WORKSHOP 5
Cost-effectiveness in Pollution Abatement
With dwindling water resources, increasing climatic uncertainty,
and countries becoming richer and more populous, governments
face growing pressures to make more effective use of natural,
human and financial resources to ensure sustainable development.
The disposal of waste, human and industrial, has often been through dilution in water courses with subsequent human health and environmen-tal problems as a result. This is no longer tenable and
is nowhere the most effective or sustainable way to solve a growing problem in many parts of the world. Moreover, “waste” can no longer
be considered as such. It is potentially a valuable resource, for example as a fertilizer, which is presently not only wasted but is damaging to others. Can its reuse effectiveness be assessed in economic terms?
Arguments for action to reduce pollution from different sources are usually expressed in social or environmental terms, as if they are obvious to any right thinking person. But decision makers face enormous pressures from many sectors, pressure groups and
scientists with similar arguments. We therefore need to make a
better economic case for more focus on providing adequate
sanitation and pollution abatement that relates both to society
and environmental issues as well as the cost-benefits from a
health point of view. We need to act smarter to extract the
maximum benefit from the limited resources available.
This workshop will share case studies and hard figures
that show it makes good economic sense and benefits
everyone to prioritise this issue. Can we assess the
importance of the issue and show that it really makes a difference?
Submit Abstract
The line is closed. If you have questions regarding the abstract submission, please email: jakob.ericsson@siwi.org
Thank you. |
