402-0742-00L Energy and Environment in the 21st Century (Part II)
Semester | Spring Semester 2017 |
Lecturers | M. Dittmar |
Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
Language of instruction | English |
Abstract | Despite the widely used concepts of sustainability and sustainable development, one remarks the absence of a scientific definition. In this lecture we will discuss, based on the natural laws and the scientific method, various proposed concepts for a development towards sustainability. |
Learning objective | A scientifically useful definition of sustainability? Unsustainable aspects of our lifestyle and our society? (unsustainable use of ressources, environmental destruction and climate change, mass extinctions etc) How long can humanity continue on its current unsustainable path, what are the possible consequences? Historical examples of society collapse. What can we learn from them. Existing Gedanken models/experiments (like Permaculture) promise to transform the human society into the direction of sustainability. If these ideas would theoretically transform our global society into a sustainable one, what are the large scale limitations and why do we not yet follow these ideas? |
Content | Introduction ``sustainability" (24.2.); Population Dynamik (3.3.); finite (energy)-resources (10.3.); waste problems (17.3.); water, soil and industrial agriculture (24.3.); biodiversity (31.3.); (un)-sustainable development (7.4./28.4./5.5); example for sustainable systems (12.5./19.5.); human nature, Ethics and earth-care(?) (26.5./2.6.) |
Lecture notes | Web page: http://ihp-lx2.ethz.ch/energy21/index.html |
Literature | for example: Environmental Physics (Boeker and Grandelle) A prosperous way down: Principles and Policies (H. Odum and E. Odum) |
Prerequisites / Notice | Basic knowledge of the ``physics laws" governing todays energy system and it use to deliver ``useful" work for our life (laws of energie conservation and of the energy transformation to do work). Interest to learn about the problems (and possible solutions) related to the transition from an unsustainable use of renewable and non renewable (energy) resources to a sustainable system using scientific method. |