiting forces, minimize constraining actions ~fixes that fail: problem recurs despite repeated efforts to fix it -leverage points: point out tendency to focus on immediate, local issues + solutions, increase awareness, identify + address underlying problem ~sensitive dependence on initial conditions ~emergence (the whole is greater than the sum of the parts) ~unintended consequences

"Why do Societies Collapse?"- TEDTalk

~Jared Diamond ~5 point framework: 1. human impact on environment 2. climate change 3. relations w/ neighboring friendly societies 4. relations w/ hostile societies 5. political-social-economic-cultural factors ~societies tend to collapse quickly after reaching peak ~why societies fail in solving their problems: -conflict in short-term decisions made by elites + long-term interests of society -when strongly held values are making the society weak; difficulty accepting change ~problems facing us today are of our own making

"Silent Spring"

~Rachel Carson ~actions could lead to damaging environmental consequences ~2 key concerns of modern environmentalism: limits to control + global environmental crisis

Complex systems

~behavior that is difficult to predict ~non-linear ~emergent behaviors- self-regulation + self-organization ~complex vs. complicated systems- not synonyms

Green Architecture- Prof. Crisman

~building sector responsible for almost half (44.6%) of US CO2 emissions; nearly half of all energy produced in US (49%) ~US has 4-5% of world population, but we make up 25% of world energy consumption ~76% of electricity generated by power plants in US is used to operate buildings ~number of buildings increases yearly ~dwellings are getting bigger ~plugload: amount of energy used by things that are plugged in ~increase in central A/C in newer homes ~space heating is biggest energy use in residential US buildings ~green building: 1. sustainable sites- vegetation; 100% recharge of all stormwater; drought tolerant plants; shape, color, + solar orientation; natural ventilation; passive solar heating + cooling; daylighting; shading strategies 2. water efficiency- low-flow toilets + showers 3. energy- reduce energy uses; renewable energy technology 4. materials- recycled or rapidly renewable; produced by energy efficient + non-toxic processes; low embodied energy (total energy required for creation, processing, + delivery); sourced locally + regionally 5. comfort + health- thermal comfort; indoor air quality ~advantages: -competitive first costs -reduce operating costs -downsizing or elimination of mechanical equipment -increased building valuation ~how its measured: life cycle analysis (LCA); ecological footprint; carbon neutrality; LEED ~not happening b/c its not mandated by law; green building is a cultural problem

"Visions of Public Space"

~by Aptekar ~conflict of societal hierarchies + gentrification (displacing low-income residents for high-income ones) -through struggles over scarce resources + clashing visions that engage + form ties ~public space is crucial in supporting political participation, democracy, tolerance, + social change -but public space can also be exclusionary ~conflicts over look, appropriate behaviors, access, relations w/ community, and organizational structure + resources ~4 visions of the community garden: -private property -green space -farm -community space

"Houston's Flood is a Design Problem"

~by Bogost ~floods cause greater property damage + more deaths than tornadoes or hurricanes ~floods are much worse because of impervious pavement ~up to 40% of U.S. cities' land area is impervious ~urban design could mimic rural hydrology -reduce velocity of water when it's channelized -use the water instead of sending it away

SYSTEMS THINKING AS PRACTICE

~goes beyond events to look for patterns + relationships ~"closed-loop thinking": -emphasizes whole rather than parts -makes "mental models" explicit -looks for leverage points -focuses on feedback loops

How Can We Limit Climate Change- Prof. Deborah Lawrence

~greenhouse gas emissions determine our future ~what does global warming mean: -increased flood risk in major cities -increase in extremely heavy rainfall events -increase in avg. temp. (land warming is worse than ocean warming) -extinction -human suffering -migration -conflict ~how to reach <1.5 degrees C goal: -fully commit to goal -hit our targets; must have peak emissions soon then go down; need to sequester carbon -lower demand; increase energy efficiency; electrify everything; zero carbon energy sources -tackle fossil fuel emissions -50-60% of elec. from renewables (currently at 22%) -35-65% of renewable transport by 2050 -55-75% of energy is electric in all buildings by 2050 -energy efficiency + electrificaton are KEY -industry is a challenge -22-283 million ha in bioenergy crops -protect + expand forests; manage all lands well -$900 billion/yr 2015-2050 for energy sector -public + private finance needed - ~12% more expensive for 1.5 degrees C increase than 2 degrees C ~risk of delay: -cost escalation -lock-in of carbon-based infrastructure -stranded assets -reduced flexibility in future response -increased unfairness across nations -tipping points ~enabling conditions: -multi-level governance (cooperation) -institutional capacity -policy -tech. innovation + transfer -finance -human behavior + lifestyle changes ~low energy demand give us most flexibility ~small actions, big consequences: -avoid food waste (reduces your emission by 2%) -eat more plants -share a ride -turn down/up the thermostat -eliminate one trip by airplane ~ ... with some investment: -efficient bulbs + appliances -insulate -buy a fuel efficient car **VOTE at all levels

