A new Green History of the World

 An 2011 Update of the Previous "Green History of the World":

Reversal of CFC and the ozone layer damage is one of the few environmental problems that that Human has successfully solved after inflicting on ourselves.  Yet, it was solved because there was a technological alternative - substitutes were developed, CFCs were not central to the economy, the same cannot be said about Carbon and global warming.

Reading how Humans dug up an entire island for  phosphate for farming reminds you of  the amazing destruction power of humans...

 

Current Environmental Problems cannot be understood without understanding the context of the nature of the world economy since 1500.

Is it a surprise the few Asia countries that managed to prosper after WW II are: 

• Japan that remained independent
• Korea and Taiwan that had US and escaped Europe Colonialism 
• Trade nations like Singapore and Hongkong.

Other countries remained in the exportation of agriculture products and commodities.

 The industralised world was able to live beyond the constraints of its immediate resource base while the price is paid for by the rest of the world.

 

Thomas Friedman Speech 2011at NUS

The common accounting of the financial and ecological crises:

1. Underprized risks, 
2. Privatised Gains
3. Socialised losses

Climate CHange and greenhouse gas is like a blanket. More CO2 etc is like putting on a thicker blanket. 

The reason to act is not because you are certain. The reason you act is because you are uncertain. 

Incredible opportunities masquerading as insoluble problems. 

Abundant cheap clean electrons is the solution to 5 main problems:

- Energy and Natural Resource Demand

- Petrodictatorship

- Climate Change

- Energy Poverty

- Biodiversity Loss

The green revolution is reached when the " green " word disappears. 

- you can't build a building unless it meets minimum building efficiency. 

Price matters more in the green revolution than the IT revolution. 

IT revolution changes the function basically, from landline to mobile phone. 

Green Revolution - doing the same thing, in a different way. same heating etc. No improvement in your life. 

Commodities - the more you create demand, the higher the price. 

Technologies - the more you create demand, the lower the price. 

The project could not be harder, the time could not be later, the stake could not be higher, the payoff can not be higher. 

You got to see it to save it but now we have Earphones in your ears, handphone in your face. 

It takes a village to raise a child. To get the whole thing together and work, is really hard. 

Speed, scope and scale needed.  

Number of Tops that I own

After reading that a Millenium own about 136 articles of clothing,  I am curious how many do I own.  In short,  I have too many from races and NS, however, one worrying trend is that I take the fact that it is sustainable and end up buying some unnecessary clothes - especially around my "Casual Smart Working Shirt" like a badly sized H&M blue shirt, and "Exercise T shirts" since I have so many singlets.  

Only thing is that I should wear T shirts over singlets for cycling. Let's grow bigger and outgrow our shirts - the only legitimate reason to change them.

Cradle to Cradle and Clothes

Someone was just asking me if I wear organic cotton last night and I was just packing cotton clothes for my sister who wants to wear them to sleep.

That was when I realise that actually all the clothes made from plastics( polyester ) last a LONG time.. Some of my shirts are definitely older than 5 years. In fact, I can't change my wardrobe because they don't spoil!! To make things worse, you get plenty of them from all the races.

 So what now. Buy only the good, expensive clothes. No more cheapo clothes. I don't need variety, I only need quality that lasts. 

It is not so much what it is made off, but how do you use the material - the core theme of Cradle to Cradle.  The most famous example in the book was that the authors deliberately printed a book made out of plastic, whose ink can be washed away and then reprinted with new content.

As such, this plastic book is then more environmentally friendly than a typical paperback - defying the normal thinking that paper is more environmentally friendly than plastic.

Though it is a thin book, I do think that actually you get the idea of the entire book quite early through the book. 

Perhaps, the issue is that the book describes an ideal state of the world - how do we get there is still unanswered.  

