A new way of conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (in a Humanitarian Setting)

Having recently read the environmental impact assessment put up by the MRT Corporation for the Sungai Buloh to Kajang line, I wonder if the report provided sufficient analysis on the environmental issues that will be faced by the public with the existence of the project. Knowing very well that it is impossible for one report to analyse the entire spectrum of possibilities I propose to the readers a new way of thinking about environmental impact assessments. I propose the idea of adopting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in a humanitarian setting. This approach does not require adoption of new methods; it only requires minor adaptation to existing and commonly used methods.

An EIA gives the environment its due place in the decision-making process by clearly evaluating the environmental consequences of a proposed activity. We hope that each EIA comprehensively and succinctly predicts the long term environmental ramifications of the development activity because sustainable development depends on protecting the natural resources which is the foundation for environmental and economic development.

We often do not consider deeper health issues. How often does a report dwell on the risk of chemicals and debris? Most often we find that only issues that are quantifiable monetarily are discussed and written to demonstrate reduction in the costs and duration of project implementation, avoid treatment/clean-up costs, and comply with mandatory environmental laws and regulations.

Most EIAs highlight the potential problems but do not take into account the risk of environmental degradation. For example, if project planners are designing a water supply project for a community. An EIA will help to determine if drawing from the water source will negatively impact neighboring communities who may depend on it for health or livelihoods. A humanitarian based EIA can determine the environmental issues associated with using clay bricks as a building material. Project managers may discover that the local clay mine is contributing to landslides, water pollution, and negative impacts on local health.

Social impacts from employment are rarely if at all considered. Our construction industry relies heavily on the use of foreign workers. We also do not consider the higher volume of traffic flow which can damage main arteries in the road network. Rarely do we consider if there is adequate housing and effects to the local community from the presence of the foreign workers. Most importantly I have not found a report which tackles the issue of livelihood of the existing and migrants.

Emergency waste and operational management which is critical to some activities are not discussed and the public is often kept in the dark of the possibilities and risks involved. We often lose sight of the indirect damage to natural resources that support livelihood. These have a bearing on safety, sanitation and hygiene issues especially when large amounts of soil have to be removed and relocated to another site. This is typical of urban project where damage to the ecosystem is considered insignificant in an already built up environment. How will those at risk protect themselves without knowledge or insurance?

Most EIAs are only submitted once at the inception of a project. A short-term approach to the preparation of an EIA can fail to consider the broader aspects and impacts of a disaster. Such approaches are often justified by demands on time, resource availability and money.

Perhaps a good place to begin discussing change is in relation to one’s self. Think for a moment, how difficult it is to change one’s point of view (not just for the sake of being agreeable, but actually change one’s position on a matter), to change beliefs, to give up a habit, to change the way one approaches issues.

Why do people smoke

How green is smoking? Why do people continuously smoke? Can lasting change be obtained for a smoker? Think of how hard it is to give up smoking, knowing the health risks associated with smoking. It should be a shut and close case. But it isn’t!


Do people smoke because it is a sign of virility and a legitimate excuse to interrupt the day for a moment of pleasure which is comparable to sucking at the nipples of a gigantic world breast? 

Cognitive science in Lighting

Could adaptable lighting systems such as the play with darkness to repel people and light to attract people be used to direct people in emergencies?

Climate change and us

Real world cities are not necessarily sustainable. The denser a city the greater the heat island effect. What do we do then to combat this? It seems counter intuitive as dense cities should achieve better resource use and better resource distribution. Will this create a negative offset when compared to the additional energy required to mitigate the heat island effect?

Addressing climate change through a sectoral, traditionally economic, cost benefit approach is common practice. Are cost benefit approaches equivalent to life cycle analysis and are life cycle analysis of everything even possible? It seems we are doomed to be making decisions which are nearly impossible to holistically evaluate. Taxation, trade policies, and technological approaches that do not adequately reflect the social infrastructure and consequences of such methods are just unknown.

Are countries with high corruption ratings most susceptible to climate impacts?

Manufacturing for Malaysia

What we think as a natural or smart move in a knowledge driven post industrial world that services are the way forward in reviving an economy was put into perspective by Prof Ha-Joon Chang. Control of knowledge has always been key to economic prosperity (Take home point). Spin out and outsourced knowledge intensive work out of the manufacturing sectors has been the cause of the misconception. Wrong to separate the manufacturing from the knowledge sector.Driven by demand for practical solutions grows knowledge. Little knowledge created through “pure” knowledge activities.Services can only be developed after you first acquire the ability to manufacture the relevant products. Services are sold mostly to manufacturing firms therefore prosperity depends on manufacturing success. Services will over time relocate to the manufacturing sites for logistical reasons.

