1. IB Design and Technology AHL 12: Sustainable Development Appropriate technology and sustainable development 2

2. Global Conference – Rio de Janeiro  12 Years ago business leaders from 50 International countries made a commitment to sustainable development

3. What is Sustainable Development?  Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

4. The Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) Global conferences, like the Earth Summit, provide a platform for the development of global strategies for sustainable development. The Earth Summit resulted in the production of a blueprint document sustainable development known as the Agenda 21.

5. Agenda 21  The major proposals agreed by the participants are aimed at promoting:  Sustainable energy development;  Safe and environmentally sound transport systems;  Industrial development that does not adversely impact the atmosphere  Agricultural (and forestry) development that does not adversely impact the atmosphere;  Sustainable resource development and land use;  Sustainable energy consumption patterns and lifestyles;  Preventing stratospheric ozone depletion

6. Extracts from Agenda 21 Sustainable Development is a process in which economics, finance, trade, energy, agriculture, industry and all other policies are so designed as to bring about development that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.Sustainable Development is a process in which economics, finance, trade, energy, agriculture, industry and all other policies are so designed as to bring about development that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Because so many of the problems and solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, the participation and cooperation of Local authorities will be a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives.Because so many of the problems and solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, the participation and cooperation of Local authorities will be a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives.

7. Problems already! Before the summit began, during a series of conferences intended to prepare treaties to be signed in Rio, a major split among nations had become clear.  On one side were the rich, industrialized nations, mostly concentrated in the northern hemisphere, which were calling for increased protection of the environment and preservation of the world's remaining unspoiled regions.  On the other side were poorer, developing nations, generally in the southern hemisphere. To them, calls for conservation and environmental protection seemed little more than an attempt by the developed nations to prevent them from industrializing and raising their standards of living. Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopaedia 2002. © 1993-2001

8. Compromise!  In April 1992 negotiators from more than 160 countries arrived at a compromise that was intended to bridge the gap. A declaration by the conferees, who met at UN headquarters in New York City, asserted that all nations had "the sovereign right to exploit their own resources" but that every country also had a duty to ensure that its actions did not "cause damage to the environment of other states." Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopaedia 2002. © 1993-2001

9.  Sustainable development requires systems- level changes in both industry and society. Why?  Take, for example, the development of a sustainable transport system. This is likely to involve much more than simply the design of green cars. What else?  It should also consider the fundamental role of transport in human life. To achieve a shift from private car-based travel requires improvement of public transport systems and the increased use of environmentally benign forms of transport (e.g. bicycles). Much travel is associated with travel to work and revolution in the way people work (e.g. from home in virtual offices rather than traveling to the office) would replace some travel with electronic communication

10. Sustainable Development – History  1972 - The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm considers the need for a common outlook and for common principles to inspire and guide the peoples of the world in the preservation and enhancement of the human environment.  1987 - The World Commission on Environment and Development chaired by the Prime Minister of Norway, Mrs Gro Harlem Bruntland, publishes a report Our Common Future (The Bruntland Report) which brings the concept of sustainable development onto the international agenda. It also provides the henceforth most commonly used definition of sustainable development describing it as development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

11.  1989 - The issues raised by Our Common Future are discussed at the UN General Assembly leading to the passage of resolution 44/228 which calls for a UN Conference on Environment and Development.  The UK Government produces a progress report on implementing sustainable development, Sustaining Our Common Future.  1990 - The ideas in Sustaining Our Common Future are taken up in the UK's first comprehensive strategy, the White Paper on the Environment This Common Inheritance.

12.  1992 - Nearly 180 countries meet at the 'Earth Summit' (UN Conference on Environment and Development) in Rio de Janeiro to discuss how to achieve sustainable development. The Summit agrees the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development which sets out 27 principles supporting sustainable development. Also agreed is a plan of action, Agenda 21, and a recommendation that all countries should produce national sustainable development strategies.  The Earth Summit also establishes the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, which meets every year, as well as important UN bodies - the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.  Towards Sustainability, the Fifth Environmental Action Programme of the European Union is adopted. The Programme seeks to integrate environmental concerns into other policy areas in order to achieve sustainable development.

13. The Bellagio Principles  1996 – The international Institute for Sustainable Development developed general guidelines for the practical assessment of progress towards sustainable development – the Bellagio principles. These identify common patterns in sustainable development related assessments.

14.  1998 - In the UK, a consultation document, Opportunities for Change is published. In addition, the Government consults on a set of headline indicators of sustainable development, “Sustainability Counts”.  1999 - In May, the Government launches its new strategy, “A better quality of life - A strategy for sustainable development for the UK”.  At the European Council in Helsinki, the European Commission is invited by the EU Heads of Government to prepare a proposal for a sustainable development strategy for Europe by June 2001.  In December, “Quality of life Counts - Indicators for a strategy for sustainable development for the United Kingdom: a baseline assessment” is published. This looks in more detail at the indicators of sustainable development contained in the strategy and provides a benchmark against which future progress can be measured.

15.  2000 - On 16 November,the National Assembly for Wales adopts its sustainable development Scheme – “A Sustainable Wales - Learning to Live Differently”. This sets out how it is going to meet its legal obligations on sustainable development.  2001 - In January, the Government publishes its first review of progress towards sustainable development, Achieving a better quality of life, Government annual report 2000.

16. Sustainable Development  World Governments have become increasingly more aware of the need to develop strategies for sustainable development. Can they achieve their goals alone?

17. Questions 1.Why does sustainable development require close cooperation between manufacturers and government? 2.Why is a close relationship between government and manufacturers sometimes difficult to achieve? 3.Name 3 reasons why it is difficult for governments to introduce legislation to cover all aspects of sustainability?

18. More Questions 4.How can anticipating sources of pollution and eliminating them at the design stage lead to savings? 5.How can cost savings be achieved by introducing more energy-efficient and less wasteful manufacturing processes? 6.How have consumer attitudes towards sustainability created a “market pull” situation?

19. Manufacturers can re-evaluate short-term profitability in favour of long term sustainability by:  Designing and operating manufacturing and service units on as small a scale as is consistent with efficient use of resources  Using technologies that enhance human skills and match the capabilities of local populations  Using clean processes which minimise pollution and waste of non-renewable resources.

20. Production systems should:  Not dehumanise people  Be such that it helps and liberates human beings rather than sustaining, controlling or mentally or physically damaging them.  Should be controlled by human beings rather than the reverse  Should aim at the highest technically achievable standards and level of energy efficiency.

21. How can product characteristics be consistent with sustainable development?  A product should be considered for its long term characteristics rather than its short term ones.  A product should not demand exceptional user skill  A product should help and liberate human beings  The use of a product should be more important than its exchange value

22. Product characteristics for the Developing World  Products for the developing world should provide for mutually non-exploitative relationships with the developed countries.  A product should be regarded as part of culture and as such should meet the cultural, historical and other requirements of those who will build and use it.  Products should be designed for high durability and repair ability  Products should be designed for disassembly so that materials can be recycled.  The financial cost to users over the whole of the product cycle should be as low as possible.