Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is one proposed method to create a carbon-free world?
What is one proposed method to create a carbon-free world?
Which of the following methods helps forests act as carbon sinks?
Which of the following methods helps forests act as carbon sinks?
What is the primary purpose of Carbon Pricing?
What is the primary purpose of Carbon Pricing?
What is currently the atmospheric concentration of CO2 that scientists seek to maintain?
What is currently the atmospheric concentration of CO2 that scientists seek to maintain?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is the largest carbon sink in the world?
Which of the following is the largest carbon sink in the world?
Signup and view all the answers
What method relies on natural processes to capture carbon underwater?
What method relies on natural processes to capture carbon underwater?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes the process of Carbon Capture?
What describes the process of Carbon Capture?
Signup and view all the answers
Which strategy is NOT associated with achieving sustainability?
Which strategy is NOT associated with achieving sustainability?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the main engineering solutions mentioned to combat rising sea levels?
What is one of the main engineering solutions mentioned to combat rising sea levels?
Signup and view all the answers
Which country is recognized for effectively addressing rising sea levels through various measures?
Which country is recognized for effectively addressing rising sea levels through various measures?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does the Maeslant Barrier play in flood prevention?
What role does the Maeslant Barrier play in flood prevention?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the people-oriented measures mentioned in combating flooding?
What is one of the people-oriented measures mentioned in combating flooding?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of the Netherlands is located below sea-level, prompting proactive measures?
What percentage of the Netherlands is located below sea-level, prompting proactive measures?
Signup and view all the answers
What global temperature increase is predicted to cause significant sea-level rise by 2100?
What global temperature increase is predicted to cause significant sea-level rise by 2100?
Signup and view all the answers
Which environmental approach is employed to help cities cope with floodwaters?
Which environmental approach is employed to help cities cope with floodwaters?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main focus of the output-led design principle?
What is the main focus of the output-led design principle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary goal of carbon pricing mechanisms?
What is the primary goal of carbon pricing mechanisms?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes carbon tax?
Which of the following describes carbon tax?
Signup and view all the answers
How does a carbon market operate?
How does a carbon market operate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of these countries has the highest carbon tax rate?
Which of these countries has the highest carbon tax rate?
Signup and view all the answers
What is green engineering primarily focused on?
What is green engineering primarily focused on?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a distinguishing feature of a carbon market compared to a carbon tax?
What is a distinguishing feature of a carbon market compared to a carbon tax?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one goal countries pursue in moving towards sustainability?
What is one goal countries pursue in moving towards sustainability?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a common method to achieve sustainability?
Which of the following is NOT a common method to achieve sustainability?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main function of Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)?
What is the main function of Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)?
Signup and view all the answers
Which country has the highest percentage of forest area?
Which country has the highest percentage of forest area?
Signup and view all the answers
Which process specifically captures CO2 from the atmosphere?
Which process specifically captures CO2 from the atmosphere?
Signup and view all the answers
Which product is mentioned as being manufactured using captured CO2?
Which product is mentioned as being manufactured using captured CO2?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the carbon emission contribution of Niue?
What is the carbon emission contribution of Niue?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of its land must Bhutan maintain as forest as per its constitution?
What percentage of its land must Bhutan maintain as forest as per its constitution?
Signup and view all the answers
How does Climeworks utilize captured CO2 in their greenhouse project?
How does Climeworks utilize captured CO2 in their greenhouse project?
Signup and view all the answers
What unique achievement does Bhutan hold regarding tree planting?
What unique achievement does Bhutan hold regarding tree planting?
Signup and view all the answers
What does it mean to be carbon neutral?
What does it mean to be carbon neutral?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is incorrect?
Which of the following statements about Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is incorrect?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT one of the four pillars of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index?
Which of the following is NOT one of the four pillars of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index?
Signup and view all the answers
What is Bhutan's goal for zero waste by?
What is Bhutan's goal for zero waste by?
Signup and view all the answers
What was a key achievement of Climeworks at the geothermal power plant in Iceland?
What was a key achievement of Climeworks at the geothermal power plant in Iceland?
Signup and view all the answers
Which option best describes the process of Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)?
Which option best describes the process of Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)?
Signup and view all the answers
What proportion of land in Gabon is covered by forests?
What proportion of land in Gabon is covered by forests?
Signup and view all the answers
Which country is described as a net carbon sink country and contributes very low in global carbon emissions?
Which country is described as a net carbon sink country and contributes very low in global carbon emissions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main function of the canals being dug in public spaces?
What is the main function of the canals being dug in public spaces?
Signup and view all the answers
What capacity does the underground reservoir in the Museumpark hold?
What capacity does the underground reservoir in the Museumpark hold?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a green roof?
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a green roof?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes a circular economy compared to a traditional linear economy?
What characterizes a circular economy compared to a traditional linear economy?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the designed reaction of the Maeslant Barrier during a storm surge?
