GREEN SUSTAINABILITY

OUR MISSION: SDPUS's environmental mission is to transform the way people utilize land, water, mineral and energy resources by creating a better understanding of human and environmental systems, and the use of new technologies .

Goals for Strategic Decisions & Partnerships research fall in the seven areas of water utilization, transforming resource-based industries, overcoming land degradation, developing cleaner, more efficient fuels and energy sources, managing biodiversity, deep earth resources and responding to climate change and variability

Natural resources have traditionally fuelled national and regional economies. They have the potential to generate further wealth and employment opportunities in the future. But our natural resources and biodiversity must be used on a sustainable basis so that the benefits continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

The world faces significant environmental challenges:

Efficient and sustainable water use is a critically important issue for economic and social development .
Significant land degradation issues, such as salinity, need to be arrested to underpin agricultural production systems .
Climate change can be expected to have complex, long-term consequences for the environment, for our agricultural and marine production systems and for communities.
The cleanliness and efficiency of energy production systems should be enhanced.

GLOBAL GOALS: There are substantial efforts underway by SDPUS members to help develop more efficient water utilization practices, to protect rivers and groundwater resources, and to protect and remediate fragile soils.

Agricultural and mining industries are being transformed through the adoption of new technologies, and the development of new types of foods. This will help revitalize communities and generate substantial export earnings for various countries in the world over the coming decades.

"Governments need to be committed to meeting the greenhouse gas emissions target set for at Copenhagen"

The United States and some other developed countries are well placed to take the international lead in developing new and improved energy technologies; and in capturing and ‘sequestering’ carbon dioxide. Other opportunities also lie in managing and using unique, rich land- and marine-based biodiversity, and in developing deep earth resources.

Strategic Decisions & Partnerships has a strong record of achievement in research in fields in the natural sciences, such as agriculture, natural resource management, climate change, horticulture, forestry, mining, energy, and marine sciences, as well as in the social sciences and humanities.

Globally we must build on these strengths to improve understanding of natural systems and the interplay of human activities. In particular, there needs to be an increased understanding of the contributions of human behavior to environmental and climate change, and on appropriate adaptive responses and strategies.

To understand and manage these complex interactions better will require significant collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders.

PRIORITY GOALS IN LATIN AMERICA

WATER: THE CRITICAL RESOURCE- Sustainable ways of improving water productivity, using less water in agriculture and other industries, providing increased protection of rivers and groundwater and the re-use of urban and industrial waste waters.

Latin America has some of the driest countries and they are dependent upon access to freshwater supplies for economic and social development. They have a complex geological structure, highly variable climates, unique ecosystems, flora and fauna and a distinctive indigenous and settler history. Enhancing our understanding of the links between these factors and water availability will result in a better understanding of sustainable water management practices.

TRANSFORMING EXISTING INDUSTRIES- New technologies for resource-based industries to deliver substantial increases in national wealth while minimizing environmental impacts on land and sea.

The lack of resource based industries underpins many of the problems, but we do have the potential to do better in the future. For example, Latin America remains highly prospective for minerals discoveries and highly attractive for the development of new era foods from agricultural and marine sources. Their competitive advantage and national well being will depend on research and on the development and adoption of new technologies.

OVERCOMING SOIL LOSS, SALINITY AND ACIDITY- Identifying causes and solutions to land degradation using a multi-disciplinary approach to restore land surfaces.

Much of the world’s landscape is fragile: soil salinity, acidity, and nutrient levels pose significant, long term challenges for agriculture and the environment. Research is helping to find solutions to these problems. For example, an International Land and Water Resources Audit shows the extent of salinity, soil erosion and soil acidification in the environment and illustrates the need for international mapping of critical resource data. Further multidisciplinary effort is required to develop sustainable land management practices that are appropriate for conditions and mitigate major land degradation processes while increasing biodiversity.

REDUCING EMISSIONS IN TRANSPORT AND ENERGY PRODUCTION- Alternative transport technologies and clean combustion and efficient new power generation systems and capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.

The United States is well positioned to produce world class solutions to reduce and capture greenhouse gas emissions. The United States is also well placed to develop alternative energy technologies and ecologically sustainable transport and power generation systems.

SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY- Managing and protecting the world’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity both for our own value and to develop long term use of ecosystem goods and services ranging from fisheries to ecotourism.

Latin America, amongst others, has unique and rich flora and fauna. Many complex ecosystems – on which their agricultural, fisheries and tourism industries depend - have adapted to events such as drought and fire, and have been shaped by indigenous and settler management practices. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of these natural systems and the interplay with human activities, and the effects of management and protection measures.

DEVELOPING DEEP EARTH RESOURCES- Smart use of technology exploration methodologies, including imaging and mapping the deep earth and ocean floors, and novel efficient ways of commodity extraction and processing (examples include minerals, oil and gas) while minimizing negative ecological and social impacts.

Many of the worlds known mineral assets may be nearly exhausted within the next decade. New land-based deposits are believed to be buried deeper in the crust and the deep marine areas have been largely unexplored. New technologies, such as remote sensing, indicate scientists are on the brink of being able to ‘see’ inside the earth and identify deeply buried deposits.

RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE- Increasing all peoples understanding of the impact of climate change and variability at differing regional levels in the world, and addressing the consequences of these factors on the environment and on communities.

The world already has a highly variable climate, and climate change can be expected to have further significant impacts. It is important to enhance our understanding of the consequences of climate change and variability at regional levels across the globe, and their implications for the environment and for communities. It is also important to explore beneficial adaptation strategies to climate change and variability to ensure ongoing social, economic and environmental well being.