Architecture + Water Issues- Prof. David Turnbull

~his goal: architecture that addresses environmental issues- specifically water ~THE ISSUE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD: EDUCATING GIRLS ~pumping water out of an aquifer can cause it to be depleted within a year; water can be toxic; pumps get broken ~Stone Soup story: moral- collaboration ~waterbank: collects rainwater, has filters, can be used for water ~filtration is very important in order to have clean drinking water ~if a community does not believe in a project, it will not succeed

ANTHROPOCENTRISM

~human interest first- strong/narrow vs. weak/enlightened ~epistemic = anthropogenic ~symbolic = anthropocosmic

ECOCENTRISM

~intrinsic value- beyond instrumental human utility, holist or individualist? ~considerability/significance

Tragedy of the Commons

Garrett Hardin

LEVERAGE POINT (Prof. Mark White)

a place in a system where a small change has a large effect ****YOU BE THE LEVERAGE POINT****

Earth Overshoot Day

date on which humanity's resource consumption exceeds Earth's capacity to regenerate those resources that year

MENTAL MODELS (Prof. Mark White)

deeply held beliefs, assumptions, stories, + practices of how we believe the world works

"Building Solutions"- PEW

**BUILDINGS ARE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (MAINLY CO2) ~energy-efficient building designs + equipment need only modest levels of investment + provide quick pay-back ~increase in household appliances + equipment that runs on electricity causes increase in emissions ~size of home has large impact on energy use ~most significant opportunities to reduce GHG emissions: space heating, A/C, lighting, + water heating ~major obstacles to energy efficiency: -insufficient + imperfect info -distortions in capital markets -split incentives ~pros of higher density, more spatially compact, + mixed-use building developments: -reduced vehicle miles of travel -reduced consumption for space conditioning -reduced municipal infrastructure requirements

Corporate Resilience- Prof. Carfagno

**RESILIENT: ABLE TO BECOME STRONG, HEALTHY, OR SUCCESSFUL AGAIN AFTER SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS -ABILITY TO RESIST, ABSORB, RECOVER FROM OR SUCCESSFULLY ADAPT TO ADVERSITY ~most times, places/companies can handle one hit at a time but not multiple hits at once ~businesses must think about: inventory, supply chain management, employee distribution, customer demand ~global warming could cause $2 trillion in lost productivity by 2030 ~plan for climate change is becoming a fiscal responsibility ~Wall Street's concerns: risk, resiliency, financial stability ~insurance relies on historical loss records to set prices -no precedent for damage we are seeing today, means insurance companies are running out of money ~companies price-gouge in defense of resiliency but also to take advantage of situation -this short-term gain usually leads to long-term losses

Materials- Prof. Reid Bailey

**THEME 1: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CAN BE TRACED TO USE OF MATERIALS (+ WE'RE USING MORE NOW THAN EVER) ~solution to pollution is dilution: protecting environment = cost ~pollution prevention = eco-efficiency less input -> same output ~environment is an avenue to save $$ in production ~different approaches operate at different scales: manufacturing -> use -> disposal -> a company -> multiple companies ~at the end of a product's life: disposal (BAD); or reuse, remanufacturing, + recycle ~design for environment: make products whose individual pieces can be repaired/replaced easily; easy to take apart for recycling or reusing **THEME 2: ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MATERIALS IS A SYSTEMS PROBLEM ~core tool: Life Cycle Assessment goal + scope -> life cycle inventory -> impact assessment -> interpretation -> repeat ~from materials to impact: material inventory x impact/kg + energy inventory x impact/kJ = total impact **THEME 3: AS "DESIGNERS," YOU HAVE A ROLE IN SHAPING USE OF MATERIALS + ENERGY THROUGHOUT LIFE CYCLE ... AND BY CONSEQUENCE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Environmental Justice (Prof. Willis Jenkins)