What is the designed reaction of the Maeslant Barrier during a storm surge?
Signup and view all the answers
In what way do water plazas function during heavy rainstorms?
In what way do water plazas function during heavy rainstorms?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a unique property of minerals, like copper, that supports a circular economy?
What is a unique property of minerals, like copper, that supports a circular economy?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the ground-shifting plan aim to mitigate flooding in the Netherlands?
How does the ground-shifting plan aim to mitigate flooding in the Netherlands?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
KIX 2005 Law, Ethics & Sustainability for Engineers
- Course focuses on achieving sustainability through various methods
- Week 11 & 12 cover learning outcomes related to achieving sustainability
- Topics include:
- Carbon-free world
- Renewable energy
- Green engineering
- Circular economy
Achieving Sustainability
-
Carbon-free world:
- Current atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 417.1 ppm (2022)
- Scientists recommend maintaining CO2 concentration between 430-480 ppm to prevent extreme climate interference
- Solutions include: Carbon Capture, Carbon Neutral, Carbon Pricing
- Renewable energy
-
Green Engineering:
- Design and use of processes/products to minimize pollution, promote sustainability, and protect human health
- Principles include:
- Inherently non-hazardous and safe
- Minimize material diversity
- Prevention instead of treatment
- Renewable material and energy inputs
- Output-led design
- Very simple
- Efficient use of mass, energy, space & time
- Meet the need
- Easy to separate by design
- Networks for exchange of local mass & energy
- Test the life cycle of the design
- Sustainability through product of life cycle
-
Circular economy
- Shift from linear 'take-make-dispose' to circular 'minimize waste and make most of resources'
- Examples: Recycling, reusing, repurposing materials, closed-loop systems, etc.
Carbon-Free World Details
-
Carbon Capture:
- Capturing CO2 from the atmosphere, compressing it, and storing it underground or in the deep ocean
-
Carbon Neutral:
- Balancing CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere with CO2 removed
-
Carbon Pricing:
- Imposing a fee on carbon emissions to encourage cleaner alternatives
- Examples: Carbon tax, Carbon market
Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)
- Set of real-world technologies preventing CO2 from entering atmosphere via safe underground storage or converting it to useful products:
- Capturing CO2 at power plants or manufacturing facilities
- Injected underground to enhance oil recovery, create useful products
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
- Capturing CO2 from atmosphere and storing it deep underground
- Climeworks 2017: Successfully captured 900 metric tons of CO2 annually in Switzerland.
- Icelandic geothermal power plant: Used captured CO2 to achieve net-negative emissions.
Carbon Neutral Countries
- Bhutan (Asia): High forest cover, low population density, significant CO2 absorption
- Suriname (South America): High forest area due to extensive Amazon rainforest.
- Gabon (Central Africa): Extensive forest land.
- Other countries: Guyana, Panama, Niue, Comoros, Madagascar (net carbon sinks).
Bhutan's Carbon Negative Approach
- Bhutan's constitution mandates 60% forest cover (currently 72%)
- Sustainable tourism model, charging visitors sustainable fees
- Gross National Happiness Index (pillars):
- Sustainable development
- Environmental protection
- Cultural preservation
- Good governance
- Efforts:
- High absorption of carbon over its emission
- World record in tree planting
- Banning of export logging
- Low population density
Bhutan's Ambitious Goals
- Aiming for zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
- Zero waste by 2030
- 100% organic food production by 2020
- Converting all vehicles to electric
- Increasing renewable energy reliance, exploring wind, biogas and solar.
Countries Committing to Carbon Neutrality
- Countries aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 include:
- Suriname; Bhutan; Sweden; UK; EU; France; Denmark; New Zealand, Hungary, Canada, South Korea, Spain; Chile; Fiji
Carbon Pricing
- Government-imposed fee on carbon emissions
- Carbon tax and carbon markets:
- Companies can sell excess or buy additional emissions credits on carbon markets.
Re-inventing Cities
- Repurposing unused spaces and buildings.
- Examples: New York City (rooftop gardens, green energy), Palermo (chemical factory transformed to a tourism/leisure area), Bilbao (revived historical building).
Other Important Points
- Importance of genetic engineering (SSB) to combat climate change
- The world's coastal cities facing potential underwater conditions due to sea-level rise
- The Netherlands' approach to fighting coastal flooding, utilizing measures such as the Maeslant Barrier, canals, water plazas, underground reservoirs and green roofs.
- Kuwait's experience in recycling and repurposing tyres.
- Sustainable initiatives/trials using/recyclying nappies and plastic bottles
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz covers essential concepts on achieving sustainability focusing on a carbon-free world, renewable energy, and green engineering practices. Weeks 11 and 12 provide insights into critical methods and principles aimed at minimizing pollution and promoting ethical engineering. Test your knowledge on circular economy and innovative practices that protect human health and the environment.