Swiss has a high manufacturing value added per capita – Source UNIDO

India as the office of the world in trade specialisation – Until 2004 had deficit in service trade. Up to 2009, India trade surplus could not cover manufacturing deficit. They will face balance of payment issues without firm up rise in service trade surplus.

Consumer behaviour and the use of sustainable energy

Regarding the impact of age of energy consumers (or energy technology adopters), education, minority and other socio demographic variables, most studies again have been conducted on residential energy consumption. Lindén et al. (2006) find that younger people have better knowledge about energy- efficient measures, and Carlsson- Kanyama et al. (2005) find that younger households tend to prefer up- to- date technology, and that lower uptake of energy- efficient technology by older people may correlate with older people fewer years of formal education.

From the Handbook of Sustainable Energy edited by Ibon Galarraga, Mikel Gonzalez-Eguino and Anil Markandya

Mercury Poisoning from Compact Fluorescent Lights

Mercury vapor released from broken compact fluorescent light bulbs can exceed safe exposure levels

Read at: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-07-mercury-vapor-broken-compact-fluorescent.html

Ladder of Sustainability

From Ekins: UNESCAP

Where are we on the ladder of sustainability?

Air Conditioning Industry - How they can help phase out HCFC

Some countries have and are in the process of implementing their national HCFC phase out programme. Malaysia is going to follow suit in the near future to reduce out HCFC use and to meet the Montreal Protocol reduction targets.

As a concerned citizen and devil’s advocate to the national program which is to be implemented, I find it difficult to imagine how the government can successfully regulate the air conditioning industry given that the majority of the factories and brands manufactured in Malaysia are foreign owned and are not eligible for funding as part of the Montreal Protocol. On one hand the Government of Malaysia (GOM) has to balance the need to impose tough restrictions to meet these reduction targets while keeping the foreign investments within Malaysia.

Is generating consumer demand for environmental products the only sustainable way to meeting the reduction targets while keeping the foreign investments vested in Malaysia? Taking a step back to look at the broader picture, I feel that we are in some sort of a catch 22 situation where consumers demand influences the production of environmental products. Business decisions are keenly linked to those who matter, in the case of consumer goods, the consumers. If consumers are unable to accept higher prices for environmentally friendly products, what more can an unregulated industry do but to meet these demands. 

As a consumer I ask myself if it is worthwhile changing to an efficient and climate friendly alternative especially if I am the one who has to bear the price of being environmentally friendly. What do I do with my old air conditioner and can I get something back for it is always the question. Unfortunately I have not found a company way to recycle old air conditioning units. The most valuable components of air conditioners are the compressors, copper used and scrap metal value. Could these components be monetized to create an incentive to consumers to trade in for a new and better model? Would companies invest in the manpower and infrastructure to set up establishments to collect old air conditioning units if in return the consumer purchases a new unit? Scrap metal commands a good tariff, it was reported in the Malay Mail on the 21^st of June 2011 (http://www.mmail.com.my/content/75606-gatecrashers) that  the most sought-after item is metal as one can sell metal for RM140 a kg, followed by brass (RM40 a kg), copper (RM27 a kg) and aluminium (RM4.90 a kg).

If the design and manufacturing philosophy of most split unit air conditioners are not meant for repair why hasn’t a company or individual stepped up to tap this seemingly lucrative market? Should the government step in to promote and catalyse the demand for efficient and climate friendly alternatives? If the government through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water has introduced the SAVE program (http://www.saveenergy.gov.my/about/save-program), I am sure he government consider extending this program to phase out HCFCs. 

KL an inefficient urban sprawl

We thoroughly agree with the findings of the World Bank where they report that KL is highly inefficient. It is said that Malaysia had neglected to expand its rail networks in the past unlike forward thinking countries such as Switzerland. This was perceived largely due to the need to promote car ownership and support the national automotive industry. Cheap fuel as a result of subsidies also made it relatively cheaper to drive in Malaysia than in other countries which helped encouraged urban sprawl.

The full article can be read at World Bank: KL a ‘mini Los Angeles’ of inefficient urban sprawl

REDD+

The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism to create incentives to protect, better manage and wisely use forest resources. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will now implement a 1.5 year project titled ‘National REDD+ Readiness in Malaysia’.  The project aims  to develop a national framework to include the policy, legal and institutional components for REDD+, to explore and provide recommendations on sustainable funding mechanism for REDD+ implementation, as well as improve capacity and stakeholder participation in REDD+ management.

