Contents 3 Background 3
Contents 3 Background 3 Industry and the environment Sustainable industrial development Challenges Overview 4 Materials 5 Timings 6 Step-by-step delivery guide 7 4 Pre-project preparation Introduction Starter activity Brainstorming Design Presentations About CREST Discovery 11 7 2
Background Sustainability can be defined as meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission, 1987). Sustainable development requires a fine balance of meeting economic and social needs, primarily through economic development and growth, while protecting the environment and its natural resources. Industrialisation as a means of achieving economic development and growth is a key strategy across the globe, leading to the creation of industries, manufacturing output, job creation and government revenue. However, industrialisation often has negative impacts on the environment, particularly if unregulated. Industry and the environment Industrialisation is important for the economic growth and development of a society, but it can also be harmful to the environment. Amongst other things the industrial process can cause climate change, pollution to air, water and soil, health issues, extinction of species and more. This resource uses a case study, ‘Industry in Wales’, as a starting point for analysing industry and innovation in a specific local context. Traditionally, mining in Wales produced carbon-heavy resources that fuelled the rapid industrialisation of the world, including the increase in worldwide transportation and global modernisation. It is generally accepted by leading scientists that the Industrial Revolution and the burning of fossil fuels is to blame for the dramatic rise in greenhouse gases and the changes we are seeing to our global climate. Sustainable industrial development More and more businesses are now prioritising sustainability. Typically, sustainable businesses supply environmentally friendly products or services, but they may also be companies that have made an enduring commitment to environmental principles in their business operations. There are many aspects to sustainable industrial development. The United Nations for Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) defines sustainable industrial development as development that is: ● ● ● Economic: encourages a competitive economy, for exportation as well as domestic use Social: creates long-term employment and increased prosperity Environmental: creates energy efficiency, resource conservation, low waste production and the use of safe and environmentally-compatible materials. Challenges Non-polluting, environmentally sustainable industries tend to be intrinsically more labour intensive and less resource intensive than traditional processes. In order to encourage sustainable industrial development, industries must be helped to modernise. The development of new markets for climate neutral and circular products must be stimulated. The decarbonisation and modernisation of energy-intensive industries such as steel and cement should be prioritised. 3