The change of Environmentalism for me

BECOMING AN ENVIRONMENTALIST
“Why are you an environmentalist? “  I have been asked that question a couple of times, even gave a little presentation on it.  Often people are curious why is there such a person in Singapore. If only they know there are many greater individuals out there in Singapore like Wilson, Siva, Ria and many other quietly contributing volunteers.
It is my love of science and Chinese culture that make me an  environmentalist.  Love for science allowed me to read more and learn about all the damage we are doing to the environment.  Chinese culture – especially Confucianism, teaches us to put the society before self.  Therefore, Science knowledge + Confucianism = Love for environment.  Thank God, I knew I wanted to to do that since Sec 3, when I had to think about a  longer term vision of NCC, I thought that I should have one for my own life too. That is perhaps the greatest benefit that NCC brought to me.
My friend Meijun did dig out another reason:  The Chinese has a strong philosophy about leaving something behind for the world, for better for worse.  I chose the field of environment cause there is no icon for it yet. Then, I didn’t know about Jane Goodall, though she may be the most well known environmentalist?   However, any common man can name you Bill Gates or Alan Greenspan (Giants in their specific field)  but no many common man on the street can give you the equivalent of an environmentalist.  I wanted to be that person.
All in all, I can say making this choice has provided me  a lighthouse in my life.
CHOOSING BETWEEN GREEN AND BROWN ISSUES IN THE ENVIROMENTAL AREANA.
Although my main environmental volunteer activities were in the Toddycats, which is  more of biodiversity group, my key interests is really in the brown issues.  What do I mean by that?  Perhaps the following summaries it best:
The Year Without Toilet Paper - New York Times
“That’s the thing about this current wave of environmentalism,” he continued. “It’s not about, how do we protect some abstract pristine space? It’s what can real people do in their home or office or whatever. It’s also very urban. It’s a critical twist in the old wilderness adage: Leave only footprints, take only photographs. But how do you translate that into Manhattan?”
Even if we legislate a certain nature area to be a reserve, if we have to develop it, it will still have to go.  Hence I am keen interested in what can I do in my daily life in my consumption of resources to save the planet.
THE URGENCY TO SAVE THE PLANET
“ My personal stand is this: As environmentalists, we are not trying to salvage the earth per se. We are merely buying time so that scientists and researchers can find alternative forms of resources. … All they need is time. That’s where the environmentalists come in.” 
Darren Shiau
I know the environment has to be protected because we humans, don’t own the Earth and at the way we are going, we may kill both ourselves and the planet.  The above statement by Darren Shiau provides an excellent answer to anyone who in the past asked,”What are you trying to do as an environmentalist?  Save the Earth?”
The issue with such a view is that there is a lack of urgency to the whole environmental problem. It seems like we can still pollute different parts of the planet and consume the resource as long as our rate of consumption don’t outrun the pace of innovation of our scientists.  It just seems like something for the long haul for hundreds of years.
IT IS A PRESSING ISSUE: THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH 
When the Inconvenient Truth came out, I didn’t feel a need to watch it as I felt that I am already a convert and I have a reason/argument to do my part of the environment.    Hence previously, there was a lack of urgency in me with regards to my concern for the environment.   The whole climate change issue brings in a much more urgent timescale to the whole environmental issue (decades for action to be taken, instead of hundreds of years ) and makes it one that affects the entire planet and not just regions of it. Most importantly, the problem of climate change as an environmental problem is one that will happen in our lifetime as compared to the depletion of resources .
IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN - IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE ARE SCREWING UP: A NEW GREEN HISTORY OF THE WORLD
Somehow after watching the Inconvenient Truth, I didn’t feel the urgency to do something about the environment as much as after I read “A new green history of the world”.  Maybe it was reading this book straight after Jared Diamond’s “Collapse” that made me realised in more depth that we have actually screwed up civilizations many times.  It was the amount of details of actual societies in “Collapse” and the account of generic areas such as the once Fertile Crescent described in a “A New Green History of the World” that struck something deeper in me.  Perhaps it was reading exact historical accounts of how we exploit the environment for our current form of  economies (for example the Ocean Island) that really resonated deeply in me.
Also, “A New Green History of the World” covers in details as compared to the film ( An Inconvenient Truth) about the  problem of climate change – the mention of positive feedback and the whole uncertainty of the climate model gives more urgency to the whole climate change problem. This is because, what the scientists have predicted earlier are happening at a faster rate because they have not taken into accounts of positive feedback issues such as the Arctic ice in Greenland not melting in a single piece, but rather it will crack into pieces and hence large chunks of it will enter the ocean earlier
TO BE GREEN IS MORE THAN A PERSONAL VIRTUE ISSUE: HOT, FLAT and CROWDED
This was the next book that brought me to a different level of environmental consciousness. Perhaps, the events above described a change in my understanding of the scale and urgency of the environmental problem, this book resulted in a change of my view of the scale of solutions.
For example in page 210, Chevron’s CEO, David O’Reilly states taht even if we shut down all industrial activities, all commercial activity, all residential activities – it will reduce carbon emissions by 68 percent.  I don’t know what are the rest – maybe the destruction of forests. Hence there are calls to pay governments not to cut their forests.
The most important message from the book is perhaps saving the environment is not a party but a revolution. We can’t continue to tell ourselves that we are doing our part for the environment as long as we practice a green lifestyle such as not using plastics bags, avoiding standby powers. Even if you reach a higher state of environmental consciousness and become a vegetarian, it is still not enough.
Another example is power production method which is very inefficient when considered for the entire process from electricity production in the power plants and through the the grid lines to the individual homes and offices.  At night, when the power demand is lower, the power generators are still kept spinning at a lower efficiency because it will take much more to start them up all over again.
In addition, our gasoline engines in cars is only 21% efficient.  What Thomas L. Friedman lays out in the boo k is something that people are calling it the V2G – vehicle to grid.  Basically, convert all cars to electric cars with batteries.  Charge them when demand for electricity is low ( at night) . Sell the electric power back to the grid when demand is high ( in the day). 
The ideal future is one whereby there will be microgeneration of energy using wind and solar in every buildings( more efficient than big electricity generators with their long transfer lines) , having smart grids  when batteries in households and electric cars can buy and sell energy to the grid ( eliminating the need for excess power plants) . 
One question I have though is what about the problem of standby power then if every single appliance is connected to the smart grid and programmed to function at where the electricity price is low.  The idea is for example, setting your washing machine to wash only when the price of electricity falls  below a certain amount, hence saving your money and making the power load of the power generation “flatter” and hence less need for excess power stations. To me, the washing machine must stay in a state of standby then and does this consume energy?
The biggest message that one should bring away from the book though is that it is not enough to be eco friendly in all your little ways.  There has to be some big changes to the world infrastructure and system that probably only governments and some businesses can bring about.
It is not that it is not important to embrace green living.  It is a move in the move in the right direction, and don’t declare victory prematurely as the simple ways are just not enough.   Also, we need educated, concerned individuals to bring about the change of mindset of the governments.  This is where eco friendly lifestyles of individuals matter – because only these people will be concerned.