1. connection between human dignity + environmental quality 2. connection between political disempowerment + environmental risks ~JUSTICE: to each what s/he is owed ~POWER: social power moves through ecological flows ~NIMBY: not in my backyard ~people w/ more political power + financial power have easier time avoiding environmental inequality- maybe not explicitly racist but affluence can cause it ~NIABY: not in anybody's backyard ~ECOLOGICAL DEMOCRACY: environmental issues are arenas for contesting political power, reorganizing economic interests, renewing citizen engagement, + developing a civic intelligence of sustainability ~revision to the ethics of justice: ecologically expanded notion of human dignity

Sustainability

According to Prof. Crisman: ~3 E's: Environmental, Economic, Ethical ~3 P's: Planet, Prosperity, People According to Prof. Mark White: ~"one Earth"

"Land Ethic"

Aldo Leopold

Meadow's definition of SYSTEM

interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something

Systems thinking

system is a set of unrelated elements that make a unified whole

"The Scholarship of Engagement"

~by Boyer ~colleges are suffering from a decline in public confidence + a nagging feeling that they are no longer at the vital center of the nation's work ~universities + colleges are greatest hope for intellectual + civic progress ~college has become a private benefit instead of a public good ~students get credentialed + faculty gets tenured, instead of trying to solve the nation's problems ~detachment between government + academics ~university has obligation to broaden scope of scholarship: -scholarship of discovery (research) -scholarship of integration (bringing disciplines together) -scholarship of sharing knowledge -application of knowledge ~children need a good beginning in order to engage in scholarship- we have too many children living impoverished lives ~more research in child development, health care, + nutrition ~colleges + unis must become more actively engaged w/ schools- partnership ~need more support for teachers

"Beyond GDP"

~by Costanza et. al. ~GDP is a measure of economic activity, NOT WELL-BEING ~GDP ignores changes in natural, social, + human components of community capital ~GDP encourages depletion of natural resources ~limitations in correcting GDP: -value of items not typically reported in monetary terms (e.g. volunteering) -subjectivity in deciding on beneficial + detrimental expenses -costs of depleting natural resources ~ideas for improved GDP: -Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI): measures sustainability of income -Green GDP: estimates for environmental degradation + depletion of natural resources into national income -Genuine Savings (GS): measures built, natural, + intangible capital ~indexes that don't use GDP: -Ecological Footprint (EF): flows of energy + matter into + out of human economy -Subjective Well-Being (SWB): done by self-reporting; measures "satisfaction" w/ quality of life or people's moods + emotions -Gross National Happiness (GNH) ~composite indexes including GDP: -Human Development Index (HDI): shows how well the management of economic growth + human development is actually improving human well-being -Living Planet Index (LPI): state of world's natural environment + the burden placed on the natural environment by humanity -Happy Planet Index (HPI): measures country's ecological efficiency in delivering human well- being ~indicator suites (report many indicators separately): -National Income Satellite Accounts -Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life Indicators -Millennium Development Goals + Indicators ~barriers to measuring progress: data/methodology issues + social/institutional issues ~what is needed for the future/moving forward: a) new goals b) better ways to measure progress c) an invigorated campaign

"Making Environmental History"

~by Farrell ~we will continue living in the ways of yesterday unless we make a conscious effort to go against the norm ~colleges that make changes are powerful because they are educating tomorrow's leaders ~currently more consciousness raising than cultural change :/ ~we have created a consumer society that maximizes the pursuit of happiness (esp. material pursuit) ~solutions must be both individual + social, personal + political ~guidelines for a "common sense" of college culture: 1. college education is an invitation to engage designing minds 2. college is for practicing human disciplines in everyday life 3. students can begin to opt out of cycles that depend on fossil fuels + opt into clean energy 4. practice a new materialism w/ the physical world in mind 5. put $$ where your values are 6. change the nature of a market that promotes destruction of the environment 7. take control of the supply chains of goods + services 8. cultures run on peer pressure 9. we're all in this together 10. pursuit of happiness needs to be pursuit of sustainability

"Heat: the next big inequality issue"

~by Fleming ~poor + homeless affected most by heatwaves because of no access to AC ~urban areas reaching higher temps faster than areas less populated ~vegetated areas lower risk of death by heat-related causes ~racial divide in urban heat vulnerability

"What Makes a Leader?"

