Sustainable Development in Practice

Sustainable Development in Practice: Case Studies for Engineers and Scientists, Second Edition explores the concept of sustainable development and its implications for science and engineering. It looks at how sustainability criteria can be combined with traditional scientific and engineering considerations to design and operate industrial systems in a more sustainable manner. Taking a life cycle approach to addressing economic, environmental and social issues, the book presents a series of new practical case studies drawn from a range of sectors, including mining, energy, food, buildings, transport, waste, and health. Written in an accessible style, the book opens with a general introduction to the concept of sustainable development and explores its practical implications for technical experts. Recognising that practical application of sustainable development depends on the context, the second part of the book is devoted to case studies. The case studies explore scientific and technical aspects alongside relevant environmental economic and social issues. The key features of this completely revised and updated second edition include: Twelve new chapters, including the case studies on nuclear energy, biofuels, aviation, buildings, urban transport, food, sanitation and health. Six completely revised chapters Coverage of a wide range of sustainability issues in both developed and developing countries Integration of scientific and technical aspects with economic, environmental and social considerations Discussion of policy implications Communication with the non-engaging and non-scientific audience Considered essential reading for all engineers and scientists concerned with sustainable development, Sustainable Development in Practice: Case Studies for Engineers and Scientists, Second Edition also provides key reading and learning materials for undergraduate and postgraduate science and engineering students.

Sustainable Development in Practice: Case Studies for Engineersand Scientists, Second Edition explores the concept ofsustainable development and its implications for science andengineering. It looks at how sustainability criteria can becombined with traditional scientific and engineering considerationsto design and operate industrial systems in a more sustainablemanner. Taking a life cycle approach to addressing economicenvironmental and social issues, the book presents a series of newpractical case studies drawn from a range of sectors, includingmining, energy, food, buildings, transport, waste, and health.Written in an accessible style, the book opens with a generalintroduction to the concept of sustainable development and exploresits practical implications for technical experts. Recognising thatpractical application of sustainable development depends on thecontext, the second part of the book is devoted to case studies.The case studies explore scientific and technical aspects alongsiderelevant environmental economic and social issues.The key features of this completely revised and updated secondedition include:* Twelve new chapters, including the case studies on nuclearenergy, biofuels, aviation, buildings, urban transport, foodsanitation and health.* Six completely revised chapters* Coverage of a wide range of sustainability issues in bothdeveloped and developing countries* Integration of scientific and technical aspects with economicenvironmental and social considerations* Discussion of policy implications* Communication with the non-engaging and non-scientificaudienceConsidered essential reading for all engineers and scientistsconcerned with sustainable development, Sustainable Developmentin Practice: Case Studies for Engineers and Scientists, SecondEdition also provides key reading and learning materials forundergraduate and postgraduate science and engineeringstudents.

About the Editors ixList of Contributors xiPreface xiiiPart 11 The Concept of Sustainable Development and its PracticalImplications 3Slobodan Perdan2 Measuring Sustainable Development: An Overview 26Slobodan Perdan and Adisa Azapagic3 Assessing Environmental Sustainability: Life Cycle Thinkingand Life Cycle Assessment 56Adisa AzapagicPart 24 Translating the Principles of Sustainable Development intoBusiness Practice: An Application in the Mining and Minerals Sector83Adisa Azapagic and Slobodan Perdan5 Climate Change and Policy: The Case of Germany 117Wolfram Krewitt and Hans Mu¨ller-Steinhagen6 Sustainability Assessment of Biofuels 142Adisa Azapagic and Heinz Stichnothe7 Scenario Building and Uncertainties: Options for EnergySources 170Richard Darton8 Fuel Cells in Stationary Applications: Energy for the Future?189Martin Pehnt9 Sustainability of Nuclear Power 211Adisa Azapagic and Slobodan Perdan10 Municipal Solid Waste Management: Recovering Energy fromWaste 261Adisa Azapagic11 Sustainability Issues in Food Provisioning Systems 326Adisa Azapagic, Heinz Stichnothe and Namy Espinoza-Orias12 Providing Sustainable Sanitation 348Richard Fenner and Amparo Flores13 Sustainable Process Design: The Case of Vinyl ChlorideMonomer (VCM) 374Adisa Azapagic14 Urban Sustainability: The Case of Transport 420Slobodan Perdan and Adisa Azapagic15 Aviation and its Response to Environmental Pressure 449Alice Bows and Kevin Anderson16 Health Impact Assessment of Urban Pollution 467Zaid Chalabi and Tony Fletcher17 Social and Ethical Dimensions of Sustainable Development:Mining in Kakadu National Park 483Slobodan PerdanIndex 511