Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Mini Blog 

New York Times published an article in regards to the pandemic of how bad our economy is but also addressing another issue that needs to be addressed which is climate change. Due to the coronavirus relief aid pumping $2 trillion into the economy helping out citizens who have been unemployed due to this unfortunate event that is going on in history. People are not realizing the dramatic impact that this is causing on the world economy and now another issue is arising with climate change. corporations or saying that the climate crisis is literally helping to create deadly diseases, more quickly, in a world that keeps changing how they spread. This alters and affects sustainable development extremely. The same populations that are bearing the brunt of the health and economic effects of the coronavirus are the same populations that bear the brunt of fossil fuel pollution which in turn makes them more vulnerable to serious complications. Some states have already begun to connect the coronavirus to climate change for example New York past the accelerated renewable energy growth and community benefit act on April 3. This legislation The climate leadership and community protection act is referred to as New York’s green new deal and if New York’s response is any indication none of this appears to have distracted from efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

This pandemic really alters the effects and development of sustainability in the world because it holds the production of these companies from the virus spreading rapidly not allowing workers and companies to make these sustainable improvements in certain areas. It’s almost like a domino effect well basically is a domino effect in this world from this virus causing an entire global shut down. This is something that we will never experience again or at least hope to never experience again in this world. we are hoping that sustainable development comes back stronger than it ever has preparing ourselves for the worst to come.  from the shut down there has been a complete pause of sustainable development in this world since the beginning of the shut down globally.  The Americans I know would like to survive, even if it means our country has to involve which many of us have been ready for long before the pandemic.

Blog 8 Taylor Dobson

Reaching ‘beyond the possible’ in Hawaii to meet sustainability goals

Kaheawa Wind Power Project on Maui has twenty 1.5-megawatt wind turbines.

The government and people of Hawaii will “reach beyond the possible” to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have been set a reality. These SDGs are goals agreed on by countries around the world that are designed to reduce world poverty, protect our planet, and ensure peace and prosperity. Hawaii has committed to reaching 100 per cent clean, renewable energy for electricity by 2045. The impacts of climate change are especially important to the people of Hawaii because rising sea levels, ocean acidification (causing at least four coral bleaching events), and increasing ocean and air temperature can change the way of life for inhabitants of the islands. In the last five years, Hawaii has seen at least five “500-year events”: events that would normally occur only once every 500 years. For example, in 2018, Hawaii saw the most rainfall ever recorded in a single 24-hour period in human history: 51 inches. In 2015, Hawaii had three Category 4 hurricanes surround the islands at one time. These weather events and many more have been worsened by climate change, and it is only going to get worse.

Governor of Hawaii, David Ige (left) attends the opening of a solar energy plant by Clearway Energy Group, on the island of O’ahu.

“Sustainable Hawaii” is an initiative that was launched in 2016 that aligns with the UN’s sustainable development goals. There is much thought being put into how to make Hawaii 100 percent self-sustainable. This requires the use of fish farms, renewable energy, and managing ocean resources. They are launching a large egg farm in Hawaii to make it self-sustainable in egg production, as well as investing in livestock to be sufficient in meats. Hawaii is very isolated geographically, so it is very important to preserve the species that inhabit and island and surrounding ocean: Hawaii is home to many species that are found nowhere else in the world, and it is home to more endangered species than anywhere else.

37% of homes in Hawaii have solar rooftops, and solar energy is growing aggressively in Hawaii. While this shift to renewable energy good for the environment, it is also creating a lot of jobs. It is predicted that these shifts toward renewable energy, plus future shifts to come will create many new jobs.

Hawaii has been very progressive in their actions toward clean energy, and they have inspired other states such as California to adopt 100 percent renewable energy goals, as well. By setting realistic, yet efficient goals, Hawaii is a prime example of the actions we should be taking around the world to combat climate change.