~by Goleman ~need high degree of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, + social skill ~first 3 are self-management skills, last 2 are about managing relationships w/ others

"The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork"

~by Lappe ~cutting out meat entirely is one of the most important personal choices we can make to address climate change ~livestock production contributes more to global warming effect than the emissions from every car, train, + plane ~industrial farms are fossil-fuel addicted places ~in sustainable systems, there is no such thing as waste ~reasons to buy local: fresher, less emissions, + supports local economy

"The System Lens"

~by Meadows ~seeing relationship between structure + behavior leads to understanding how systems work *SYSTEM: set of things interconnected in a way that they produce own pattern of behavior over time ~need to look inside more frequently when trying to solve problems -problem + solution most likely come from inside the system, not outside it *ARCHETYPES ("system traps + opportunities"): common structures that produce characteristic behaviors

"Rare U.S. floods to become the norm..."

~by Milman ~average risk of a 100 year flood will increase 40-fold by 2050 ~coastal flooding causes loss of life + property, long-term damage to local + regional economies + municipal services

"An inversion of nature: how AC created the modern city"

~by Moore ~AC has changed buildings + the way they're used ~pros: reduction in loss of life, increased productivity + economic activity, better functioning hospitals + schools

"The History of the Limits to Growth"

~by Norgard et. al. ~biosphere has limited ability to absorb human population growth, production, pollution, + economic growth ~importance of changing course before causing irreversible damage to the environment ~criticisms draw conclusions in short-term references + by specific examples, not general world-wide ones ~global DEVELOPMENT instead of growth ~democratic regulation of each economy is necessary

"What would a heat-proof city look like?"

~by Oldfield ~"urban heat island" effect causes cities to be up to !0 degrees C hotter than surrounding countryside ~ways to mitigate urban heat island: -vegetation along buildings -reflective roofs -incorporating more water structures into urban areas -dynamic shades

"The three-degree world"- The Guardian

~goal: only 2 degrees C increase above pre-industrial levels ~reality: over 3 degrees C increase by 2100 ~one of biggest threats: sea-level rise ~estimated 275 million people live in areas that would be flooded by 3 degrees C increase ~Asian cities will be worst affected (4/5 people affected living in Asia) ~costs of protecting cities from rising sea levels + storms likely to rise; the cost of repairing storm damage

"Stone Soup + the Catalytic Power of Participatory Practice"

~by Phoebe Crisman ~projects should value participatory practice + incorporate building materials + technology that is appropriate for the acquisition, construction, + maintenance of a particular social situation ~projects must think about "who," "what," "why," + "how" ~7 ideas for insight + future humanitarian work: 1. value of many small, incremental, + adaptable catalytic actions w/ local residents 2. cultural understanding of technology 3. physically revealing vital connection between visible forms + invisible flows (in order to reduce natural resource consumption) 4. social, environmental, + economic impact of material usage, construction methods, + labor practices 5. "poetics of economy"- limited access to refined materials + craft traditions 6. decentralized human agency + social innovations over more centralized technological solutions 7. ecosophic awareness- acknowledgement of limitation in a connected holarchic world -> can stimulate creativity + catalyze community

"Water"

~by Postel ~why water problem is worse than energy situation: -water is basis of life -water has no substitutes -we will experience the impacts of climate change most directly through water ~rise in global temps has been altering water cycle

"The Pleasures of Eating"

~by Wendell Berry ~everyone is a participant in agriculture ~for most people, food is an abstract idea- not something they know or imagine until it's on the grocery shelf or table ~patrons of the food industry have become consumers- passive, uncritical, + dependent ~food needs to be associated w/ farming + w/ the land ~the products of nature + agriculture have been made products of industry ~eater has solitude from where food originated ~food industry puts volume + price over quality + health ~steps for eating responsibly: 1. participate in food production to the extent that you can 2. prepare your own food 3. learn the origins of your food + buy local 4. deal directly w/ local farmer, gardener, or orchardist 5. learn as much as you can about the economy + tech. of industrial food production 6. learn what is involved in best farming + gardening 7. learn about life histories of food species

"Neoliberalism has Conned Us Into Fighting ..."- The Guardian

~climate change will be slowed by collectively taking on corporate power ~neoliberalism (Thatcher + Reagan) has given corporations unrestricted power + the false notion of not having to think about the environment ~how to bring down emissions fast: -take railways, utilities, + energy grids back into public control -regulate corporations to phase out fossil fuels -raise taxes to pay for climate-ready infrastructure + renewable energy ~we need to stop being individualistic + consumerist ~individual choices will most count when the economic system can provide viable, environmental options for everyone **WE NEED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH POWER + POLITICS RATHER THAN THROUGH OUR POCKET-BOOKS