The project will facilitate effective and coordinated implementation of REDD+ processes and activities to contribute to an overall sustainable development and the climate change agenda. Through this project, the development of a climate resilient growth strategy will be strengthened, and enhance conservation of the nation’s ecological assets, identified as one of the strategies in the 10th Malaysia Plan as strategies under the NP 4.4 (the Natural Resource, Energy and Environment Programme). The National REDD+ Framework will lay out the foundation on how to better integrate principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes, and therefore reverse the loss of environmental resources (MDG 7).

Interested candidates can refer to the TOR and apply online at http://www.undp.org.my/page.php?pid=159&menu=sub2&title=Vacancy_Notices_1.  Closing date is 10 December 2011.

Are we essentially self domesticating ourselves by offloading our cognitive processes into machines?
Can we only live in an environment that we created and is that why we feel most comfortable in our own homes?  If this is the case why are we not having great products in our own homes?

Innovation, quality, clean and clear attitude towards sustainability

From the start we think about the possibilities and the grammar of the sustainability business. We hope that we are speaking a new language with new words to provide innovative, clean and have a clear attitude towards green sustainable business practices and pricing. Our website hopes to address these pertinent issues in conventional marketing.

Sustainability in our products

We try to make our technology easy, approachable, must not take a long time to understand and to get things done. If the customer has to put in a lot of energy to understand it... they will feel it is not sustainable.

Poverty Reduction in Malaysia

At the national level, Malaysia has achieved the MDG objective of halving extreme poverty since1990. In 1990, the national poverty rate was 17%. By 2000, it had been reduced to 8%, and in 2009, despite the global financial and economic crisis, the national poverty rate was below 4%. The same is true for both urban and rural poverty. In particular, rural poverty dropped from 22% in 1990 to 8% in 2009. Urban poverty has declined from 7% in 1990 to under 2% in 2009.

Although Malaysia has come close to ending extreme poverty, there are significant pockets of rural poverty remaining, especially among the indigenous communities of Sabah and Sarawak. Income inequalities have been rising and the Income Gini coefficient currently stands at 37.9. The overwhelming proportion of this inequality is due to intra-group inequality.  

World Resources 2010-2011: Decision Making in a Changing Climate—Adaptation Challenges and Choices

How is the world facing up to Climate Change? Is the present fate of Thailand going to be an annual occurring event?

World Resources 2010-2011: Decision Making in a Changing Climate—Adaptation Challenges and Choices


http://pdf.wri.org/world_resources_report_2010-2011.pdf

Convention on Biological Diversity

Catch the latest views from heads of states, ministers and other senior officials on Biodiversity

http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/satoyama/cbd-satoyama-3-en.pdf

Environmental Performance Index

In 2008, our EPI rank was 27 with a score of 84. In 2010, our EPI rank was 54 with a score of 65. Historically we do not fare well on the climate change front, our climate change scores for the 2010 EPI were significantly lower. The most significant drop came from the environmental health section which recorded a near 60% drop thus leading to the drop in EPI. The reduced importance to biodiversity and forestry affected the score as well.  

How will the new EPI ranking developed by UTM help? 

The problem with waiting for catastrophes

The problem with waiting for catastrophes – The Climate change (HCFC) debacle?

A recent publication in the Technology Review on cyber security dwelled on some very interesting human characteristics which I have found relatable to how a large group of society approaches the issues of climate change. Jason Pontin said that human systems are not infinitely adaptable [6].  I admit that I am probably one of the contributors to the problem but it struck me how true his observations were. Are we all doomed to ignore the signs of climate change and continue with Business As Usual (BAU) as it just makes economical sense? I enjoyed the response I read, "Well, that would be consistent with human nature."

Should we be shocked or instead have frowns drawn into our faces at this snide remark? Pontin believes that many economists consider it respectable to wait until a catastrophe strikes. He states that until something goes wrong, you don’t know the scale of a problem: any preemptive action will tend to allocate resources inefficiently. Are we to interpret his thoughts that unless science can prove beyond reasonable doubt that global warming and climate change will affect our lives that only then should we take any action? The scientific community was divided on global warming and has had the problem of proving their theories. For the scientific community to alert and apply some form or precautionary principle, the burden of proof that it is not harmful rests with its proponents, and economists have always been suspicious of it.

