Summary of ‘Revisiting the Limits to Growth After Peak Oil’
In the recent stage, planet Earth is witnessing a situation, where most of the natural resources have depleted. The major drive behind this is the rapid population growth, which has strained the economy. Even the media have failed to cover alarming environmental issues like limitations to the growth after reduction in the oil price. Packaging of the oils and other products in plastics has added to the pollution levels. These issues reflect the misuse of sustainable systems (Dovgot’ko, Kusakina and Skiperskaja 2014). This assignment picks up the developmental activity of traffic congestion in the areas near University of Wollongong and develops strategies to assess its impact on the environment.
From the beginning, the article projects the limitations in terms of man-made effects on the ecological diversity. As a matter of specification, no discussion is found on the climactic change, especially the depletion of the human resources. This depletion brings the negligence towards sustainable development. In spite of the population growth, aspects like depleting natural resources and population growth have been increasing rapidly. As a matter of specification, mention can be made of the decline in the oil reservoirs, which was once at the top of the natural resources (Hall and Day 2009). These issues find a proper placement in the book, the Limits to Growth, published in 1972.
The article upholds the propositions of the ecologists and computer scientists in terms of the materialistic needs of the growing population. 1970 was the era when humans encountered limitations to growth in terms of shocking oil prices. Typical evidence of this lies in the long lines at the gasoline stations. This reflected the limits, which were imposed by the growing culture of the American economy. One of the other forms of limitation is the absence of ideas related to the effects of the peak oil from reports and discussions in the newspaper. As per the arguments of Hall and Day (2009), growth limitations are also evident from the perceptions of the scientists regarding the issues. Most of the scientists are of the opinions that technology has resolved the issues. They are also of the opinion that warnings highlighted in The Limits to Growth are invalid, as they provide generalized notions on the aspects of growth.
Shifting the focus from the resources has added to the threats of the ecological diversity. Modern ecologists lack the awareness about the equation between the humans and the resources. Here, comparison can be made with the early scientists, who focused on the sustainable usage of the resources by the population. Mention can be made of the 2005 February issue, where the use of energy was personalized. The effects of the issues on the human population were barely mentioned. This kept the people in darkness regarding the environmental impacts on the utilization of the natural resources (Hall and Day 2009). 2008 was the era when media took the initiatives of publicizing the news of energy and rising food prices. Along with this, the media also reported the issues of hunger, which resulted in riots. However, the durability of these news headlines was short-lived. This was reflected from the shifts, which were noticed in the newspaper headlines. From the news of the increasing food prices and depletion of the natural resources, the focus shifted to collapse of the banking systems, inflation and unemployment, which adversely affected the economy. The common people blamed the officials for the economic chaos (Hall and Day 2009).
Steps for obtaining project approval with EIA in Queensland
The issue of depleting natural resources has alarmed Australian ecologists. Since 1990, Australia has been following the principles of Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD). For exposing better care towards the preservation of ecological diversity, the Australian government has developed ESD Policy. The principles of this policy are:
- Incorporation of environmental and economic goals within the identified and specified objectives
- Assessment of proper valuation for every natural resource
- Ensuring equality within the generations
- Exposing cautious approach in conducting risk assessment of the resources
- Gaining awareness about the standards of global dimensions (Epstein 2018)
Along with the policies, the Australian government adheres to Sustainable Development guidelines, which are as follows:
- Prevention is better than cure
- Interconnectedness between the every natural resource and ecosystem
- Minimal waste generation through mass production of renewable sources of energy and recycling
- Globalization of environmental costs and ensuring the acceptance of social policies
- Equality within the communities (Schaltegger and Burritt 2017)
Planning is one of the crucial acts in the operations of Australian government. This involves decision making, generating options, building consensus and establishing regulations and control for achieving sustainable development. Within the plans, triple bottom line reporting occupies an important position.
In this segment, the state selected is Queensland and the project selected is reduction of packaging. Usage of the plastic in packaging adds to environmental pollution. Therefore, assessments are needed in terms of gaining an insight into the extent plastics are causing threat to the ecological diversity. For conducting the assessment, the proponents needs to take prior approval from the government officials, which is done by complying to the following steps: identifying the packets used for packaging by complying to the legislative guidelines; assessing whether the proposed activity of using jute bags for packaging falls within the purview of environmental clearance; approaching the State Pollution Control Board for assessing the effectiveness of the control measures; public hearing; submission of application for environmental clearance along with EIA report; environment appraisal and issuing clearance or rejection letter (Jones and Morrison-Saunders 2017).