Sustainability in Cville wkshp

~environment sustainability division: -initial focus on compliance -green city vision -climate change protection + water conservation: greenhouse gas emissions tracking; promoting clean energy; pursue emissions reductions; sustainable waste; sustainable transportation; community outreach + education; conservation kits + rebates -water resources protection: regulatory compliance; stormwater; streams + watersheds; pollution prevention; stewardship + volunteerism -energy management: monitoring + management; energy performance; education/engagement; Better Business Challenge ~3 pillars of Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit/ Society, Economy, Environment ~sustainability in local government: -heavy coordination + collaboration (public spaces, stakeholders) -plan, perform, perfect -City Market composting

Bill Shobe lecture pt. 2

~environmental services are special b/c they are at risk, not b/c they're intrinsically more valuable ~ownership: resource manager par excellence -governance institution that connects individual actions to social costs + benefits -to use something that is "owned" by someone, you must pay ~The Commons: lack of excludability -w/o excludability, there is no ownership -> w/o ownership, there is no exchange -> w/o exchange, there is no price to signal scarcity -> connection to social costs + benefits is broken ~lack of excludability means: overuse, depletion, + waste ~capital + labor have good ownership ~extractable resources is pretty good ~brain power is mixed ownership ~environmental services is DEFINED by lack of ownership ~reasons we don't have more ownership: -expensive -it's a good that must be produced -hire a special firm (government) to provide these services -buy ownership up to point where costs = benefits ~Adam Smith: prices + exchange regulate market ("invisible hand") ~A.C. Pigou: if there's no price, set one; governments can charge for bad actions + pay for good actions ~Ronald Coase: property rights + trade/bargaining ~Elinor Ostron: communities develop own solutions; social entrepreneurship ~environmental services + resources not properly measured in GDP ~need to be able to measure environmental services + resources so that we have signals of scarcity ~tools for measuring: -ownership + exchange -fees + payments -bargaining + changing default ownership of Commons -social norms, social entrepreneurship, community control ~humans control the quality of the Commons ~problem: developing the knowledge + governance to effectively manage Commons

"Science Alone Won't Save the Earth ..."- The Ny Times

~every human action or non-action generates a labyrinth of consequences ~our greatest challenge is focusing on strategies for working more effectively together across diverse + unequal social worlds

"Flying is Bad for the Planet ..."- The NY Times

~fly less often; the longer the distance, the more efficient flying becomes; flying nonstop helps ~some airline companies offer carbon offsets but don't always make it easy through the booking process ~fly coach; lowering + raising window shades at certain times can help cut emissions; some airlines use biofuels

Food Politics- Prof. Freedman

~food is a political issue ~conflicts over political values,; questions of power + control, winners + losers ~areas: environmental sustainability, public health, humane treatment of animals, just treatment of workers, food security, $$$ ~contemporary American food system: -high in processed foods -high in prepared foods -high in meat (esp. beef) + sugar (esp. corn) -inexpensive calories are easy to get, more nutritious food requires effort ~implications for environmental sustainability + public health: high greenhouse gas emissions ~over 70% of Americans are overweight or obese ~policy responses: -food availability environment- soda taxes, food deserts/swamps, "corner store" initiatives, school lunches, farmers markets, gardens -food info environment- ad restrictions + requirements, menu labeling, package labeling, government nutrition guidelines

"10 Signs That Some of the World's Most Powerful Money Managers are Worrying More About Climate Change"

~investment community becoming more focused on environmental sustainability + expect companies to be as well ~some changes: -making public commitments to environment -called on companies to improve disclosures related to climate risk -increased allocations to companies w/ strong sustainability track records -overruled board resolutions on climate issues *NYC announces plan to divest fossil fuel companies from its $189 billion in pension funds (Jan. 10, 2018): -divest $5 billion holdings in fossil fuel companies within 5 yrs -first major US city to do this -plans to sue most powerful oil companies over their contribution to global warming *majority of ExxonMobil shareholders vote for greater disclosure of company's climate change risks (Dec. 12, 2017): -shareholders demanded annual report -vote highlighted increasing value investors put on disclosures of climate risks *225 investment funds w/ combined $26 trillion in AUM pledge to pressure companies to curb their greenhouse gas emissions + disclose climate-related financial info (Dec. 12, 2017): -notable for partnership across a broad field of investors *world's largest equity investor announces proposal to exit oil stocks (Nov. 17, 2017) *coalition of institutional investors managing $1 trillion+ in AUM demand largest banks take action on climate change (Sep. 14, 2017) *Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb calls on companies to adopt climate risk disclosure (Aug. 31, 2017) *Occidental shareholders override board recommendation + approve climate proposal (May 12, 2017): -vote marked pivotal moment in movement to hold companies accountable for long-term risks associated w/ climate change *Activist investor Blue Harbour tells investors it will urge companies to focus on environmental + social issues (March 19, 2017) *BlackRock lists climate risk among top "Engagement Priorities" (March 13, 2017) *Institutional Investor Services ("ISS") updates 2018 proxy voting guidelines, seeks more transparency around identification, measurement, + management of climate risks (Jan. 4, 2018)

