Another Voice: Living with life

Last Week’s Extreme Weather Events

Last week, several extreme weather events occurred around the world, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These events include:

Hailstorm in Reutlingen, Germany

Reutlingen, Germany experienced a foot of hail, causing significant damage to properties and infrastructure.

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in Alaska

A glacial lake outburst flood destroyed homes in Alaska, displacing many residents and causing widespread devastation.

Flooding in Central Europe, Slovenia, Norway, and Sweden

Parts of central Europe, Slovenia, Norway, and Sweden were impacted by flooding, leading to the displacement of communities and damage to infrastructure.

Strong Storms in the Eastern U.S.

The eastern U.S. experienced strong storms, resulting in widespread damage and power outages. Flash floods and a tornado in Massachusetts added to the destruction.

Wildfire in Western Maui

A wildfire in western Maui, driven by 80 mph wind gusts, devastated the area, destroying over 2,200 buildings, including historic downtown Lahaina. The death toll is expected to rise significantly.

Siberian Fires

Fires in Siberia are currently larger than all the fires in the rest of the world combined, exacerbating the global climate crisis.

Extreme Heat in Iran

In Iran, the heat index reached a staggering 158°F, highlighting the dangerous consequences of rising temperatures.

The Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for addressing global challenges, including climate change, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. These goals aim to create a more sustainable and equitable world for present and future generations.

Historic Human Impact on Water Quality

The article “The Marsh Builders” by Sharon Levy discusses the historic human impact on water quality and the efforts made by Arcata to build alternative sewage treatment in Humboldt Bay.

Post-War Industrial Growth and Water Pollution

After World War II, rapid industrial growth in the United States led to severe water pollution. The capitalist approach treated the natural world as a resource to be consumed or a dumping ground for toxic waste. As a result, most people were forced to drink polluted water, rivers caught fire periodically, and lakes became lethal to fish. Public outrage eventually led to federal action.

The Clean Water Act and Environmental Protection Agency

In 1972, President Nixon signed the Clean Water Act and established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce it. This legislation aimed to improve water quality and hold polluters accountable for their actions.

Sewage Disposal and Water Quality

As urban populations grew, sewage disposal became a significant contributor to water pollution. For centuries, untreated sewage was dumped into rivers or oceans under the belief that dilution would solve the problem. However, over time, this approach became inadequate, and proper treatment became necessary. The primary phase involves physical removal of debris and trash, leaving behind hazardous sludge. The secondary treatment focuses on cultivating bacteria to digest organic matter, working in harmony with other life forms.

Activated Sludge and Centralized Sewage Systems

By the 1970s, activated sludge became the accepted method for sewage treatment. This energy-intensive process involved forcing oxygen into the sludge to stimulate rapid bacteria growth, resulting in cleaner water. Under the Clean Water Act, federal grants were provided to help communities build centralized sewage systems, leading to the flourishing of engineering companies that charged a percentage of the project cost.

The Humboldt Bay Wastewater Authority and Arcata’s Alternative Treatment Method

California had set water quality standards that were not met by the aging sewer systems around Humboldt Bay. The Humboldt Bay Wastewater Authority proposed a regional sewer system that would collect all the effluent, pipe it under the bay, treat it in a central plant, and dispose of it in deep ocean water. However, this system was expensive, energy-intensive, and had a vulnerable under-bay pipe. It also opened up vast areas to suburban sprawl.

Arcata, with its newly elected progressive City Council, proposed an alternative treatment method using engineered marsh construction. This method aimed to clean the water sufficiently to be beneficially dumped in the bay instead of being piped to the ocean for disposal. It involved enlisting more life forms than just bacteria and mimicked nature’s way of cleaning water. This approach was less energy-intensive, scalable to local needs, and promoted rich local biodiversity by replacing diminishing marshlands.

Arcata’s Success and Global Relevance

After years of effort, Arcata was eventually allowed to remove itself from the regional wastewater plan and build its biodynamic system. The alternative treatment method not only succeeded but thrived, creating a birder’s paradise with thriving biodiversity. It became a model for thousands of systems worldwide, particularly in low-income areas.

Challenges and the Role of Corporate Capitalism

This story highlights how an environmentally beneficial goal, such as clean water, can be limited by institutionalized scientific dogma, regulatory inertia, and the economic interests of entrenched construction industrialization. These factors hindered the adoption of an even better environmental goal of using living systems to sustain human health.

The book also sheds light on why the Republican party and big businesses that fund it oppose the EPA. Corporate capitalism, as practiced today, often avoids taking responsibility for the environmental consequences of industrial processes. Companies expect to profit from their products but disregard the cleanup costs, shifting the burden onto others. As corporations grow larger, only the federal government has the financial and legal power to enforce accountability. However, instead of embracing responsibility, corporations often label regulations as burdensome.

The Urgency of Addressing the Climate Crisis

In the 1960s, the focus was on water pollution, and public pressure led to governmental action. Today, the world faces a climate crisis caused by atmospheric carbon pollution. As global temperatures continue to rise, it is crucial to act urgently and collectively to prevent further destruction. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a roadmap for addressing these challenges and creating a sustainable future for all.

Crispin B. Hollinshead lives in Ukiah. This and

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The issues highlighted in the article are directly connected to SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The article discusses the historic human impact on water quality and the struggle to build alternative sewage treatment systems to improve water quality.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The issues highlighted in the article are also connected to SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The article mentions the need for sustainable sewage disposal as urban densities increase, and the proposal of an alternative treatment method using engineered marsh construction to clean water.

SDG 15: Life on Land

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the issues discussed are indirectly connected to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The alternative treatment method proposed in the article aims to create rich local biodiversity and replace diminishing marshlands.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials

The article highlights the historic human impact on water quality and the need for alternative sewage treatment systems to address the issue of polluted water. This aligns with the target of improving water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating dumping.

Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality, municipal and other waste management

The article discusses the need for sustainable sewage disposal as urban densities increase. The proposal of an alternative treatment method using engineered marsh construction aims to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities by improving waste management.

Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the alternative treatment method proposed in the article aims to create rich local biodiversity and replace diminishing marshlands. This aligns with the target of ensuring the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No, the article does not mention or imply any specific indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: ukiahdailyjournal.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.