Pontin goes on to cite Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2005), where a UCLA geographer by the name of Jared Diamond describes how a series of societies, from the Viking settlements in Greenland to the population of Easter Island, collapsed because their environmental strategies, appropriate at one time and place, were maladapted when circumstances changed.

The screams and cries on climate change and global warming should be no stranger to those astute to the media and press. I hope the world is finally listening as the former World Bank chief economist and the author of the 2006 Stern Review argued in his 700 page analysis that the cost of climate change if not addressed, will be equivalent to losing 5 to 20 percent of global gross domestic product “each year, now and forever.” Climate change is the greatest market failure the world has ever seen and could threaten hundreds of millions of people with hunger, water shortages and poverty.

The world acknowledges that the damage caused by Chloroluorocarbon (CFC) and green house gases is irreversible for a long time. It is for this reason all 196 countries in the world have ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF) is the financial mechanism which was created in 1990 by the London Amendment to help developing countries meet the agreed incremental cost of fulfilling the Montreal Protocol's control measures [1]. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is one of four implementing agencies with which countries can partner to access MLF funding. Malaysia is currently embarking to phase out Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) subsequent to the phase out of CFC in 2010.

HCFCs are transitional CFC replacements, used as refrigerants, solvents, blowing agents for plastic foam manufacture, and fire extinguishers. HCFCs were suitable replacements for CFC in terms of Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP), unfortunately HCFCs, do contribute to global warming. On a molecule-for-molecule basis, these compounds are up to 10,000 times more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide (CO₂). In term of ODP, in comparison to CFCs that have ODP 0.6 – 1.0, these HCFCs have less ODP, i.e. 0.01 – 0.5. Whereas in term of Global Warming Potential (GWP), although HCFCs (GWP 76 – 2,310) outperform CFCs (GWP 4,680 – 10,720), HCFCs do cannot compare to CO₂ (GWP 1).

Outreaching HCFC phase out in Asia Pacific region is a challenging task. 70% of the global HCFC production and consumption are in the region [7]. Malaysia is lagging behind in implementing the HCFC phase out agenda. Parties to this Protocol agreed to set year 2013 as the time to freeze the consumption and production of HCFCs. They also agreed to start reducing its consumption and production in 2015. Public support and awareness on these issues are imperative to the successful implementation of the HCFC phase out program in Malaysia.

The most noticeable item in the daily life is the refrigerator and air conditioning. Most foam products used in daily life go unnoticed. Foams are typically used to insulate your refrigerator and cushions of your furniture. Solvents used to clean circuit boards and precision instruments, dry cleaning, detergents, paint thinners, nail polish remover can contain HCFC. HCFCs are also present in some fire-fighting equipment. The reality is such that we are unlikely to live without these items however you can make thoughtful before purchasing. The three (3) most important HCFCs imported and consumed in the country are HCFC-22, HCFC 141b and HCFC-123. While no mandatory “Eco” or sustainable labeling exists please look out and ask if these chemicals were used in the equipments or products that you purchase.

A range of alternatives are available and have been developed for the air conditioners, refrigerators, chillers, foam products and fire-fighting equipment industry. These alternatives include hydroflourocarbons (HFC) and natural refrigerants such as Carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrocarbons. The Montreal Protocol currently calls for a complete phase-out of HCFCs by 2030; unfortunately it does not place any restriction on HFCs (which is likely to be the next cheapest alternative) which also have a significant GWP 124-14800. Natural refrigerants do not harm the ozone layer and neither does it contribute to global warming (GWP 0-3).

One of the largest corporate initiatives for the promotion of alternative refrigerants is http://www.refrigerantsnaturally.com/. Together the group promotes a shift in the point-of-sale cooling technology in the food and drink, food service and retail sectors towards F-gas-free refrigeration technologies that do not harm the Earth's climate and ozone layer and to do this whilst improving or (at least) equaling energy efficiency compared to existing fluorocarbon-based technology [6].

While industries are made to switch to environmentally friendly alternatives, the general public can chip in to this initiative as well. A quick audit around the house can alert you to equipments which contain HCFC. By careful considering the lifespan left on your appliances, it may be prudent to consider retrofitting or replacing the appliances with something newer and energy efficient. The public should also remind themselves to service their old appliances with ozone and green house friendly products.

Similar to all technological transitions, consumers may face short terms costs. We have to remember that stabilizing green house emissions is a worthwhile insurance strategy for the world. The Stern Review on The Economics of Climate Change commissioned by the United Kingdom Government concluded from a cost benefit analysis based on long run economic modeling that incurring a modest annual mitigation cost is cheaper than the long run inactions.

