Workshop Shanghai 2010
The 2nd Workshop on Earth System Engineering
Minute
May 6, 2010, IFAT Shanghai
The “2nd Workshop on Earth System Engineering-Challenges and Chances for the Water Sector”, which was jointly organized by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) and the International Expert Group on Earth System Preservation (IESP), co-organized by MMI (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, was successfully held in IFAT Shanghai on May 6, 2010.
This workshop was the follow-up of the “1st Workshop on Earth System Engineering-The Art of Dealing Wisely with the Planet Earth”, which was successfully held in Wildbad Kreuth, Germany on September 23-26, 2008. It is commonly recognized and agreed on that global warming, the energy crisis, water scarcity, social conflicts and the reduction of biodiversity are global challenges related to the human need for energy and resources that combined result in large-scale impacts within the Earth system. Earth system engineering has the potential to alleviate these impacts. Thus, this workshop enabled dialogues between Chinese and European experts. Participants came mainly from IESP, CRAES, Ocean University of China, Beijing Normal University, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences(SAES), Tongji University, Liaoning Academy of Environmental Sciences, etc..
Section I. Earth System Engineering via Geoengineeting
Ø Presentation
After welcome speech by MMI (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, the workshop started with Section I. Earth System Engineering via Geoengineeting, in which Prof. Peter Wilderer, Professor from TU Munchen, Germany, first introduced the background of “Earth System Engineering-The Art of Dealing Wisely with the Planet Earth” and the formation of IESP, explaining the purpose and meaning of Zugspitze Declaration of 1st Workshop on Earth System Engineering. Prof. Wilderer went on to discuss how the interlocking demands for energy, water, food and settlement area may lead to societal and economic instability, which in turn would lead to increasing migration and urbanization, exacerbating the environmental problems. The apparent solution to these problems is sustainable earth system engineering.
Then, Prof. Wei Meng, President of CRAES, presented “The Role of a Stable Environment for Harmony of Society”, illustrating the threatening factors ahead of the earth system and the basis for earth system engineering. After demonstrating an understanding of Zugspitze Declaration, Prof. MENG explained China's ideas and concepts about a harmonious society between humans and nature, citing words from Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Guangchengzi. In accordance with the pressure ahead of China's establishment of a harmonious society, such as population, environmental pollution, etc., he set forth China's general strategic target for environmental protection in the fields of water pollution control and low carbon economy, etc., analyzing the potential cooperation between China and other countries in the field of earth system engineering.
Dr. Martin Grambow, Director General of Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Health Water, Munich, gave his presentation, entitled “Sustainability as Inevitable Political Consequence”; he began by discussing the development of the world and its attitude towards the earth system, which has changed from the idea of conquering and using the world to respecting and treasuring it. It is found that balance must be reached between the economy, social society and ecology to realize sustainability. Dr. Grambow went on to discuss challenges in Europe and ways to achieve sustainability both in terms of technological feasibility and political feasibility. Finally, he expanded on three necessary future actions, which are the understanding and ownership of common goods, motivation of the masses and a positive understanding and communication of a sustainable future.
Ø Q&A
Questions were asked by the audience concerning carbon capture and storage, the learning of advanced experience in fields of water environment protection, the global foot print, environmentally friendly products, and the common concern of China and Germany as well their special interest separately. It was pointed out by Prof. Wilderer that carbon capture and storage is only a single measure and that the earth system engineering needs the cooperation of people, because engineers can do a lot but nothing without society, thus a tailored management strategy would be needed. Dr. Grambow indicated that education is very important to encourage better consumption habits of green products. Prof. Meng also stressed on the importance of an appropriate energy and resource consumption structure not only in China but throughout the world. He mentioned that there were quite a lot of good examples to be learnt from in developed countries like Germany, but dialectic learning would be required according to the different situation of each countries. For example, it would be a good idea to learn from the development pattern of rural areas in Germany.
Section II Oceans, Water and the Atmosphere-Is Management Possible?
Ø Presentation
Prof. Zhang Yuan, CRAES, presented “Earth Engineering and Zoning Management of Aquatic Ecology”, detailing the critical situation facing our aquatic ecosystems today. Prof. Zhang Yuan explained how the combined problems of water pollution, flow modification and species invasion are seriously threatening the biodiversity and water quality across the world. One method to address these problems is to effectively zone aquatic ecosystems to address the regional differences. To do so effectively it is necessary to conduct river health assessments, examine the effects of the terrestrial landscapes and determine the ecosystem's flow patterns. Thus protected areas can be identified, nature reserves can be established, standards can be set for ecosystem restoration and the effects of the restoration projects can be analyzed.
