what is an engineer? why are they so important?

engineering a better world

What is an Engineer?

Why are they so important?

Aerospace Mechanical Civil Electrical Chemical

Aircraft &

Spacecraft

Design

Energy Generation

Infrastructure Planning

Electric Circuit Design

Water and

Sanitation

Aerodynamics Product Life Cycle Design

Structural Analysis e.g. bridges

Computer &

Software

Engineering

Bio Diesel

Propulsion Systems Control

Environmental Engineering

Power Engineering

Materials Processing

Flight Mechanics & Navigation

Biomechanics Project Management

Telecommunications

Bio-molecular Engineering

Climate Change…

We’ve all heard of it before

So What is it?

Today we will be referring to Climate Change as:

“the accelerated, unnatural warming of the earth due to the discharge of Greenhouse Gases as a result of human activities.”

The Greenhouse Effect

Sourced from: http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/tmorris/an_inconvenient_truth/an_inconvenient_truth.htm

The Greenhouse Gases

CO2Carbon Dioxide

CH4Methane

N2O

Nitrous Oxide SF6

HFCs

PFCs

The Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Gas Contributions to Global Warming

Chart source: www.ieagreen.org.uk/1.pdf

The Evidence…

Data Source: World Watch Institute

More Evidence…

Data Source: www.whrc.org/resources/online_publications/warming_earth/scientific_evidence.htm

One More Set of Graphs ...

Data Source: www.whrc.org/resources/online_publications/warming_earth/scientific_evidence.htm

• 10 people represent the world’s population

• CO2 cards show the world’s carbon emissions

• Money represents the global GDP

Why Should You Care?

Environmental Impacts

Other Impacts…

Socio-economic Impact

Livelihoods of Future Generations

Something to Think About…

The Red Cross states:

“Natural disasters in 1998 created more refugees than wars or other armed conflicts. Declining soil

fertility, drought, flooding and deforestation drove 25 million ‘environmental refugees’

from their land...The group represented 58% of the total refugee population worldwide”

Climate Justice

“The idea of fair distribution of responsibility among the developed countries to avert or

cushion the negative impacts of global warming on disadvantaged communities.”

Something to Think About…

Recommendations

• Emissions Trading – Setting and Promoting CO2 reduction targets

• Technology Cooperation – Increased funding for R&D into low carbon technologies

• Action to Reduce Deforestation – Loss of forests contributes more to Global Warming than entire transport sector.

• Adaptation – Climate Change to be integrated into development policy.

From the Stern Review Summary of Conclusions, pg 9

How are the undeveloped nations being affected by global warming and climate change?

What technologies can we use to stop climate change from having such a large impact?

1. Agriculture

Climate change has been shown to affect:• Land quality• Soil nutrients • Soil acidity • Water retention• Drainage

Engineering SolutionsImpact management

Civil and Environmental

engineering• Drainage system• Bore water holes• Reticulation systems

2. Weather anomalies

– Floods– Heat waves– Drought – Rising sea level– Decreased or increased

precipitation– Powerful storm surges

Engineering solutionsImpact management

• Improve building designs design• Better town layout and planning for low-lying areas• Improving disaster relief accessibility• Coastal dams and seawalls• Drainage systems to cope with flood situations.• Predict weather events before they arise

3. Sanitization and Health

• Extreme weather conditions can cause:– Waste management issues– Food and water contamination– Destroy food sources, leading to malnutrition

and a rise in disease• Spread of insect and water borne diseases

Engineering solutionsImpact management

• Better sanitization systems

• Clean water, and storage systems

• Appropriate housing

Summary

• Climate change consequences:– Agriculture devastation,– Animal extinction and

migration– Weather anomalies– Health emergencies

• Poorer countries will suffer the most in the short term

Summary continued

THE GOOD NEWS ….• There are plenty of solutions to these issues

THE CHALLENGES …• Some of the solutions have ethical issues• They all cost money, a problem for poorer

countries, who are rarely the cause of Climate Change forces

Part 2: Green transport

Aim of green transport:To produce transportation methods (both public and

privatevehicles) which emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Pie chart shows how CO2 is producedwww.envirolink.org/orgs/edf/sitemap.html

Typical emissions of various vehicles

Large car comparison

Medium car comparison

Small car comparison

Transport conclusions

• Do you really need a 4WD?

• Do you have the most fuel efficient model?

• Obviously – the smaller the car, the fewer emissions.• So why do people keep buying the most heavily polluting cars?

Vehicle technology

• Petrol engine

• Diesel engine

• Electric motor

• Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

• Hydrogen cell

The prevention is better than the cure

So lets start preventing NOW!• Talk to people about climate change and

what they can do• Set an example!• Reduce, re-use and recycle!• Buy better products• Support greener companies• Try to make yourselves carbon neutral!

NEXT TIME…

• Electricity and Transport – how do they effect climate change?

• Renewable energy – the global warming solution?

• United Nations Climate Change Assembly – YOU will be the members!!