If the packets used for packaging does not match the legislative requirements, the proponents are instructed to select some other means for packing the items. The legislation also covers the assessment whether the packaging techniques falls under environmental clearance. A notification is issued to the proponents, where the proponents are instructed to conduct EIA study directly through a consultant. If the project of reducing illegal packing methods in Queensland falls in some other category, then it directly goes to the government officials for clearance. And if the project of reducing illegal packing methods in Queensland falls in the B category, then it does not require preparation of EIA reports (Friedl and Reichl 2016). Once the environment impact assessment is prepared, the investors approach the State Pollution Control Board, who assesses the effectiveness of the proposed use of jute bags in Queensland for packing the products. If the Board is satisfied with the specified area, the validity of the approval is extended up to 15 years.
Overcoming the pitfalls of EIA
Public hearing is an essential step for achieving clearance standards. This step provides a platform to the Queensland citizens regarding raising their voice about the issues of illegal packing techniques. Governmental intervention is appropriate in terms of exposing a collaborative approach towards preserving the ecological diversity. After the public hearing, the proponent submits an application for environmental clearance to the Ministry of Environmental Forestry. If reduction in illegal packing techniques falls under B category, filled up application form needs to be submitted along with EIA report (Laurance, et al. 2015). Along with this, the details of public hearing and No Objective Certificate are considered crucial.
The next step is that of environmental appraisal, which consists of scrutinization of the submitted documents. This is done through the means of inspecting the packing of the products in Queensland factories. After the scrutiny, proposals are sent to the committees of experts, who are hired for providing with special EIA notification. Finally, clearance issues or rejection letters are issued, which provide the proponents of Queensland with the approval to use jute bags for packing the products.
After the completion of all these steps, assessments and evaluations are completed within the next 90 days. In the following month, the ministry announces the verdict, which is conveyed to the proponents through proper notifications (Jones and Morrison-Saunders 2017). The clearance provided is valid for the next five year for commencing the operations of manufacturing jute bags in mass quantities.
In terms of averting the delays, the proponents need to start the decision making process well in advance. This would help in maintaining the balance between the processes of assessing the environmental impacts. The proponents need to keep them updated with the issues of road congestions and excessive energy consumption during the peak hours. Negligence in following up the newly unleashed concerns of the project would aggravate the complexities in terms of taking into account the latest editions of the issues. Absence of post audits and monitoring would compel the proponents to encounter difficulties in the implementation of mitigating measures and verification of predictions and estimations (De Montis, Ledda and Caschili 2016). Simply raising the warnings would not suffice the need for analysing the opportunities and benefits. Not considering the alternatives would make EIA report weaker. This would increase the problems of solving the identified issues of reducing the congestion on roads and mitigating the energy demands in case of the customers, during the peak hours.
Environmental Impact Assessment for a development activity
Biasness in the tones and language of EIA reports is problematic in terms of making the clients understanding the impacts on the environment. Inviting the interested parties in the preparation of EIA reports is essential in terms of executing the decision-making process efficiently and effectively. If the affected parties are not involved in the decision-making process, they would be deprived of the latest updates regarding the environmental impacts of reducing the congestion on roads and the mitigating the excessive energy consumption by the customer during the peak hours (Conte 2018).
The proponents need to be conscious about affordability in the mitigation measures. Lackadaisical attitude in this direction would reflect non-compliance with the legislative standards, which is difficult in terms of assessing the development levels. This is unrealistic due to the maintenance of the operational costs. Conscious approach towards preparation of the budget is effective in terms of gaining an insight into the costs of the activities and the additional resources needed for assessing the environmental impact. Private sector firms usually resist the preparation of EIA. This might be an issue for the proponents in terms of realizing the impact, which is created as a result of their excessive utilization of the resources (De Montis, Ledda and Caschili 2016).
In most of the cases, communication of the results of EIA reports is unclear. Voluminous reports are missing at the time of decision-making process. Using social media for communicating the results of EIA would be effective in terms of reaching to large mass of audience. Along with this, if the reports of the environmental assessment are sent to the clients, it would improve the public relations. This indicates assistance, aids and supports in environmental projects in the near future. Planning is crucial in terms of averting the difficulties in preparing the reports on environmental assessment of reducing the congestions and excessive energy consumption in the regional areas.
Inadequate economic valuation of the impacts can be considered as the careless approach of the proponents. Within this, if the modelling of the ecosystems is inappropriate, it indicates lack of proper planning. Inexplicit considerations of the uncertainties are also a problem in terms of solving the environmental issues (Conte 2018). Herein lays the role of the proponents in terms of conducting the risks involved in reducing the congestion of the specified areas of roads and reducing the excessive energy consumption during the peak hours.
Consideration of system approach is beneficial for the proponents in terms of gaining an understanding about the constructs of the natural world. Along with this, it also reflects the interactions between the environment and the resources. This understanding helps in making estimates and predictions about the growth and development. Complying with the standards and protocols of the environmental directives is assistance for the proponents in terms of progressing towards the path of sustainable development (Grote, Williams, Preston and Kemp 2016).
