Sustainability project

1. THE SUSTAINABILITYTHE SUSTAINABILITY
PROJECTPROJECT
Chapter IX
Development and Social Change – A Global Perspective
Philip McMichael
Cornell University
Burenjargal. B
SungKongHoe University
2015.08.14

2. • Climate changeClimate change
• Stabilizing ecosystemsStabilizing ecosystems
• Centrality of agricultureCentrality of agriculture
• Feeding the worldFeeding the world
• Global land grabGlobal land grab
• BiofuelBiofuel
• Green technologyGreen technology
• Discussion questionsDiscussion questions
CONTENTCONTENT

3. Environmentalist’s Paradox
• Why, despite resource depletion and the degradation of
ecosystems, is average human well-being improving
globally?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YtYmbreq0g
• More than ever before, the world’s SURVIVAL depends on developing a different set of international protocols.

4. UNFCCC – COP (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
• NAPA (National Adaption Programme of Action) – LDCF , GEF, WB
• CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) – Adaptation Fund
• UN offset fund
a. Initially targeted emission reductions
b. Abused by chemical, wind, gas and hydro companies
• As a result NO CHANGE in emissions
CLIMATE CHANGECLIMATE CHANGE
• “Global warming is no longer
threat at all. It is our reality”
• Climate change security concerns by
individual state forms geopolitical
power relations and woven into
developmental policies

5. CITIES and CLIMATE CHANGECITIES and CLIMATE CHANGE
70% of70% of
emissions
emissions
2 billion slum
2 billion slum
dwellers by
dwellers by2030
2030
Threats on
Threats onbasic services
basic services
Physical risk
Physical risk
of climate
of climate
change
change

6. THE STERN REVIEW and GRASSROOTS INITIATIVESTHE STERN REVIEW and GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES
• DRR (1$ in DRR = 7$ in reduced
damage)
• Grassroots experience via
resilience
• Farmer-based strategy for Climate
Change and adaptation
• Local adaptive practices largely by
women
The report is
prepared for
the UK
government.
• WB projects maximum yield rather than
resilience.
• Preserving infrastructures - “Assistance”.
• Force to adapt prescribed biotech
• Peasant knowledge is not adaptive

7. Local wisdom - Yogurt
and dairy (milk) products
• Good for throat
• Skin care
• Beauty
• Main meal for
summertime
• Rehabilitation to support
immunization for kids
• Use of cream

8. MA (UN - The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment)
•Key findings:
 Discounted local resilience and no significance on ecological base
 Ecosystems are managed by poor by development agencies
 WEF focuses on ecosystem with tension of business risk and profit loss
•Suggestion
 Use of relevant forms of knowledge and information in assessment and decisions
making (inclusive of locals and women)
 Effective ecosystem management “place-based” knowledge
 Centrality of Agriculture to ecosystem management
STABILIZING ECOSYSTEMSTABILIZING ECOSYSTEM
Reduce carbon in the
atmosphere and
regenerate nature in the
process.
Rebuilding soil ofRebuilding soil of
carboncarbon
Expanding carbonExpanding carbon
sink via agro-sink via agro-
forestryforestry

9. IAASTD (In’l Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for
Development)
•UN and World Bank sponsored.
•Multifunctional role for agriculture in reducing poverty and issues.
STABILIZING ECOSYSTEMSTABILIZING ECOSYSTEM
Full cost
accounting-
Triple
bottom
line:
Energy,
Health and
Environment
al cost

10. FEEDING THE WORLDFEEDING THE WORLD
Organic farming:
•In global North produces 92% of conventional agr yield
•In global South produces 80% more than conventional agr yield

11. THE AGRO-ECOLOGY PROJECTTHE AGRO-ECOLOGY PROJECT
Criticism: Expensive and Great
labor requirement

12. WB World Development ReportWB World Development Report
• New opportunities for
transnational value-chain
agriculture
 Biotech fortified fertilizers
 Supplemented Asian diet
 Genetically modified seed
• “Feeding the world” through
GMOs
• In contrast, successful witness
of Organic agriculture
including indigenous
vegetables.
 114 projects doubled of
yields organic agriculture

13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpqXVjUAM9
The Global Land GrabThe Global Land Grab
Colonialism
Land grabbing with
food/energy/climate
crises
land offshore in the
name of addressing
food shortage and
alternative energy

14. BIOFUELSBIOFUELS
• Biofuels are energy
sources made from living
things, or the waste with
expectation to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
HOPE ?
• Productions and decisions are made in boardroom financial
calculus
• “Republic of Soy” – “Crime against humanity” &
“Responsibly destroying the world’s peasantry
• Heavily subsidized by governments for marketing
expansion

15. BIOFUELSBIOFUELS

16. GREEN TECHNOLOGYGREEN TECHNOLOGY
• In order to “solve” climate change issues
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
in efficient and cost effective way,
• Environmental markets were promoted
which converted into “Green Capitalism”.
• Cities are moving in this direction of the “greening”.
• Key targets are alternative power resources:
 Offshore wind project
 Renewable power “super-grid”
 Chinese firm Suntech Power, invented solar home system
• China is a global leader in solar energy in over 80 countries.
• Essential item “ENERGY” missed in the MDG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GmmYJcfVr0

17. Thanks for
your attention 

18. 1. How does the Sustainability Project set in your
society? E.g. efforts on climate change, country diet, Biofuel
issue, and green technology etc
2. What are positive and negative impact of “Green
Technology” in your opinion?
3. What would be your personal contribution to in the
sustainability project?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

19. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YtYmbreq0g
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35cGlRPbDls