Blog 8 by Sam Opal

Sustainable development is extremely important for our society moving forward.  It is more than evident that we must move forward from prior development practices and that we must adopt more sustainable develop;ment practices.  It is also evident that we need to make more sustainable development projects. Even if our practices in development are sustainable, it won’t be enough if the actual structure being built isn’t sustainable itself.   It is important to really focus a lot of our efforts in future develop;ment into sustainable development, as this just seems like the only feasible way forward. I think that we are definitely on the right track with sustainable development.  The planning community is really leading the charge, and that is resonating with all which is a really good thing.

The world that we are currently living in is very crazy, and sometimes important issues like sustainable development are being put on the back burner due to the COVID 19 pandemic.  But interestingly enough in an article a company called Sustainable Projects group is outlining plans to still attempt to continue sustainable development despite this whole pandemic that is occuring.  Imfact they are mostly still continuing with their current projects, but with implementing social distancing policies to help with the safety of everyone involved in the project.  According to this article, it appears that the company has still yet to be hit extremely hard by the virus, as they are able to still continue projects, but are being a lot more cautious about their projects.  I think this is a very good thing to see, because it still allows people to work and still allows for sustainable development to occur, which is vital. I think it is important for sustainable development to still occur because even in this difficult time, people seeing sustainable development projects gives them hope for the future.

After reading this article, I still think there is a very bright future for sustainable development despite COVID 19.  I think it is nice to see companies safely work on these projects. Sustainable development is the future and this pandemic can’t stop it.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sustainable-projects-group-responds-to-covid-19-challenge-301038423.html

Philly’s Storm Water Management Plan Progressing Nicely

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/04/09/philadelphia-sewage-climate-change/?arc404=true

My blog this week draws from an article in the Washington Post that concerns a local program and its interesting sustainable development solution to managing storm water. The Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership has implemented some of the sustainable development tactics we have discussed in class at a 300 acre park in Northeast Philadelphia. The additions are intended to manage excess sewage water during heavy rainstorms and includes rain gardens, brightly colored trash cans (to attract attention and divert pollution), and a large water storage tank beneath the park’s baseball field. 

Still, climate change is creating new challenges for the park’s infrastructure and for storm water management infrastructure in cities across the United States. The Tacony Creek, which runs through the park, picks up excess trash during heavy rainstorms that collect at the park, where the creek meets the Rock Run. Foul smelling odors have become commonplace. Incidentally, the article notes “Philadelphia has become a testing ground for green technologies” since it entered a lucrative partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency in the early 2010s. 

Runoff is normally bound for a treatment plant in Philadelphia, but extreme rains overwhelm that system and deposit the sludge water near the park. The neighborhood’s plan is to defeat that process: trap rain water before it can enter drains and exhaust the city’s sewer system. This plan, known as the Green City Clean Waters program, was effected in 2011. In an ideal setting, the plan hopes to net 85% of Philadelphia’s sewer flow through the next fifteen years. Green acres, a land greening program that differs some from New Jersey’s program, hopes to repurpose impervious surfaces and green them over. With the additional green space, the GCCW program wants to use these spaces to either absorb storm water outright or to redirect it to adjacent rain gardens. Fortunately the article asserts Philadelphia is making good progress on realizing the plan; the city “had created more than 1,500 of a projected 10,000 green acres programs” through the end of 2019. 

I am optimistic that Philadelphia will significantly advance its green storm water management project in the 2020s. The program managers have endorsed tenets of sustainable development that we have touched upon in class: social, environmental, and financial equity. It makes neighborhoods more attractive and can hopefully remedy pervasive environmental issues afflicting poor communities in the city. It is not a catchall solution and obviously faces logistical and political barriers, and some residents have apparently complained that sewage mismanagement issues persist even with storm water infrastructure. Still, it is very gratifying to see our major city making such stellar progress on water related sustainability policy. 

Thanks,
Trent Maxwell

The Power of Wind and Sun

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need. Using recycled materials or renewable resources when building is an example of sustainable development. A few examples of sustainable development are wind energy, solar energy, crop rotation, water efficient fixtures, and green spaces. I’m going to explain in more detail wind energy and solar energy.

