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Earth, the unsung hero | Poh Ying Hoo | TEDxUTM


today I am NOT the hero it is not about

today I am NOT the hero it is not about me knowing who I will be speaking up on

me knowing who I will be speaking up on

me knowing who I will be speaking up on behalf of a hero he is quite sick today

behalf of a hero he is quite sick today

behalf of a hero he is quite sick today he has a fever we all know him he is not

he has a fever we all know him he is not

he has a fever we all know him he is not a hero of tomorrow not only the hero of

a hero of tomorrow not only the hero of

a hero of tomorrow not only the hero of tomorrow he was the hero of yesterday he

tomorrow he was the hero of yesterday he

tomorrow he was the hero of yesterday he is the hero of now he is the earth the

is the hero of now he is the earth the

is the hero of now he is the earth the unsung hero

before I begin I would like to ask for

before I begin I would like to ask for his permission whether I could speak on

his permission whether I could speak on

his permission whether I could speak on the behalf of him let me hear from him

the behalf of him let me hear from him

the behalf of him let me hear from him verse

he said yes I can speak on behalf of him

he said yes I can speak on behalf of him but he has a gender reminders to all the

but he has a gender reminders to all the

but he has a gender reminders to all the audience first he say please sit

audience first he say please sit

audience first he say please sit straight

take a deep breath and stay alert

take a deep breath and stay alert because he said this because lies to

because he said this because lies to

because he said this because lies to make people think as the speaker

make people think as the speaker

make people think as the speaker unfortunately I have to say it is ladies

unfortunately I have to say it is ladies

unfortunately I have to say it is ladies and gentlemen what define success think

and gentlemen what define success think

and gentlemen what define success think about it today our success is defined

about it today our success is defined

about it today our success is defined economically a country success is

economically a country success is

economically a country success is defined by its gross domestic product

defined by its gross domestic product

defined by its gross domestic product GDP and gross national income G and I

GDP and gross national income G and I

GDP and gross national income G and I the World Bank classifies countries

the World Bank classifies countries

the World Bank classifies countries classify a country as high-income nation

classify a country as high-income nation

classify a country as high-income nation middle-income nation or low income

middle-income nation or low income

middle-income nation or low income nation according to it is G and I that

nation according to it is G and I that

nation according to it is G and I that is why today we go and chase after the

is why today we go and chase after the

is why today we go and chase after the numbers the growth in numbers but we

numbers the growth in numbers but we

numbers the growth in numbers but we ever stop and ask ourselves what is the

ever stop and ask ourselves what is the

ever stop and ask ourselves what is the limit to growth

you might be thinking is there a limit

you might be thinking is there a limit maybe yes maybe no Mohamed Gandhi once

maybe yes maybe no Mohamed Gandhi once

maybe yes maybe no Mohamed Gandhi once said this the world has enough for

said this the world has enough for

said this the world has enough for everyone needs but not enough for

everyone needs but not enough for

everyone needs but not enough for everyone’s need great think about it

everyone’s need great think about it

everyone’s need great think about it what do we need clean air clean water no

what do we need clean air clean water no

what do we need clean air clean water no food a safe shelter because the right

food a safe shelter because the right

food a safe shelter because the right do you agree but today we want more than

do you agree but today we want more than

do you agree but today we want more than that we want more profit more profit

that we want more profit more profit

that we want more profit more profit means more production more productions

means more production more productions

means more production more productions means more consumptions and that is why

means more consumptions and that is why

means more consumptions and that is why today let me see every year the demand

today let me see every year the demand

today let me see every year the demand for the fossil fuels on the increase but

for the fossil fuels on the increase but

for the fossil fuels on the increase but never decrease when there is more

never decrease when there is more

never decrease when there is more consumption of the natural resources

consumption of the natural resources

consumption of the natural resources means there’s more taking from the

means there’s more taking from the

means there’s more taking from the nature now doesn’t mean that we have to

nature now doesn’t mean that we have to

nature now doesn’t mean that we have to stop growing

when it comes to the questions what is

when it comes to the questions what is the limited growth the nature has a

the limited growth the nature has a

the limited growth the nature has a limit one day the natural resources that

limit one day the natural resources that

limit one day the natural resources that we are exploiting who come through

we are exploiting who come through

we are exploiting who come through depletions but it is also the natures

depletions but it is also the natures

depletions but it is also the natures has something to teach us the nature

has something to teach us the nature

has something to teach us the nature work as an ecosystem in this ecosystems

work as an ecosystem in this ecosystems

work as an ecosystem in this ecosystems it shows how an organisms interact with

it shows how an organisms interact with

it shows how an organisms interact with its environment in which it is a system

its environment in which it is a system

its environment in which it is a system how a is influencing B and you see how B

how a is influencing B and you see how B

how a is influencing B and you see how B is influencing C and D then C in terms

is influencing C and D then C in terms

is influencing C and D then C in terms it is influencing D and how D is

it is influencing D and how D is

it is influencing D and how D is influenced think back to be through a

let us look at an example a very simple

let us look at an example a very simple footpath we take a look at the most the

footpath we take a look at the most the

footpath we take a look at the most the bottom most food chain we have the

bottom most food chain we have the

bottom most food chain we have the producer the green plant the green plant

producer the green plant the green plant

producer the green plant the green plant is consumed by the mouse and then mouse

is consumed by the mouse and then mouse