Strategy design for changing public behaviour
The roads leading to University of Wollongong are engulfed in congestions, aggravating the complexities of the users regarding the safety of the users. Road and Maritime Services have been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the traffic. The university personnel declared the traffic management at the beginning of the semesters. The university personnel expresses the fears that congestion in the areas in the areas adjacent to the university would lead to long traffic queues both ways to M1 Princes Motorway. These queues would increase the risks of accidents in case of the motorists travelling in high speed (Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018).
Figure: Traffic diversions during morning peak hours near University of Wollongong
(Source: Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018)
The developmental activity in this case would be monitoring the traffics of the areas adjacent to the University of Wollongong in the peak hours. The main aim of this monitoring would to manage the rush without affecting the traffic flow to M1 area. The outcome of this management would be the safety of the motorcycles plying in that area. If need rises, the traffic would be diverted to the west of the University. The time duration of the development activity would be six weeks. As a matter of specification, the traffic guards are planning to conduct the developmental activity from the coming Tuesday to Thursday in the morning between 8:15 am and 8:45am. The previous year’s performance would be taken in consideration (Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018).
The traffic guards are concerned that the proposed developmental activity of traffic management would increase the traffic in the Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road. However, the people would not have to bear this rush for long, as the traffic management would be over within two days. The people living in the other areas can use Irvine Street and Northfields Avenue for reaching to the University. It is recommended that the residents need to use their own transport at all times for averting delays in reaching to the workplace (Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018).
Traffic controllers would be on their duties at specified location from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 9 am. Upon discovery of traffic queues in M1, it would be diverted to west side of the University. Therefore, people intending to reach the University need to access Irvine Street via Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road. If the traffic is normal on M1, then these diversions would not occur. People availing bus to reach the University of Wollongong would not face any trouble due to the diversions. According to the plans of the traffic guards, the northbound rush towards the University would not be diverted. The vehicles plying on the M1 northbound ramp, i.e., towards Sydney, in the peak hours, would be diverted to the other areas through Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road (Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018).
The traffic management and the planned diversions would noticeably reduce the congestion among the vehicles plying towards University exit ramps through M1. Along with this, it would increase the safety of the motorists accessing these roads for reaching the University. Apart from this, diversion would be effective for the guards in terms of creating safer road conditions for the people residing in the areas adjacent to the University of Wollongong. Moreover, the diversions would provide hassle free entrance and exit to the people coming to the University from outside areas (Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018).
The New South Wales government regrets for the inconvenience caused to the people due to the diversions. The officials seek cooperation and patience from the citizens until the traffic management is carried out. For the convenience of the people, the government officials have uploaded a contact number, on which the citizens can get their queries, regarding the traffic changes, resolved. Apart from this, the people can access the website for acquiring additional information on the projects.
Figure 1: Customer service of New South Wales Government
(Source: Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018)
Strategies act as a central doctrine for the companies and organizations in terms of completing the activities within the stipulated time. This is mostly applicable in terms of effective handling of the projects, according to the requirements. In case of regulating the case of illegal packing means in Queensland, the proponents plan to use jute bags for packing the items. For this, mass production of jute bags is needed, as it needs to be supplied into every household of Queensland (Ehp.qld.gov.au 2018). Along with this, segregation of the plastics needs to be done. This would help in detecting the plastics, which can be recycled. For this, coding the products packed in recycled plastics would act as a wise step. While recycling plastics, plastic containers and bags need to be re-used. Sorting of plastics should be done according to the instructions of the drop off centres or the kerbside collection centres in Queensland. After sorting, the containers need to be thoroughly rinsed. At this stage, the lid needs to be removed, as it is also a kind of plastic.
The government can instruct the supermarkets to adopt the techniques of recycling plastic bags. This would act as a joint venture towards preserving the ecological diversity. The code numbers of the plastics need to be remembered by the proponents while recycling techniques in the local programs (Ehp.qld.gov.au 2018).
Conclusion:
Traffic congestions are one of the major issues, which are adding to the environmental pollution. More vehicles mean excessive fuel consumption. Sustainable development policies and directives assist the government personnel in controlling issues like traffic rush in the areas near University of Wollongong. Strategic approach in this direction is effective in terms of sustaining the resources for the future generation. Using jute bags would reduce the illegal packing and contribute in conserving the environment from polluting. Recycling plastic would reflect a conscious approach towards sustaining the resources for the future generation.
References and bibliography:
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Conte, E., 2018. The Era of Sustainability: Promises, Pitfalls and Prospects for Sustainable Buildings and the Built Environment. Sustainability, 10(6), p.2092.
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Rms.nsw.gov.au 2018. Managing traffic congestion and improving safety around the University of Wollongong. Available at: https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/illawarra/traffic-management-uow/traffic-management-uow-leaflet-2018-02.pdf
Schaltegger, S. and Burritt, R., 2017. Contemporary environmental accounting: issues, concepts and practice. Routledge.
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