January 2012
COP17 and the tragedy of the commons
The UNFCCC annual conferences of the parties (COPs) were put in place in an effort to achieve global consensus abut how to share the resource that is our atmosphere, and more specifically, how to limit the accumulation of CO². The ultimate goal is to reduce humankind's impact on global warming to an average temperature rise of less than 2ºC. Superficially, the task is simple, total global emissions of CO² must reduce.
Yet, after 17 COPs involving every country on the planet, we have arrived at a decision to ‘definitely' reach a global agreement by 2015 and to ‘definitely' start to implement our agreement by 2020.
Global warming's ‘tragedy of the commons' dilemma is also easy to identify: To reduce emissions, you must either generate less energy or generate energy using more expensive methods. Both options impact on economic growth. So ‘responsible countries' suffer directly, while the benefit of their actions is shared by the irresponsible.
So everyone resists real commitment, nods and smiles and agrees to a perpetual delay. Ultimately this is in nobody's interest. And it is very difficult to believe that the global warming problem will ever be resolved by any UNFCCC processes.
Finding a solution to global warming is not an impossible task, but a solution is more likely to emerge from the combined efforts of enthusiasts than from those protecting their own or their country's short-term interests.
Peter Middleton
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This magazine's features • Power transmissions, bearing and bushes
• Computer-aided engineering
• Modern engineering materials and processing
• Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• Innovative engineering In this issue MechTech starts off with Special report, which looks at RSD rail tank cars for Sasol Solvents. RDD, the Rolling Stock and Defence division of DCD Dorbyl, recently handed over the first batch of specialised pressurised rail tank cars from an order of 95 new units placed by Sasol Solvents in March 2011. The balance of the order will be completed by mid-2012.
In Power transmissions, bearings and bushes, we look at hydrodynamic specialist Voith Turbo, a leading supplier of fluid couplings. Our particular focus is on the company's Fill Controlled TPKL couplings and belt conveying applications.
Computer-aided engineering deals with the CAE revolution and covers Rockwell Automation's partnership with EPLAN to take advantage of modern electrical CAE (E-CAE), and the integrated solutions that enable a variety of design tasks to be automated.
Our Modern engineering materials and processing features leads with an interview we did at Weir Minerals, on Linatex's hose offering's novel manufacturing process. Weir Minerals is steadily expanding the capabilities of the Linatex rubber products factory in Alrode.
And finally, Innovative engineering covers Peter Middleton's personal viewpoint on COP17, looking at the final outcomes and the real successes. Please note that in February MechTech will be covering: • Proactive maintenance, lubrication and contamination management
• Materials handling and logistics
• Manufacturing technology and plant automation
• Heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning
• Innovative engineering
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