"Global Population Growth, Box by Box"- Hans Rosling, TEDTalk

~large gap between industrialized world + rest of the world ~child survival rate increases are essential for ceased population growth

John Muir

~leader behind the organized environmental movement started as early as 1864 ~fought to create Yosemite as a National Park (1890) ~founded Sierra Club

"Reflections- Defining + Measuring Sustainability"- Heal

~little in normal economic statistics that would warn us of impending environmental crisis ~GDP -> NDP (net domestic product) -depreciation of capital is subtracted from GDP to get NDP ~Human Development Index (HDI): health, education, + income of population ~Gross National Happiness (GNH): psychological well-being, time use, community vitality, culture, health, education, environmental diversity, living standard, + governance ~Adjusted Net Savings (ANS): net investment in plant & equipment + investment in human capital (education) + investment in intellectual capital (research + development) - degradation of natural capital ~US at top for GDP + HDI but at bottom for ANS ~in terms of potential to maintain current living standards, our current patterns of energy use, agricultural production, water use, + fish catch are NOT sustainable ~intergenerational aspect to sustainability ~some items of natural capital can be replaced by financial capital (minerals + oil) -however, a lot of living natural capital cannot be replaced (species + forests)

"Avoiding Meat + Dairy is 'Single Biggest Way' ..."- The Guardian

~livestock has huge footprint ~provides only 18% of calories but takes up 83% of farmland ~leading cause of current mass extinction of wildlife: agriculture ~going vegan has such a big impact b/c it reduces greenhouse gases, acidification, eutrophication, land + water use

"Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey Report 2016"- Ceres

~more extreme weather = more costly disasters ~insurers should invest in clean energy ~22 insurance companies address climate risk disclosure ~health insurers have lack of awareness about risks climate change poses to their business

"How Food Shapes Our Cities"- Steel, TEDTalk

~most grain gets fed to cattle instead of humans- and cattle are inefficient converters of grain -> meat ~in ancient cities, grains + harvest ruled life ~by building cities everywhere, we have become more distant from the origins of our food

"Ten Shades of Green"- Buchanan

~most urgent crisis facing mankind: degradation of natural environment ~cooperate instead of compete w/ natural processes ~sustainability = long-term viability ~construction + operation of buildings is responsible for nearly 1/2 energy consumed by developed countries

Challenges of Urbanization Pt. 1- Prof. Crisman

~not just population growing; specifically urban pop. is growing -2007 was shift from rural pop. to urban pop. ~at current rate, world pop. will double in 38 years ~we must change physical buildings in which we live to be more sustainable ~urban design + planning: planning is mainly about policy; design is about shape of buildings ~population density: people to area; doesn't have to be negative ~sprawl + growth boundaries: U.S. + Australia have greatest sprawling problems because of large land area ~urban heat island effect ~informal cities popping up in global south (slums, etc.) ~infrastructure: water, waste, energy ~don't build more lanes for transportation; get more creative ~health + urban form

Evidence for Climate Change (Prof. Deborah Lawrence)

~not just temp supports climate change- also N. hemisphere snow cover, Arctic summer sea ice, ocean heat, mountain top glaciers ~3 factors that influence global temp: -energy from Sun -amount of energy reflected back to space -energy trapped by greenhouse gases ~CO2 increase corresponds to rise in temp ~climate models w/o humans don't work ~increase in carbon-12 - the kind that plants prefer but this is from a source buried deep in the Earth ... FOSSIL FUELS ~uncertainties: permafrost feedback, high clouds or low clouds? ~we know that temp is going to rise over time but we don't know by how much ~Earth has been much hotter but not for the last 3 million years -never warmer since civilization began

"Sustainability: An Economist's Perspective"- Solow

~notion of sustainability is about obligation to future to have the option or capacity to be as well off as we are ~goods + services can be substituted for one another ~we can use the resources that we have presently, but we need to put the profits from it into investments ~complicated paradox of being concerned for the welfare of future generations vs. being concerned for the welfare of poor people today ~need to make comprehensive accounting of rents on non-renewable resources ~research is a good thing- invest in knowledge

