Globalization and Sustainability Chapter 11 Exploring Globalization SCHS

Globalization and Sustainability Chapter 11 Exploring Globalization SCHS High School

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What is Sustainability? People cannot live without impacting the environment in some manner u Everyone needs: u – Materials to make homes, clothing, tools and so on – Fuel for heat and transportation, and to provide electricity – Food to stay healthy – Water for drinking, cooking, cleanliness and health

Ecological Footprint u The term scientists use to describe the impact people have on nature. u Your footprint represents the area of the earth’s surface needed to sustain the level of resources you use and the waste you create. u An individual or group’s footprint is the biologically productive land water resources needed to keep them alive. u If we all shared equally, we’d have 1. 89 hectares for every person on Earth.

Canada’s Ecological Footprint u Canadian’s have a much bigger ecological footprint than people in most other nations u 7. 25 hectares person! u If everyone consumed like we do, we would need 4 more planet Earths to sustain us!! Whaaaa? ?

Factors Affecting Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint in Canada u Take the test (http: //www. mec. ca/Apps/eco. Calc. jsp)

Bangladesh’s Ecological Footprint Canada has one of the world’s largest ecological footprints while Bangladesh has one of the world’s smallest at 0. 6 hectares person u Why? u – One of the least developed countries – Citizens have little to spend on consumer goods, large houses, and gas-guzzling whips – Only 33% of Bangladeshis have access to electricity – Consume less, produce less waste u Also, their population density is 31000% greater than Canada’s!

Bangladesh’s Ecological Footprint u Compare Canada and Bangladesh’s vital statistics.

Global Perspectives on Ecological Footprints u What percent of the Earth’s population do you think uses less than the 1. 89 hectares available for each person? u 70% u However, the other 30% of the world consume about 90% of the world’s ecological capacity.

The Resource Gap u u The gap between the resources the Earth can reasonably supply – 1. 89 hectares person – and what the people of the world now consume – 2. 8 hectares person - presents a challenge. To accommodate this overuse, we are using resources that could be saved for future generations (that’s you guys) Eventually, this will need to be fixed or we will run out of resources. At some point, the Earth won’t be able to sustain – provide the basic necessities to support life – this overuse

Population Growth u Over the next four or five decades, the world’s population is expected to grow by 2 -5 billion people. u The Earth’s resources are finite but more people will need to share them. u How will this impact developing nations? u How will North America respond? u http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=f Tzn. EIZRk. Lg

Consumption of Resources People want stuff! Consume more, and feel better about your material well-being. u Have you ever heard the term “retail therapy? ” u But more consumption = bigger ecological footprint u

Environmental Stewardship The UN is promoting the idea of environmental stewardship: accepting responsibility for ensuring that the earth’s resources remain sustainable u And what is sustainability? The ability of the earth to provide the resources necessary to meet people’s needs u What would happen if the whole world consumed at the level that Canadians consume at? That’s a rhetorical question, duh! u

Reflect and Respond n n Turn to page 263 in Exploring Globalization and complete the exercise at the bottom of the page. Be prepared to contribute a “refuse” action to the class!

How are Globalization and Sustainability Related? • Transportation is one element that adds to • • • increasing globalization Shipping, for example, moves goods and materials between suppliers, manufacturers, and buyers The relationship between globalization and sustainability are demonstrated by following the life cycle of a ship. DIVERSITY

Where are Ships Built? • Ship building is an increasingly booming business – it is a • • struggle for supply to meet demand Because of the need to replace old ships and the increase in global trade, from 2000 -2005: – growth in shipbuilding of 8. 3% per year – Shipbuilders have 3 -4 year backlog of orders In the 1970 s the ship building industry was dominated by the USA and Europe. Now, like many other industries, Asia is taking over Why?

Ships and the Environment • The large area required for building ships greatly increases the risk for environmental pollution. • The additives put into the paint to deal with the harsh conditions in the salt water are often toxic and by nature enter the water. • Also, the use of water and electricity by shipyards are high and generate a lot of solid and toxic waste • How would you describe a shipyard’s ecological footprint?

Ships and the Environment • Ocean-going vessels use only 3% of the fossil fuels consumed globally, but they emit 15% of the world’s nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. • This is primarily because ships use bunker fuel which is cheap and dirty. • One ship produces as much pollution as 2000 diesel trucks. Eeeeep!!!

Ships and the Environment • Ships carry millions of liters of seawater in their • • hulls as ballast – something that gives stability Ballast water is pumped around to balance the ship in different sea conditions; it is pumped out when ships are loaded and in as they are unloaded Ballast water contains as many as 12 392 marine creatures per cubic metre – sometimes with “invasive species” that cause problems in new environments where they previously did not exist

Flags of Convenience • “Flagging out” – many merchant ships operate under a flag of convenience: a flag flown by ships when they are registered in a country that is not the country of their owner • In 2004, about 64% of the total tonnage of ocean-going ships were flying under a flag of convenience. • Why?

Why a Flag of Convenience ? • Lower costs – • Registration fees are cheaper. This can save millions per vessel. Ease of registration – Little paperwork required; some can even register by fax. • Weak environmental • and labour laws – Ships must obey the laws of the country in which they register. Working conditions are rarely monitored and international maritime conventions are often ignored.

Disposing of Old Ships • A ship will typically last between 25 and 30 years – after this they become too old to maintain and are scrapped • Every year between 600 -700 ships end up on the beaches of Asian countries to be dismantled. • The workers in these countries make about $2/day to break down the ships so the metal and other materials can be sold

Death of a Ship • When ships are broken apart many hazardous • • materials end up in the environment Remember ballast water? It’s just released onto the beach Fuels, lubricants, and insulating materials like asbestos escape when the ships are broken The beaches end up littered with machinery, scrap metal, and discarded barrels How would this affect fishing and farming nearby?

Death of a Ship • In addition to the environmental concerns the • • • conditions for workers are horrendous. Lax safety standards mean risky business Workers’ torches ignite trapped gases causing explosions Falling steel beams and plates crush workers Asbestos in the air is inhaled by workers On average, one death per day in shipbreaking yards; ¼ will die of cancer caused by toxic exposure http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=lk 0 xbjam. Ht 0

SHIP BREAKING

Explore n Turn to page 269 in Exploring Globalization and complete the questions at the bottom of the page.

Proposed Improvements • North America has specific laws dictating how shipbreaking occurs; this led companies to move to developing nations with less strict • NGOs like Greenpeace, International Maritime Organization and International Labour Organization are working for more thorough international rules and stronger enforcement to make ship breaking more sustainable

Problems Facing the Industry

Discuss n Turn to pages 272 – 274 and discuss as a class the 3 issues.