Reflections from Saving Gaia

Yes, I won the Mediacorp's Gaia Life Challenge We all know that I had a chance in winning cause many other greenies in Singapore probably didn't sign up for the event.(Think Wilson, Ria and Siva)

I guess the biggest thing that I brought away from the event was that the public may not need to know the scientific mechanisms of the environmental problems as a start, it will be good enough to ask them to adopt steps to protect the environment in consideration of their pockets. Whatever the means as long as we achieve the ends. At this time of high inflation, of course, it is useful to teach them to save their own pockets through adopting standby energy, avoiding wastage etc.

Hopefully, the next step will be to educate everyone about issues such as the persistent existence of plastics in our oceans and the presence of various toxic chemicals in our body due to bio-magnification and bio-accumulation etc. All these are essential education steps so that consumers can exert the pressure to change industrial and commercial production methods. Of course, if everyone can go on to internalize the issues and adopt greater changes in their lifestyle such as avoiding plastic bags or going more vegetarian in their diet, that will the most ideal situation. Everyone will have to be an environmentalists in their second and third roles in their lives.

Not everyone makes environment the focus of my life, and how boring Earth would be if everyone does. However, perhaps just like how everyone thinks it is important to have some knowledge of financial management , everyone will be educated to a certain degree regarding environmental issues. I think it will be great enough everyone everyone could be like Michelle, having another job and passions but still caring about the environment in your everyday behaviour. There is no need to understand or learn about the Basel Convention or Clean Development Mechanism for the common environmentalist I guess...

Last but not least, my favourite part of the games was finally I got to share the Easter Island Story though i got the lowest point for the art games. Ha.

Oil is not only needed as fuel..

Biofuel technology could lift economy - 14 Jul 2008 - Economic News - NZ Herald:
"Watson, who founded Genesis Research, says 48 per cent of oil goes into transport fuels but the other 52 per cent goes into chemicals which drive the plastics industry."


I guess this statement in the above article says it all about an issue that I think lots of people are not thinking about out there。 That is while we debate the use of biofuels, nuclear fuel to replace fossil fuels as source of energy, no ones seems to talk about the fact that we are using fossil fuels to produce the plastic that is in almost every material in our everyday life.

Hence let's take it for example that renewable energy and nuclear can supply all our electricity/energy needs, we probably still need to use some land(be it palm oil or even just growing algae) for biofuels to make alternative plastic replacements?

The ultimate Ideal job( as an employee) and how to get there.

Ultimate target: Environmental sustainability program executive

An environmental sustainability program executive position with an organization seeking an individual who is passionate and knowledgeable about environmental issues while believing in an economical and practical approach towards addressing environmental concerns.

Job scope:

• Coming up with Goals, priorities, strategies for achieving measurable environmental benefits.
• Manage projects that are practically and technically sound from an economical and operational perspective while aggressive addressing environmental concerns.
• Implement and maintain environmental programs to comply to Environmental Legal and Corporate Requirements

Specific knowledge needed :

• Higher education in economics, business administration or environmental studies
• Experience in project management
• Experience in business strategy or management
• Broad understanding of environmental issues including:
• Statutory requirements of environmental legislation
• Life cycle assessment - life cycle inventories, and defining the life cycle scope.
• Certified Energy Manager program - to executive level at least to understand the savings.

