Don't just preserve the Karoo: Because where will our energy come from?

This was the title of a very interesting article in 'Die Burger' supplement 'By'.  As I follow the latest developments of possible (or may I say inevitable) shale gas mining in the Karoo, this caught my eye.
The article was written by David Johnson, a former environmental lawyer, who currently writes about the impact of population growth.  You can read other articles of his at: www.toomuchtoomany.co.za

The biggest message I got from this article was that sustainability is all encompassing.  One cannot just look at one aspect of renewable energy/waste management or any 'green' endeavor and presume it is the most sustainable solution or alternative without looking at the entire supply chain or the bigger picture.  Very often we all get very emotional about the destruction of our natural heritage and firmly state that NO development must take place.  The reality is very different.  Progress is a human condition.  We want our investments to grow, we want to create jobs for the burgeoning populations, we want to be prosperous and put food on our families tables.  And all of this requires energy. It is all so heartbreakingly contradictory and yet we have to face up to a fine balancing act between the environment, society and the economy.

What David Johnson says is that even though the environmental NGO's vehemently oppose some developments to extract natural resources to generate energy, the hunger for energy doesn't subside and they also do not give any alternatives.  A while back I read a very interesting article about a company in the US called The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and how instead of stopping all new developments they find solutions with all stakeholders.  The story of the sugar cane farmers in the Cauca Valley in Colombia is a prime example of how economics and conservation can work in symbiosis.  By protecting the water supply upstream in the forested areas and thus conserving this area, their sugar cane industry would be preserved.

So back to the shale gas mining in the Karoo.  Trade off's will need to be made.  So what David Johnson recommends is select areas where less rather than more environmental damage will take place.  For example, the grasslands and waterlands of Mpumalanga.  Coal mines are shooting up like weeds all over there and the area has one of the most endangered environments.  Why is coal mining still 'allowed' without the media uproar and not other sites where other technologies to extract resources are planned?  How about an area in the Karoo which doesn't have the biodiversity sensitivity other areas have?

And another point he makes is that why hold the large multinational corporation in the negative public mindset when they will still be around if environmental damage takes place?  These micro miners who are usually not around after extraction has taken place will not be able to account for the environmental damage and pay reparations thereafter.

And how environmentally friendly are the forms of renewable energy?  ALL forms of energy generation has a negative impact on the environment.  From wind turbine manufacturing using earth metals, which are mined and processed in China which has minimal environmental regulations (water and soil pollution in the Bautou area in China is off the charts!) to solar energy plants which require large land areas which could be feasible in countries with large land areas but not necessarily in South Africa.

So the struggle continues....there is no silver bullet which will satisfy all the environmental, societal and economic requirements.  A less than perfect solution and a great balancing act is needed.