"The Antidote to Apathy"- Dave Meslin, TEDTalk

~people do care but we live in a world that actively discourages engagement ~do we practice intentional exclusion? ~whoever has the most $$ gets the biggest voice ~media makes politics seem like a spectator sport ~heroism/leadership isn't about "chosen ones," it's voluntary ~no hope if we believe that people are selfish, stupid, + lazy ~redefine apathy, identify obstacles to engagement, work together to dismantle obstacles

Economics as a Sustainability Science (Governing The Commons in the Anthropocene)- Prof. Bill Shobe

~population linked to economic activity ~humans + livestock have largest masses on the planet ~exceeding boundaries in climate change, nitrogen emissions, + biodiversity loss **SUSTAINABILITY: TO CONDUCT OURSELVES SO THAT WE LEAVE TO THE FUTURE THE OPTION OR CAPACITY TO BE AS WELL OFF AS WE ARE -consume resources vs. save + invest/ present generations vs. future generations ~total wealth = capital + labor + environmental services + extractable resources + brain power -capital: physical + social -labor: amount + productivity ~easy substitutes vs. not-so-easy substitutes **SUSTAINABILITY: INCREASING TOTAL WEALTH OR KEEPING IT CONSTANT ~we now have the power to transform environmental services according to our needs + services ~as we invest in brain power, environmental services become just another asset to manipulate

The resource funnel (Prof. Mark White)

~present -> future ~increasing demand, decreasing supply

"Population, Consumption, + the Environment"- Conkin

~pressures on Earth come from multiplying poor + indulgent rich ~life expectancy loosely correlated w/ income

Climate Science Special Report 2017

~purposes of CSSR: -analysis of findings of how climate change is affecting weather + climate across U.S. -basis for discussion of climate science -foundational info + projections for climate change ~1901-2016 is warmest period in history of modern civilization ~extremely likely that human activities are dominant cause of warming since mid-20th century ~there are documented changes in surface, atm, + ocean temps; melting glaciers; diminishing snow cover; shrinking sea ice; rising sea levels; ocean acidification; + increasing atm water vapor ~global avg sea level has risen 7-8 inches- incidence of daily tidal flooding is accelerating ~heavy rainfall is increasing in intensity + frequency ~heatwaves have become more frequent; less extreme cold temps + cold waves ~large forest fire incidences have increased ~earlier spring melts + reduced snowpack already affecting water resources; chronic, long-duration drought is possible ~magnitude of climate change will depend primarily on amount of greenhouse gases emitted globally ~global atm CO2 concentration is very high (400 ppm) ~emission growth rates slowed as economic growth became less carbon-intensive in 2014 + 2015

Sustainable Energy Systems- Prof. Groves

~revolutions in energy consumption: Industrial Rev. -> Second Industrial Rev. ~85% of total primary energy consumption is from fossil fuels -largest consumers: China, US, India, Russia, Japan, Germany ~energy production + use is most important source of air pollution ~Earth has warmed 1 degree C since start of Industrial Rev. ~to halt warming, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50% in next 12 yrs ~oceans may be absorbing more energy than we originally thought; ocean warming is greater than estimated ~change consumption practices (source, acquisition, generation) -> become more efficient (transmission, storage, distribution, human consumption) ~energy as a societal system: STEM, economics, health + welfare, history, governance ~unsubsidized cost of nonrenewables is very price competitive in energy market **LETS MAKE EMISSIONS COST $$$ ~energy challenges: -governance: air pollution + climate change cross borders -technology: wind doesn't always blow, sun doesn't always shine; charging stations, lower range of mileage, total cost of ownership

State of the Planet + Humanity- Prof. Crisman

~signs of decline: 1. environmental decline- desertification risk, deforestation, water pollution, plastic waste, human population growth 2. economic decline- widening gap between rich + poor, gap between income + wealth 3. social decline- widening gap in education + healthcare, intersectionality (ex. correlation in illiteracy + poverty) 4. political decline- growing number of fragile or failed states **EVERYTHING IS INTERTWINED

Ethos

~spirit of a people, community, culture, or era ~or as an individual- values + beliefs

Challenges of Urbanization Pt. 2 (Prof. Crisman)