Wind Energy

Civilizations have utilized the power of wind for many many years now. The first data being recorded for wind energy was a windmill in Persia between 500-900 AD. Now in the 21^st century and in many places, energy generated by wind has become either the new ideal. It is competitive with or even less expensive than coal generated electricity. In saying so wind turbines are a great solution for power due to cost and they require a small amount of land. Also, you can never run out of wind, it’s a renewable source. Wind farms can be found on land or even out in the ocean. Offshore wind speeds tend to be faster than on land. Faster wind speeds offshore mean much more energy can be generated. Many coastal areas have very high energy needs. Half of the United States’ population lives in coastal areas, with concentrations in major coastal cities. Building offshore wind farms in these areas can help to meet those energy needs from nearby sources.

Off the coast of Ocean City Maryland, you can see a wind farm. I spend my most of summer on the beaches of Delaware and Maryland. Before I knew they put these up I spent a few days looking at it and trying to figure it out. It honestly pretty fascinating to look at and think about how this thing miles off the coast can give us energy to be used up.

Solar Energy

The solar industry has seen rapid growth over the past decade, and a major contributing factor has been the surge in solar farms popping up across the globe. Solar farm, sometimes referred to as a photovoltaic power station, is typically a large decentralized solar panel area supplying electricity to the power grid. The majority of these massive arrays are owned by utilities and are merely another asset for the utility to supply power to properties in their coverage area. Some advantages are, it is a renewable energy source. It is the most direct way to reduce Carmon emissions that contribute to global warming. Also there are low maintenance costs to them.

Conclusion

The goal of sustainable development is to meet the needs of today, without compromising the needs of tomorrow. This means we cannot continue using current levels of resources as this will not leave enough for future generations. Establishing and reducing carbon emissions is key to living within environmental limits. Also,  it saves national budget, fulfills the need of people, conserves natural resources, helps in the coordination between the natural resources and people and conserves natural resources for future generation.

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.html

https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work

5 Examples of Sustainable Development

https://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues/faq/what-are-advantages-and-disadvantages-offshore-wind-farms

https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/08/5-advantages-and-5-disadvantages-of-solar-energy

The Future of Sustainable Development

By: Mason Spino

Overview

Sustainable Development throughout Urban Areas can impact many aspects of the affected area including environmental benefits, economic production increasing and even aesthetic boosts renovating areas making them more appealing to incoming residents. This concept of sustainable development refers to encompassing all three aspects of the society within urban development being environmental, economical and social concepts. Within these concepts you have subcategories such as viability, whether or not it is bearable for society, and whether or not the implementation is equitable. At the center of all of these concepts you have sustainability. To achieve sustainability, you must find a balance among all environmental, economic and social aspects of society, that benefit each other and incorporate each other into their own operations, while preventing any limitations of the other two. By having a shared balance, an urban area will be able to run very smoothly and will most likely be more effective than the previous urban state.

Modern Sustainable Development

With the modern crisis happening across the globe of the deadly virus Covid-19, cities and towns must evolve to be able to combat these global impacts more effectively in the future. Many countries if not all countries were not able to manage the virus’ impact effectively, leading to large amounts of global death. With the world still underway of this virus, the obvious focus right now is to find a cure for the current crisis however, looking to the future is almost as important as fixing the present. We can learn from our efforts on this outbreak. By implementing new sustainable development focusing on public health and safety, many of the current coronavirus cases could be prevented in the future. By establishing sustainable development goals (SDG’s) for urban areas, many countries can impact change in many aspects of life. “These global goals urge us to address challenges in poverty, health, inequality, and many areas, while vowing to leave no one behind”.