While there are initiatives funded by the multilateral fund bridge the gap between investment risks and rewards, it is impossible to fund all sectors and obtain the necessary cooperation required. The general public has a major role in the successful implementation of the HCFC phase out program.

For more information on Malaysia’s work on HCFC and CFC phase out, visit http://www.doe.gov.my/portal/public/montreal-protocol/general-information/

References:

[1]	http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/ENVIRONMENT/EXTTMP/0,,contentMDK:20502611~menuPK:1246963~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:408230,00.html access on the 11th of August 2011
[2]	http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/cli_cou_458.pdf access on the 11th of August 2011
[3]	http://www.miros.gov.my/web/guest/archives?p_p_id=101_INSTANCE_64mN&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=rightbar&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=4&_101_INSTANCE_64mN_struts_action=%2Ftagged_content%2Fview_content&_101_INSTANCE_64mN_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Farchives&_101_INSTANCE_64mN_assetId=111244 access on the 11th of August 2011
[4]	http://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/non-annex_i_natcom/submitted_natcom/application/pdf/malaysia_snc.pdf Figure 2.9 access on the 11th of August 2011
[5]	Centre for Environmental Technologies, HCFC Phase out management plan (HPMP), Malaysia, 2010
[6]	http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/37778/ access on the 6th of September 2011

UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (‘Rio+20’)

Useful Online Resources

Following is a selection of resources on Rio+20

UN RIO+20 RESOURCES

- Official website for Rio+20

Includes information on regional consultations, key documents and meetings, etc.

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/

- UNDP Internal Coordination for Rio+20 (Teamworks)

https://undp.unteamworks.org/node/72239

- UNCT Support for Rio+20 National Preparatory Processes (Teamworks)

https://undp.unteamworks.org/node/132295

- DPI/NGO Conference, “Sustainable Societies: Responsive Citizens”

http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ngoconference/

Final Declaration including a list of sustainable development goals:

http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ngoconference/resources/final

- UNEP Major Groups and Stakeholders
UNEP has organized consultations with major groups and stakeholders in 6 regions

http://www.unep.org/civil-society/MeetingsandEvents/UpcomingMeetingsandEvents/UNEPRegionalconsultationswithMajorGroups/tabid/54256/Default.aspx  

- UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) – Rio+20 page

NGLS has a large database of civil society organizations and access to a diversity of networks

http://www.un-ngls.org/rioplus20

- UN Global Compact

http://www.unglobalcompact.org/NewsAndEvents/rio_2012/index.html

- Secretary-General High-level Panel on Global Sustainability

http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/pages/gsp

- Presentation of Rio+20 by Major Groups Programme Coordinator (UN-DESA)

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/content/documents/Rio%202012MGpresentationclc.pdf

- Report of the Secretary-General - “Objective and themes of the United Nations Conference

on Sustainable Development” (General Assembly)

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/content/documents/N1070657.pdf

- “Transition to a Green Economy: Benefits, Challenges and Risks from a Sustainable Development Perspective” (UN-DESA, UNCTAD, UNEP)

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/content/documents/Green%20Economy_full%20report.pdf

- Issues Brief 2 - Options for Strengthening the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD): Peer Review (UN-DESA)

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/content/documents/Issuesbrief.pdf

- Global Volunteer Conference Declaration

http://wvw.si.aotest.nl/content/dam/unv/PDFs/GVC_Declaration.pdf

NEWSLETTERS

- Rio+20: Making it Happen (UN-DESA)

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=40

- The Road to Rio (NGLS)

http://www.un-ngls.org/rioplus20

- Earth Summit Network News (Stakeholder Forum)

http://www.earthsummit2012.org/about-sf/subscribe-to-stakeholder-forums-earth-summit-mailing-list

  

EXTERNAL RESOURCES

- The Green Economy Coalition

http://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/

- Stakeholder Forum – Earth Summit 2012
http://www.earthsummit2012.org/  

- ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

http://www.iclei.org/

- Northern Alliance for Sustainability

http://www.anped.org

- Consumer International

http://www.consumersinternational.org/our-work/sustainable-development/key-projects/at-the-un/earth-summit-2012-(rioplus20)

- Sustainlabor

http://www.sustainlabour.org/

- Third World Network, Update on sustainable development conference 2012

http://www.twnside.org.sg/sdc2012.htm

- World Resource Institute, Insights Rio+20

http://insights.wri.org/topic/rio2012

- Business Action for Sustainable Development 2012

http://basd2012.org/

- Business on the Road to Rio (sponsored by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/rio-2012