bilbois

Guest Lecture 2

25 Feb 20254 min read

Sustainability: What Is It and How Can You Contribute?

1. Understanding Sustainability

  • Definition: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – UN Brundtland Commission, 1987
  • Key Questions to Consider:
    • What defines a “need”?
    • Are we currently living in a way that enables future generations to meet their needs?
    • What evidence exists for or against sustainability in our societies?

2. Climate Change & Its Impact

  • Climate change is driven by greenhouse gases and is already causing fires, floods, unstable harvests, and worsening health outcomes.
  • Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister, Simon Kofe, raised global awareness about rising sea levels threatening entire nations.
  • Eunice Newton Foote discovered CO₂’s greenhouse effect in 1856, highlighting the long-known science behind climate change.
  • Wealthier nations & individuals disproportionately contribute to climate change.

3. Exceeding Planetary Boundaries

  • Scientists believe 6 out of 9 planetary boundaries have been exceeded, threatening core life-support systems (Richardson et al., 2023).
  • Questions to consider:
    • Which boundaries are critical for life?
    • How can future professionals influence these issues?
    • Should planetary boundaries be treated as independent or interconnected issues?

4. The Sixth Mass Extinction

  • Biodiversity loss is accelerating, with extinction rates 100–1000 times higher than natural background rates (Cowie et al., 2022).
  • Previous mass extinctions wiped out 75–96% of species.
  • Scientists at the Natural History Museum attribute the current crisis primarily to human activity.

5. Food Insecurity and Global Hunger

  • 733 million people suffer from hunger.
  • 2.3 billion people experience food insecurity.
  • 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet, affecting both low- and high-income populations.
  • The 2030 goal to eliminate hunger is not on track (WHO, 2024).

6. Sustainability & Population Growth

  • Global population is projected to peak in the mid-2080s.
  • Population growth is unevenly distributed across the globe, raising questions about sustainability challenges and solutions.

7. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The 17 UN SDGs (2015–2030) provide a framework for global sustainability. Key goals include:

  • No Poverty (SDG 1)
  • Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
  • Climate Action (SDG 13)
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)
  • Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

Key Discussion Points:

  • How can individuals contribute to specific SDGs?
  • Which SDGs are relevant to mathematics and physics graduates?
  • Are the SDGs realistic, given global crises?

My SDG focus

Number 4 - quality education. Supports 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and supported by similar SDGs. Moderate - education exists in most places, but often not at a high standard due to understaffing etc. I currently work as a tutor to help educate as many people as I personally can.

8. Business & Sustainability

  • Many companies integrate SDGs into their sustainability reports:
    • Siemens Energy focuses on SDGs 5, 7, 8, 9, and 13.
    • Bakkavor aligns with SDGs 3, 5, 8, 12, and 13.
    • United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust links its Green Plan to the SDGs.
    • Enterprise (car rentals) aligns with SDGs 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12.

9. Local Sustainability Initiatives in Lincoln

  • Lincoln Climate Commission
  • Lincoln Conservation Group
  • Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
  • EarthLincs – Lincoln’s climate emergency centre
  • Mint Lane Café (sustainable food solutions)
  • Green Synergy (community environmental projects)

10. Addressing Sustainability Myths

Scientific American highlights common misconceptions about sustainability, including:

  • “Sustainability is only about the environment.”
  • “Sustainability is too expensive.”
  • “Technology will always provide the solution.”
  • “Recycling alone is enough.”

11. Career Paths & Sustainability

Graduates have found careers in:

  • Sustainability consulting (Forvis Mazars)
  • Data analytics (Boots)
  • Research science (National Physical Laboratory)
  • Engineering and project management (Rolls-Royce, Leonardo)

12. Personal Action Steps

  • Calculate your carbon footprint (WWF Footprint Calculator).
  • Explore your university’s sustainability strategy.
  • Identify how your studies and career can contribute to sustainability.
  • Engage with local and global sustainability initiatives.

Tom’s Slides on the Impact of Rolls-Royce

rolls-royce-sustainability.pptx

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