Modern Health and Well-Being

Health care systems throughout countries is currently suspect, with the virus bringing to light many issues that these countries have had for many years, the US in particular. “To slow down the transmission of COVID-19, people need to wash or sanitize their hands. Yet today, 3 billion people do not have access to even basic handwashing facilities”. If countries cannot provide their public residents with the necessary health facilities, an issue like the coronavirus could come back even more dangerous and cause a lot of death. Obviously this virus is not natural, and no one could have been 100% prepared for this, but there are measures that can be taken through sustainable development at can limit these impacts. They are increased health facilities along with the sufficient medical supplies, clean air and drinking water for the entire area, adequate sanitation (even minimal focus in sanitation could have prevented a lot of death) and the introduction of green resources into many societies. With these implementations, we can better prepare for world outbreaks like the Coronavirus, and we can prevent death while creating a safer modern world for the future.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2020/04/14/solving-both-the-short-and-long-term-covid-19-crises/

MDG’s & SDG’s

by Madison Edwards

A graphic with a symbol to generally represent each of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations began the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 with the intent of it being a global effort to influence and improve health in one way or another. In order to do so, they created eight individual goals that included reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and malaria, eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, ensure environmental stability, and achieve universal primary education. For fifteen years, the MDGs were able to accomplish many of their goals. With the help of the World Health Organization, they were able to make huge improvements combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. A movement to for global free primary education was kickstarted and the number of out of school children since 1990 has dropped by more than half. Also, the global rate of child mortality since 1990 dropped by more than half.

However, the United Nation’s work was unfinished. Knowing that the world needed a new set of goals, they created the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2012. There were constructed to give each nation a set of goals to help meet the political, economic, and environmental challenges in our world. There are seventeen SDGs, which can be found on the website of the United Nations. Each of the seventeen goals interconnect, which means that the success of each depends on the success of another. The United Nations views their Sustainable Development Goals as the best way to ensure an improved life for future generations. The goals address gender equality, managing fragile natural resources, dealing with the threat of climate change, eradicating poverty, and fostering peace globally. Also known as the Global Goals, the United Nations hopes the achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability by 2030.

In order to help ensure the achievement of these goals, the United Nations created the UNDP, or United Nations Development Programme. This program is committed to helping countries and territories achieve their goals though integrated solutions. They understand that each goal cannot be tackled individually. For them, this means that they must evaluate systems, connections, and root causes to develop their solutions. They are working with governments, citizens, private companies, and civil society all across the globe to make the world a better place for those in the future.

Sources:

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/background/

https://sdgintegration.undp.org/

https://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/about/en/

Urban land could grow fruit and vegetables for 15 per cent of the population

By Daniel McAleavey

The article that I chose was about a study done at the University of Sheffield for sustainable food mapped out in green spaces and gray spaces across the city for urban horticulture. The study found that 45 percent of Sheffield is covered with green spaces like parks, gardens, allotments, roadside verges and woodland. Also 38 percent of this is made up of domestic gardens which have the potential to start growing food. And using data, an additional 15 percent of the city’s green space has a potential to be converted into community gardens.

Putting all of this together, it would create 98 square meters per person in Sheffield for growing food if 100 percent of the space was used for growing food. This will also serve and feed 709 thousand people per year if this is done. This study also tested out soil free farming on the roofs of buildings. They tested growing methods like hydroponics and aquaponics, which can allow year round cultivation using only a little bit of lighting.I think that this is a very helpful study that the university of Sheffield has done because it will help feed many people who are struggling. This is a very smart form of sustainable development that will definitely help the local environmental sustainability, as well as the regional sustainability as well.

References: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200317130713.htm

University of Sheffield.

Sustainable Hawaii

Solar Farm in Hawaii (UN News/Daniel Dickinson, 2020)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by countries across the world in an initiative to reduce poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity globally by 2030. Hawaii is one of the countries supporting SDGs by creating their own initiative in 2016 calling it Sustainable Hawaii. Hawaii has faced many challenges towards becoming more advanced, it is the most isolated island community with 2,500 miles between the islands and the nearest landmass. Hawaii has been hit especially hard by the impacts of climate change and sea- level rise, in 2015 the state had three Category 4 hurricanes surrounding the islands. In 2018 they recorded the most rainfall of 51 inches in a single 24 hour period in all of human history. In the last five years the state has experienced other devastating events including coral bleaching, king tides, and five 500- year events (UN News, 2020). The economy takes a hit as well since these disasters are costly to recover from and halt the state from progressing. The force that drives all of Hawaii’s goals can be summarized in one word: self- reliance.

