Energy and Natural Resources

Without a doubt, politics are turbulent, particularly today. Sound scientific understanding of sustainable energy practices can serve to illuminate less tortuous, more noble paths forward to power this and future generations. Brett-Crowther’s keynote address is both timely and relevant. A key solution lies in revolutionising wasteful consumers – ordinary citizens – in urban centres into communities that reconnect consumers with the environment that nourishes them. Everyone should be asking the question posted by O’Brien, Cities – Good for the Environment?

In the midst of political turbulence, issues with shared precious water can rise to a boiling state. Abdulrahman’s account of the waters disputed between Iran, Kurdistan Region and Iraq demands understanding and action from the politicians. Desalination may be a solution to ensure drinkable water, but Ameen et al caution that the means to do so must be scrutinised for its carbon footprint and environmental impact, among other factors. Groundwater, when available, is welcome. But its exploitation must be frugal to allow for recharge. Yang et al give an account of the northern China groundwater exploitation reduction strategy which is part of the enormous south-to-north water diversion project. Both energy and water need to be conserved, and air conditioning technology using solar energy seems an ideal ‘green solution’. Aman et al illustrate the difficulty of achieving a tricky balance in regions where solar energy is abundant but water is scarce.

The scarcity of freshwater is the main point of Potemkina et al’s paper on the eutrophication of Lake Baikal. It is encouraging that a Russian research work can draw on studies outside Russia – a true sign of academic unity in a turbulent world. Potemkina et al analyse inescapable facts using datasets from the World Meteorological Organisation, Russian Hydrometeorological Service (Roshydromet) and Russian Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Centers for Environmental Information, the Climatic Research Unit (University of East Anglia), and the Hadley Centre (U.K. Met Office); and the research reflects the stable science of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The paper shows how global warming is having harmful effects on the shallow zone of Lake Baikal.

For effective carbon dioxide mitigation, the proliferation of the CO₂ molecule must first be correctly modelled. Assareh and Nedaei presented a case for a metaheuristic approach. Knowing the interplay of various factors may enable critical low-carbon energy development for environmental factions and progressive governments. Miller et al examine such a case for a North American scenario. The achievement of a 100% renewably powered region today remains a challenging aspiration, even for the ‘windiest’ energy province in Canada. Hall and Swingler detail an initial proposal for a completely renewable island electricity system for Prince Edward Island.

Nuclear power will likely have an expanding role in the future global energy mosaic, but the questions of radioactive waste, accidents in operation etc remain big problems for planners and power stations. Kong et al analyse South Korea’s system for effluent control. One sobering thought is that North Korea appears to be uninterested in nuclear power for energy needs; and a parallel thought is that a number of developing countries – notably India, Pakistan and Iran – have nuclear weapons or nuclear reactors but may not be equipped like South Korea with adequate measures for social protection in the event of an emergency.

Although, ideally, an emissions-free future is our dream, the reality is that we must do our best to co-exist with practical engineering systems such as diesel engines that are critical to maintaining the high living standard that we take for granted. On this, Xiao et al are proposing the use of enhanced corona discharge as an effective means to mitigate the harmful diesel particles. But McCarron analyses hospital data for the Darling Downs, Queensland, to show that uncontrolled emissions from the exploitation of Coal Seam Gas there put a significant burden on public health.

What about biofuel? Tanyi et al illustrate the case for relying on fuelwood with a sustainability approach. The successful enforcement of regulations, however, can be a challenge. Imagine producing biogas from poultry manure using solar energy. Ali and Al-Sa’ed prove that with a proper anaerobic digester and a solar water heating system, invaluable sun-dried fertiliser can be harnessed alongside renewable biofuel. Taha and Al-Sa’ed make a very good case for applying reverse osmosis powered by solar energy to desalinate brackish water in the Jordan Valley. This additional exposition of innovative work in Palestine should be seen in the context of the political problems which make it necessary. It is truly an example of turbulent politics that 100 year after the Balfour Declaration and 25 year after the Oslo accords, Israel continues its Occupation of Palestinian territories (occupied in 1967).

This monograph echoes the theme of the University of Windsor’s Conference on Energy and Natural Resources 2017 (EANR2017); and the forthcoming Energy and Sustainability 2018 (https://www.eas2018.ca/).

We wholeheartedly thank the Editor Dr Michael Brett-Crowther and Taylor and Francis the publishers for this opportunity. In France, Nicolas Hulot, ministre d’État, ministre de la Transition écologique et solidaire, has recently united the importance of biodiversity with the question of climate change and the need for science. On October 5th 2017 the Minister insisted on « l’importance de s’appuyer sur les travaux issus de la communauté scientifique pour éclairer l’action publique ». 

This insistence is not common in North America, Western Europe, Australasia, and indeed everywhere else. Yet unless turbulent politics incorporates stable science in decisions, the future is alarming. Contempt for facts or for expert or scientific knowledge and an exaggerated respect for ignorance, indifference, self-satisfied life is widespread. Mr Hulot is calling for France to change. He might as well be calling for everyone else to change, for this is a universal reality. The ecological transition of society with solidarity is exactly what is needed.

« Je tiens à ce que la société française accorde autant d’importance à la reconquête de la biodiversité qu’elle en donne à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Car nous ne pouvons réussir le défi du climat sans l’appui des écosystèmes qui sont nos premiers alliés dans cette lutte » [1].

We hope that this monograph will rouse the uninitiated, particularly decision makers. We are all responsible for good stewardship of resources, to prevent the poisoning of downstream generations. The physical river and the intellectual river merge and as moral human beings we must enter the reality of the environment to conserve and sustain it.

Rupp Carriveau
Turbulence and Energy Laboratory, University of Windsor, Canada
[email protected]
David S.-K. Ting
Turbulence and Energy Laboratory, University of Windsor, Canada