Prof. Wu Linxin, Ocean University of China, illustrated the relationship between Ocean, Water Cycle and Climate in terms of oceanography, demonstrating the impact of the water cycle change on the ocean environment and the increase of the global water cycle caused by global warming. The idea of viewing the ocean as a heat engine, in which the water cycle change would in turn cause change in the global climate, was examined and discussed.
Dr. Axel Kleidon, Max Plank Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, presented the “Earth at Work: How can we make it work for us?”, in which he discussed the goal of having human actions enhance the power generating ability of the earth. By looking at the earth as an engine in the way that it drives motion, cycles matter and feeds life, it is possible analyze human, industrial and agricultural actions in terms of their effects on the earth engine. In this way we can evaluate different sources of renewable energy and analyze their effect on the earth's power generation ability. Because human power consumption is so substantial and the earth's power generation is limited, we must plan our activities to enhance the earth's ability to generate power.
Ø Q&A
Questions were asked by the audience about the utilization of solar energy and nuclear energy, the monitoring of the ocean, the current situation of the water cycle, the global understanding towards the Earth System, air engine, modeling of ecological processes, the impact of climate change on biodiversity, the improvement of the utilization rate of wind energy and solar energy, and the impact of wind energy utilization on climate concerning the butterfly effect.
Section IV Challengers and Chances for the Water Sector and Environment
Ø Presentation
Prof. Junsheng Li, CRAES, introduced in the workshop “Distribution Patterns of Species Richness in China and its Relationship with Environmental Factors”, the 5 hypotheses of Species-Energy, Climate Variability, Habitat Heterogeneity, Historical Hypothesis, and Mid-domain Effect Hypothesis. He presented the geographic pattern of species diversity in China and analyzed different environmental impact factors on the biodiversity of reptiles, mammals and amphibians, analyzing the characteristic of biodiversity distribution in China and detailing the necessary countermeasures for biodiversity conservation.
Prof. Yuan Jiang, Beijing Normal University, presented on the “Land Use/Cover Change and Watershed Ecosystem Conservation in Rapid Urbanization Region”, in which she illustrated the massive effect the urbanization process and the resulting change in land use have on the water ecosystem by using the case study of Shenzhen. Prof. Yuan Jiang discussed how the regional runoff in the watershed and the river's water quality were significantly affected by the destruction of buffer zones, the increased population and the introduction of certain pollutants. The measures needed to alleviate the situation include instituting a zoning management system, enhancing treatment of wastewater, implementing conservation projects, diversifying water resources for a given urban area, and promoting integrated urban planning
Dr. Hans Huber, Huber AG, Berching, presented the “Efficient Water Use in the City of the Future”, describing how in the future cities we might approach the development of a sustainable and livable life, and deal wisely with water limitations by implementing the pattern of collection-upgrading-reuse of water. He used Singapore as an example, indicating that nowadays the required technology was already available, but better operating of the system required monitoring. He concluded that in order to adjust to the rapid changes of our world, cooperative efforts are necessary, efforts should not be focused on isolated problems, and novel and current ideas must both be developed to solve water supply and sanitation issues.
Prof. Raoul Weiler, Club of Rome, Brussels, gave the presentation “Climate Change: Challenges for the Next Generations”. He spoke on the critical situation facing the future generation and methods with which to address it. He expanded upon how the issues of climate change and global warming are inextricably linked with social, economic, physical and human engineered systems; thus these issues must be addressed using a complex and integrated scientific approach that appeals to social and cultural values. The next few generations must set up a “systemic earth” solution with concrete global applications to control emissions, pollution, ecosystem degradation, resource consumption and energy use.
Ø Q&A
Questions were asked by the audience concerning educational TV programs about environmental protection and earth system engineering, analysis and assessment of water pollution as well as how to reduce the environmental impact, the effect of education on efficient water use, the development and understanding of sustainable development, etc.
The workshop concluded successfully with enthusiastic discussion in a harmonious atmosphere. Finally, his closing remarks, Prof. Meng underlined the importance and success of this workshop as a positive brainstorming experience and as a platform for increased international cooperation in relevant fields. Prof. Wilderer stressed on the renewed ideas, missions and concepts about the development of Earth System Engineering.