Human Ecology and cleaner production' Part 2: Human Dominated ecosystems

1
Human Ecology and cleaner production. Part 2
Human Dominated ecosystems

• Lectures in the framework of the master degree
  course on cleaner production at the University of
  Cienfuegos (Cuba)

2

3
Urban - industrial ecology

4
Urban metabolism
5
Urban Green

• 1. Green roofs
• 2. Gardens
• 3. Street trees
• 4. Parks / recreation areas / green corridors
• 5. Urban forests

6
Street trees

• Functional values
• shade
• noise
• particulates, air pollution
• social cohesion
• 2. Aesthetic value
• 3. Cultural value

7
Ecological footprints of cities

8
Sustainable city

• 1. Planning for sustainability
• 2. Sustainable neighborhoods
• 3. Sustainable buildings
• 4. Sustainable schools
• 5. Sustainable transport

9
Ecocity

• Inputs
• resources (energy, water, food, air, land)
• Outputs
• pollution (air, water, soil)
• 3. Green elements
• 4. Social (health, demography, migration, safety)

10
Self supporting city

• 1. Produces its own food relies on local water
• 2. Limits inputs from abroad

11
Eco industrial parks

• 1. Infrastructure
• - waste water collection and treatment
• - solid/industrial waste collection
• - land use optimization
• Management
• - risks (fire, extreme weather events)
• - environmental management (park certification)

12
Industrial ecology

• All relevant physical flows (through an
  industrial plant, an industrial area, a city, a
  region) will be identified and the associated
  environmental impacts will be evaluated

13
CSR

• 1. Economic
• 2. Social jobs, health
• 3. Environmental management, performance, green
  products
• 4. Ethical

14
Products

• 1. Life cycle analysis
• 2. Ecodesign
• 3. Ecolabels

15
Production and consumption patterns

• Worldwide twofold problem
• - OECD countries over-consumption (footprints)
• - LDC poverty alleviation
• 2. Growing divide contrasts with fair
  distribution of resources
• 3. e.g. Energy, materials use

16
Principles of ecosystems approaches

• Biogeochemical cycles
• - Carbon
• - Water
• - Nitrogen
• - Others phosphorus, metals
• 2. Close loops
• 3. 2nd law of thermodynamics

17
Synthetic organic chemicals

• 1. Pesticides persistence, toxicology
• 2. CFCs eco-toxic
• 3. PCBs, dioxins persistent, cancerogenic
• 4. Xenoestrogens late discovered effects

18
Practical consequences of ecosystem approaches

• 1. Use waste as a resource
• 2. Diversify and co-operate
• 3. Gather and use energy efficiently
• 4. Optimize not maximize
• 5. Use materials sparingly
• 6. Clean up, not pollute
• 7. Do not draw down resources
• 8. Remain in balance with the biosphere
• 9. Run on information
• 10. Shop locally