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UST CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 1

 ENG 2013 | MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION
Engr. Marvin L. Samaniego, M.Sc.
Engr. Divine G. Sumalinog, Ph.D.
Course Instructors
UST Chemical Engineering Department
Lecture Objectives
At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to
❖ Identify the major global
environmental issues, including their
causes and impacts.
❖ Understand the concept of
sustainable development.
❖ Explain the concept of circular
economy.

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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
PART 1

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 ENVIRONMENT

The complex of physical, chemical and biotic

factors that act upon an organism or an
ecological community and ultimately
determine its form and survival (Britannica)

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 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

❖These are problems that are created due

to human activities which leads to harmful
effects on the environment.
❖Their effects are interconnected and can
cause new effects.

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Factors leading to Environmental Issues

MODERN
RAPID LIFESTYLE
INDUSTRIALIZATION

URBANIZATION
OVERPOPULATION

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Factors leading to Environmental Issues

We should understand that our resources MODERN

LIFESTYLE
are finite and that the current methods of
RAPID
INDUSTRIALIZATION

consumption are using up more resources

OVERPOPULATION than our planet can afford.
URBANIZATION

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MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

❖ Pollution
❖ Climate change
❖ Deforestation
❖ Loss of biodiversity
❖ Ozone layer depletion

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 POLLUTION

❖ Pollution is defined as any change in the

properties of the environment that lowers
a previously beneficial use
❖ Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Soil
Pollution

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 CLIMATE CHANGE

❖ Refers to the increasing changes in the measures

of climate over a long period of time – including
precipitation, temperature and wind patterns.
❖ Due to the “greenhouse effect” wherein huge
amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
(GHGs) released from human activities are
naturally trapped by the ozone layer
❖ This then led to changes in weather patterns,
more destructive natural occurrences, drying up
of water resources and melting of polar icecaps

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 CLIMATE CHANGE
Source: National Geographic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4H1N_yXBiA)

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 IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

❖ Global warming
❖ Decrease in sea ice and increase in permafrost
thawing
❖ Rise in sea level
❖ Increase in heat waves
❖ Heavy precipitation
❖ Decreased water resources in semi-arid regions
❖ Reduced crop production
❖ Climatic effects: unequal rain distribution, hotter
and longer summers, shorter and warmer winters

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DEFORESTATION

❖ Around 30% of the Earth’s land area is

covered by forests
❖ About 7.3 M hectares of forest are
destroyed each year
❖ Tropical forests used to cover 15% of the
planet’s land area; however, they are now
down to 6-7%.
❖ Mainly due to logging or burning to make
place for agriculture, construction, industry,
residential, and to use as resources

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IMPACTS OF
DEFORESTATION
❖ Forests act as the planet’s huge CO2 sinks,
and they provide ecosystem services, such
as erosion prevention and habitat of
countless of species.
❖ Loss of trees and other vegetation can lead
to flooding, soil erosion, decreased crops,
water pollution, climate change (increased
GHG in atmosphere), loss of biodiversity

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 LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

❖ Biodiversity is traditionally defined as the variety

of life on Earth in all its forms. It comprises the
number of species, their genetic variation and the
interaction of these lifeforms within complex
ecosystems.
❖ Biodiversity provides us with clean air, fresh water,
good quality soil and crop pollination. It helps us
fight climate change and adapt to it as well as
reduce the impact of natural hazards.
❖ 1M species (out of a total 8M) are threatened
with extinctions (UN report, 2019)

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LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY:
PRIMARY DRIVERS
❖ Alteration/Loss of habitats
❖ Overexploitation of resources
❖ Climate change
❖ Pollution
❖ Introduction of exotic species
and genetically modified
organisms

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 LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY:
IMPACTS
❖ Lowers an ecosystem’s productivity, resilience and
quality of services
❖ Vulnerability of food supplies to pests and
diseases
❖ Limited resources for food, building materials,
medicines
❖ Irregular or short supply of fresh water
❖ Loss of livelihood for locals; economic effects

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OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

❖ The ozone layer filters harmful UV radiation

(UV-B & UV-C) from the sunlight and
protects life on earth (like a natural
sunscreen for earth).
❖ Mostly caused by chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
❖ Halocarbons containing only carbon, fluorine and
chlorine. Most used CFCs are CFC-11 and CFC-12.
❖ Applications: coolants, propellants, cleaning
solvents

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OZONE LAYER DEPLETION:
EFFECTS
❖Increased cases of skin cancer, cataract,
immunosuppression
❖Decrease in population of phytoplankton
affecting the whole aquatic food chain
❖Decrease in yield of vital crops, such as corn,
rice, wheat, etc.
❖Degradation of paints, plastics and other
polymeric materials resulting to economic
losses

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
PART 2

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 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

“Sustainable development is development that meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.”
- “Our Common Future”, Brundtland Commission (1987)

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 THREE PILLARS
OF
SUSTAINABILITY

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 THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY

ECONOMIC SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL

The use of various The ability of a community This involves decision-

strategies for employing
existing resources optimally
to achieve a responsible
and beneficial balance over
the longer term.
to develop processes and
structures which not only
meet the needs of its
current members but also
support the ability of future
generations to maintain a
healthy community.
making and taking actions
to protect the natural world
by focusing on the
preservation of the
capability of the
environment to support life.

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UN 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT (2015)

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Source: Swiss Learning Exchange (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijSSe66865w)

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY
PART 3

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 Source: https://hi-cone.com/2020/08/the-total-cost-of-consumption/

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WHAT IS CIRCULAR ECONOMY?

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCRKvDyyHmI&t=228s)

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BUTTERFLY DIAGRAM

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc-FQvPO89Y&t=146s)

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CIRCULARITY EXAMPLE

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvAd7t33fdo)

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 ENG 2013 | MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION
END OF LECTURE