In response to these events Hawaii has engaged in progressive mitigation efforts. Major challenges include sea level rise mitigated through managing 30% of their near ocean waters and providing clean water by protecting 30% of their priority watersheds that are the primary source of freshwater (UN News, 2020). Due to the state’s geographic isolation there is a high presence of endangered species that do not exist anywhere else. Major protection is required for these endangered species while protecting against invasive species and having a plan of response when these invasive species are introduced to the island. Streamlining is a mitigation effort that allows for the restoration of traditional fish farms that will make the state self- sufficient while managing their ocean resources. Hawaii currently imports 90% of their food consumption, their sustainable efforts will decrease their reliance on other nations and build up their local job force.  

Hawaii’s mitigation efforts also include committing to reaching 100% clean, renewable energy for electricity by 2045. Modernly, the state has the highest clean energy rate in the country with 37% of single family homes having rooftop solar panels to generate all of their own energy (UN News, 2020). Solar energy has been producing a significant amount of the energy for the state, these solar projects also create new jobs in construction and support services. Education is a huge part in preparing the workers for these new jobs that focus on enforcing the skills needed for a sustainable economy to thrive. New jobs will become created in the agricultural field as the state looks to diversify through smart greenhouses. Alongside, the livestock industry will see increase through more egg farms which eliminates the need to import them reducing pollution. As technology advances then the need for diverse jobs arises, creating a completely new Hawaii that invests directly in the communities. The Sustainable Hawaii initiative will boost the economy and sustainability around the world as it inspires other countries to follow in their strong lead.

UN News. (2020, March 23). Reaching ‘beyond the possible’ in Hawaii to meet sustainability goals | UN News. Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059832

Importance of Sustainable Development in New Jersey

Grace Watson

April 16, 2020

Over the last couple centuries, the United States has seen a major increase in development. As highlighted in Chapter 20: Greenfield Development and Site Design, there have been patterns of varying types of sprawl: urban, suburban, and rural, each of which comes with their own sets of difficulties. While doing this there are constantly new efforts and modifications needed to be made regarding urban agriculture, storm water management, restoration, water supplies, solid waste management, energy conservation, transportation and more as outlined in Chapter 19: Making Green Cities, Suburbs, and Metro Regions. The ways of responding to all these efforts, modifications, and necessities is best done through sustainable development which is essentially allowing the needs of the present to be met without sacrificing or hindering the abilities of the future to function equally.  

Cape May County, NJ

The main focus of this blog will be on the consequences of not striving for a sustainable development. This can be seen locally in our direct vicinity: in Cape May County, NJ. One of the biggest issues of this area is that over the last several decades, development has risen exponentially in this area. What were once the barrier islands used for farming and natural uses, are now beach homes. The normal population is increased up to 7 times during the summer months, which puts a significantly greater requirement on the potable drinking water supply. As tons of new wells and water systems were put in place, more was pulled from the natural groundwater system, which triggered a response of saltwater intrusion from three directions on this peninsula. This saltwater intrusion raised the chloride and sodium levels to unhealthy levels, forcing many wells to close and creating a heightened need for potable public drinking water. 

What is the Answer?

This poses the question: How do we resolve this? Fortunately, better planning and consideration of the environment moving forward will determine the future outcomes. Many renewable energy methods are controversial such as off-shore wind farming and desalination techniques. While these are great ideas, in use they create other side effects that are negative to the environment. Seemingly, clustering the beach homes and using more of a compact development design would definitely allow for more open space. Protecting the local wetlands areas and beach ecosystems are also of utmost priority in order to not affect the future generations. Only time will tell if sustainable development’s goals work positively in this area, but at least there is still time to respond.