General knowledge needed:

• Connections and understanding of environmental non- profit groups so as to be able to engage the community in environmental programs

Environmental beliefs and preference of jobs.

I strongly believe that environmental protection has to make economic sense - what we call eco-capitalism. With that lies my preference for jobs together with other career satisfier of mine:

1. Run my own eco company - that is a consulting company that work together with non profits, energy utility companies to help schools, organisations save on their operating costs .
1. The energy utility portion will work on the hardware of the building to reduce costs from energy savings
2. While the nonprofits will be those that spread the message of biodiversity in Singapore. This is important because "out of sight out of mind". Knowing the existence of nature in their backyard and understanding environmental problems closer to their homes, will help everyone appreciate nature and the environment more. This is working on the "heartware"
3. Lastly, to let them know how easy it is that they can save energy in their daily life.
2. Work for Virgin or Terracycle
3. Work as an environmentalist in a capitalist corporation such as …
4. Work in position in a corporation that allows me to use my organising skills, a position that is not in finance and engineering. Undivided over the following 2 because I believe more in "reduce" in saving the environment than in redeeming for excess environmental impact through carbon trading for example:
1. Preferably in an organisation related to eco businesses such as Ecosecurities or WastetoEnergy
2. Otherwise, it would be a for profit environment/corporation to more aware/in tune with financial needs.
3. Preferably not "end of pipe" treatment companies like wastewater or solid waste treatment companies.

Job search and the specific field of environmental jobs.

As times flies, people are asking why haven't you got a job? I guess I am looking for THE JOB.

As I browsed and browsed the net, I put down lists of jobs but with no inner conviction which ones to apply until one night, I felt that yes! Though the Hitachi Environmental Engineer job does not fulfill all my criteria of a perfect job I want, it is the closest one I would desire at the moment.

I was choosing between 2 types of jobs which also more of less illustrated my environmental beliefs:
1. Work with existing companies to help "green" their operations or design "eco-friendly" products. An idea job in the long term would be one like this by Environmental Defense" - environmental sustainability executive

2. Work with renewable energy or green areas such as waste treatment.

Actually, I made the choice about 10 years ago when I worked on my life plan - " To create product that is like Virgin, across many areas but standing for 'value for money' and 'eco friendly'

The difficulty in choice probably came about as I am not equipped with the business, operation management knowledge combined with relevant "eco knowledge" such as life cycle analysis and sustainability analysis; while at the same time, I want to make use of my university education in environmental engineering which basically is dealing with end of pipe treatment methods which as I learnt by now, is not the solution to the world.

I still remember that illumination came to me when I attended Prof Bob's class on something like an introduction into environmental technologies. Week by week, we learnt about the various waste treatment technologies such as scrubbing, membrane, incineration etc. Suddenly, it just hit me - All these technologies just serve to concentrate all the waste into a smaller volume. At the end of the day, we have to deal with the remaining waste ( often concentrated and more toxic). In a simple analogy, it would be ash remaining after incineration.

As such, if I can't land a job in the first type of area - environmental sustainability excutive, my priority in the second area would be in renewables rather than waste treatment such as in companies such as Hyflux. Of course this means that I will not get to apply basically anything that I learnt in my course and that actually, I am pretty ill-equipped in terms of skills for my preferred job.

In second area, the one that would marry my studies and yet play a bigger role in "renewables" would be deriving landfill gas as fuel.

How many times have you heard from people that reducing our eco- footprint is the same as reducing our standard of living

From a recent article " What is your consumption factor" by one of my favourite authors, Jared Diamond:

"No, we could have a stable outcome in which all countries converge on consumption rates considerably below the current highest levels. Americans might object: there is no way we would sacrifice our living standards for the benefit of people in the rest of the world. Nevertheless, whether we get there willingly or not, we shall soon have lower consumption rates, because our present rates are unsustainable.

Real sacrifice wouldn’t be required, however, because living standards are not tightly coupled to consumption rates. Much American consumption is wasteful and contributes little or nothing to quality of life. For example, per capita oil consumption in Western Europe is about half of ours, yet Western Europe’s standard of living is higher by any reasonable criterion, including life expectancy, health, infant mortality, access to medical care, financial security after retirement, vacation time, quality of public schools and support for the arts. Ask yourself whether Americans’ wasteful use of gasoline contributes positively to any of those measures."

I gues another point that critics/optimists bring up is that Earth is able to support up t0 9 billion people. That is true but the problem is that the population in question is not 9 billion but 73 billion when measured in current consumption standards. Again from Jared Diamond,

If India as well as China were to catch up, world consumption rates would triple. If the whole developing world were suddenly to catch up, world rates would increase elevenfold. It would be as if the world population ballooned to 72 billion people (retaining present consumption rates).