Technical Session Summaries
Transportation
The triple bottom line (economic, social, and environmental) for the sustainability of transportation of man and material via air, water, and land in this century can only be met through engineering innovations. The engineering solutions desired to meet the materials and resource requirements for a sustainable global growth of all means of transportation will be deliberated. Background information will be provided by the experts from aviation, automotive, and shipping sectors that will include the current status, future needs for societal sustenance, and potential pathways. The participants will discuss the region-specific economic and environmental impacts to develop a global scenario for solutions viability.
Recycling
Sustainable production of materials in the 21st Century is a societal issue that has increasingly important economic and energy ramifications. Inadequate recovery and recycling of material waste heightens industrial demand for both dwindling natural resources and the energy required to refine and process these raw materials into finished goods. Furthermore, the conversion of ore and organics usually involves the consumption of in-process resources (e.g., water, gases, tool materials, etc.) and the detrimental emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. In this session, three world renown experts in the field of resource recovery and recycling will address the related technical and political issues.
Food & Water
Bringing engineering to life – If, as is almost certain, the global population increases by 65 per cent over the next 50 years, around 70 per cent of this future world population will face water shortages and 16 per cent will have insufficient water to grow their basic food requirement. UNESCO also states that the necessary increases in food production cannot be achieved without higher productivity on existing land and with existing water resources. The participants will discuss the water and food challenges of the future including the broader consequences of climate change, competition for water and food, and the greater potential for local, national, and international conflicts. This situation calls for a policy discussion of the water–food nexus, and international technology development and transfer.
Energy
Sustainable energy access to a growing population in the 21st Century has increasingly important societal implications. In the absence of new policies and technologies, fossil fuels are projected to continue to be the predominant energy source, with significant consequences on the stability of supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. In this session, three world renown energy experts address the energy projections and the implications of post-Kyoto options, carbon abatement options, and the new energy mix required.
Health
The development of sustainable health solutions is critical for enabling people and their communities to thrive. Such solutions range from providing clean water and good sanitation to the creation of efficient and cost-effective health systems. Engineering plays an essential role in providing the technology upon which sustainable solutions can be based. In this session, we will hear from a range of speakers covering topics on water and sanitation, technological solutions for the developing world, and the positive and negative effects of technology on health.
Housing
Housing is one of the greatest human needs for health, safety, and quality of life, and the largest expenditure or investment for most families. Moreover, construction, operation, and maintenance of housing induce large demands for land, materials, energy, water, transportation, waste management, and other resources. The environmental, social, and economic sustainability of human society is largely dependent on the sustainability of our housing. The Housing Session addresses needs for and approaches to sustainable housing in the developed and developing nations and illuminates requirements for sustainable materials and resources.