~sustainability across scales: -economies of scale (PV + wind) -physical limitations (fuel cells) -optimized use issues (mixed use districts + buildings) -value of aggregation (shared planning + resources) ~the national + regional scale -> the city scale -> the neighborhood or district -> the single building ~green buildings + settlements are rarely mandated by law in U.S. ~legislation is required to make change ~green buildings + cities are a CULTURAL problem that requires education + a shared societal commitment *protect undeveloped land + stop sprawl *increase land use density *preserve existing buildings + cultural landscapes *shop local + avoid big boxes *consume less + recycle more *expend less energy *balance technological fixes w/ societal sustainability

Ethics + Ecological Problems (Prof. Willis Jenkins)

~sustainability is a normative idea ~making judgements: -facts + opinions -assessing info -understanding conflicts- ignorance, obtuseness -applying rules- procedural justice ~LAND ETHIC: enlarge boundaries of moral community ~ECOCENTRISM VS. ANTHROPOCENTRISM ~principles: preservation vs. conservation, sustainability, environmental justice ~theories: -DEONTOLOGICAL: focus on intrinsically right actions -CONSEQUENTIALISM: consequences justify actions, focus on best outcomes -VIRTUE: focus on character approach -responsibility ethics -authority ethics- ex. divine command ~worldviews: cosmologies, narratives, beliefs

Sustainable Careers- Ms. Jensen

~sustainability science is a field defined by the problems it addresses rather than the disciplines it employs ~society uses the Earth in ways that simultaneously: -meet the needs of a larger population -eliminate hunger + poverty

How2Recycle- GreenBlue

~sustainable packaging, sustainable paper-making, sustainable ingredients, composting ~non-recycable materials in the recycling cause contamination ~4 types of labels: widely recycled; check locally; not yet recycled; + store drop-off ~problems: -lots of recyclables still end up in landfills -recycling labels are not yet standardized -recycling info is hard to understand -ocean plastic pollution ~trying to standardize labeling w/ color, size, + location ~brands controlled by consumers + marketing ~recycling: collection -> sortation -> reprocessing -> end markets ~sustainability is change so persuasion is helpful ~lot of gray area: all about the unknown + trying to prepare for the future

Tame vs. wicked problems

~tame: "what should I eat?" "where should I live?" ~wicked: "how do we feed, clothe, + house billions of people?" -no definitive formulation -many possibly solutions -constraints + resources change over time -solutions not "right/wrong" but rather "better/worse"

Economics of Natural Resources- Prof. Bill Shobe

~the cost of using a natural resource today is the lost value at some future date ~total cost of natural resources = cost of extraction + loss of availability in the future ~if value goes up faster than i*, then keep it; if value goes up slower than i*, then sell it ~price - extraction cost = royalty (net value) ~for the market to be in equilibrium, royalty must be rising at the rate of interest (Hotelling principle) ~sustainability rule for non-renewable resources: 1. substitutability 2. resource markets operate competitively 3. we invest our user cost revenues in K (capital), L (labor), B (brain power), E (environmental services) ~GREEN PARADOX: we invent solar energy but fossil fuel companies extract fossil fuels more quickly

SYSTEMS THINKING AS PERSPECTIVE

~trying to understand structure ~event (crises, tasks -> react/respond) -> patterns (trends -> anticipate/adapt) -> structure (explanation -> design/transform) ~underlying structure is like the ICEBERG below water line

Taking action

~ways to think about sustainability challenges: 1. design thinking 2. systems thinking ~context is important ~understand -> explore -> materialize ~systems thinking + education: -shifting thinking from parts to whole -focus on project-based learning ~interdisciplinary collaboration is important

Deep Ecology Video- Satish Kumar

~we are under the false impression that humans are superior *SHALLOW ECOLOGY: preserving Earth for human needs *DEEP ECOLOGY: equality of all species; recognizing nature's intrinsic value ~take things from nature w/ gratitude, not as "right"

Securing Our Water Future- Prof. Brian Richter

~when humans stopped being nomadic, we became at the mercy of water (changes, floods, droughts, etc...) ~20% of the land + 40% of food (agriculture) needs irrigation ~water shortages are occurring in 1/3 of planet's watersheds + aquifers -1/2 of world's population is affected ~western US is >50% water flow depleted in summer ~US's water demand is same as in 1975 even though population has grown by 50% (good!!!!) ~steps to continue lowering water demand: 1. establish basin-wide + sub-basin caps on consumption use 2. freeze the urban water footprint -lots of variations between cities that are close to each other -so much water used for outdoor landscaping 3. work w/ cities + farmers to reduce consumption use -net zero water buildings; flood irrigation -> drip irrigation