Energy and the Environment
Dr. Scott Harrison
BC Hydro
Field Operations
Environment and Social Issues
1. The Earth is a finite, closed ecological system.
2. Humans require natural resources.
(ecological goods and services)
3. Natural resources are the result
of Ecological Processes.
4. Maintaining ecological processes
yields Ecological Resiliency.
Sustainability is the integration of social well-being,
economic prosperity, and ecological resilience.
Nature Flat
Views of Nature
- system is stable only if forces equal
- management can control system if “correct”
level of use is discovered
Nature Balanced
- if disturbed, will return to equilibrium
- management = Maximum Sustainable Yield
Nature Anarchic
- fundamentally instable
- persistence is only possible with
minimal demands on Nature
- focussed on maintenance of the status quo
Nature Resilient
- multi-stable states
- abrupt and transforming change
- management approaches that are adaptive
(Gunderson and Holling 2002)
Ecological Resilience and the Adaptive Cycle
Gunderson and Holling 2002
Adaptive Management
2 - NOT trial-and-error
3 - learning by doing
3 - management as an experiment
3 - uses quantifiable objectives
and experimental design
(Walters 1989)
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
(United Nations 2005)
- 4-year examination of global ecosystems
- 1,360 scientists, economists, business professionals
from 95 countries
- examined changes over last 50 years
- highlighted the importance of ecosystem services for
human well-being and business development
Status of the world’s ecosystem services
Degraded
Mixed
Enhanced
Provisioning
Capture fisheries
Wild foods
Biomass fuel
Genetic resources
Biochemicals
Fresh water
Timber
Fiber
Crops
Livestock
Aquaculture
Regulating
Air quality regulation
Climate regulation
Erosion regulation
Water purification
Pest regulation
Pollination
Natural hazard regulation
Water regulation
Disease regulation
Carbon sequestration
Cultural
Spiritual values
Aesthetic values
Recreation & ecotourism
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)
Energy Priorities for true Sustainability
1.
Ecological sustainability
(closed-system approach for a single planet)
2.
Reduced consumption
(lower human demands on global ecosystems and
ecosystem services)
3.
“Green”
(includes effects on ecosystems and ecosystem services
with appropriate regulatory certification and monitoring)
4.
“Clean”
(focus on G.H.G. – ignores ecosystem aspects, such as
biodiversity, cumulative effects, water quality, wilderness
values, and many others)
Given that true Ecological Sustainability (previous
slide) is unlikely in current political climate,
practical approaches to achieving sustainability
must include ALL three pillars:
1.social well-being
2.economic prosperity
3.ecological resilience
• transmission infrastructure has
capacity to meet growing demand.
• transmission congestion relief policy.
• procurement that recognizes value of
aggregated intermittent resources
• review BC Utilities Commissions’ role
considering social and environmental
costs and benefits.
Environmental
Impact Goal
“No net incremental
environmental impact
by 2024”
[from 2004 baseline]
BC Hydro – Participation in international initiatives
Ecosystem Services
Review
Method to help
business identify their
dependence and impact
on ecosystems
BC Hydro – Participation in international initiatives
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
- report on the global economic benefit of biological
diversity
- the cost of “failure to take protective measures”
- analogous to the Stern Review
Dr. Scott Harrison
wildlife@bchydro.com