is consumed by the mouse and then mouse is consumed by snake ow

is consumed by snake ow

is consumed by snake ow well cats rabbits then the snake will

well cats rabbits then the snake will

well cats rabbits then the snake will then be consumed by kite now imagine one

then be consumed by kite now imagine one

then be consumed by kite now imagine one day the family use the pesticide and

day the family use the pesticide and

day the family use the pesticide and kills all the mouths what will happen to

kills all the mouths what will happen to

kills all the mouths what will happen to this food web view the populations of

this food web view the populations of

this food web view the populations of snake increase or decrease of cause a

snake increase or decrease of cause a

snake increase or decrease of cause a decrease

decrease

decrease he has no mouth to hunt for as food what

he has no mouth to hunt for as food what

he has no mouth to hunt for as food what about the number the populations of owl

about the number the populations of owl

about the number the populations of owl will increase or decrease

decrease it is the same case and what

decrease it is the same case and what about the number of Wildcats which has

about the number of Wildcats which has

about the number of Wildcats which has been consuming the mouse as well we

been consuming the mouse as well we

been consuming the mouse as well we increase or decrease now it is a bit

increase or decrease now it is a bit

increase or decrease now it is a bit tricky because of our cat can conceive

tricky because of our cat can conceive

tricky because of our cat can conceive on a rabbit as well so the impact that’s

on a rabbit as well so the impact that’s

on a rabbit as well so the impact that’s influencing the population of the worker

influencing the population of the worker

influencing the population of the worker is not as serious as to the owl and

is not as serious as to the owl and

is not as serious as to the owl and snake and eventually when the mouse

snake and eventually when the mouse

snake and eventually when the mouse disappeared the only food to devour cat

disappeared the only food to devour cat

disappeared the only food to devour cat will be the rabbit so the population of

will be the rabbit so the population of

will be the rabbit so the population of the rabbit eventually decrease and this

the rabbit eventually decrease and this

the rabbit eventually decrease and this is what in nature is teaching us that

is what in nature is teaching us that

is what in nature is teaching us that they work in a system a system that each

they work in a system a system that each

they work in a system a system that each element is relying on each other sorry I

element is relying on each other sorry I

element is relying on each other sorry I saw that eat the nature we have to work

saw that eat the nature we have to work

saw that eat the nature we have to work in a system if you reverse the nature if

in a system if you reverse the nature if

in a system if you reverse the nature if you be disaster so in 1970s the first

you be disaster so in 1970s the first

you be disaster so in 1970s the first model that is considering how the

model that is considering how the

model that is considering how the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the

concentrations of carbon dioxide in the

concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is stimulating the rise in

atmosphere is stimulating the rise in

atmosphere is stimulating the rise in temperature was developed it was the

temperature was developed it was the

temperature was developed it was the very first one and in this model it was

very first one and in this model it was

very first one and in this model it was predicted that by the year of 2013 it is

predicted that by the year of 2013 it is

predicted that by the year of 2013 it is it was expected that the carbon dioxide

it was expected that the carbon dioxide

it was expected that the carbon dioxide concentration will rise to 400 ppm parts

concentration will rise to 400 ppm parts

concentration will rise to 400 ppm parts per million and that will induce an

per million and that will induce an

per million and that will induce an increase in temperature by 0.8 degrees

increase in temperature by 0.8 degrees

increase in temperature by 0.8 degrees Celsius today we are feeling it is true

even pretty that is we continue with the

even pretty that is we continue with the case of the consumptions 2% increase in

case of the consumptions 2% increase in

case of the consumptions 2% increase in the consumption of fossil fuels every

the consumption of fossil fuels every

the consumption of fossil fuels every year the temperature is going to rise up

year the temperature is going to rise up

year the temperature is going to rise up to 4.2 degrees Celsius by the end of

to 4.2 degrees Celsius by the end of

to 4.2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and later on a few years

this century and later on a few years

this century and later on a few years later with the more advanced in

later with the more advanced in

later with the more advanced in technology a more complex model was also

technology a more complex model was also

technology a more complex model was also developed they also show similar result

developed they also show similar result

developed they also show similar result to what was predicted in this model and

to what was predicted in this model and

to what was predicted in this model and in 2015 the orders of this book

in 2015 the orders of this book

in 2015 the orders of this book flourishing within limits to growth this

flourishing within limits to growth this

flourishing within limits to growth this group of scientists they develop a model

group of scientists they develop a model

group of scientists they develop a model and now this model it runs on different

and now this model it runs on different

and now this model it runs on different scenarios and it tells one peek at what

scenarios and it tells one peek at what

scenarios and it tells one peek at what can we do in this century before the

can we do in this century before the

can we do in this century before the temperature rise up to four points who

temperature rise up to four points who

temperature rise up to four points who degree Celsius how can we slow down the

degree Celsius how can we slow down the

degree Celsius how can we slow down the rise in temperature he came to the

rise in temperature he came to the

rise in temperature he came to the conclusion that as long as we are able

conclusion that as long as we are able

conclusion that as long as we are able to start investing stop using the

to start investing stop using the

to start investing stop using the renewable energy at 2020 and have this

renewable energy at 2020 and have this

renewable energy at 2020 and have this fully replaced have it has the fossil

fully replaced have it has the fossil

fully replaced have it has the fossil fuel fully replaced by the renewable

fuel fully replaced by the renewable

fuel fully replaced by the renewable energy by the end of 2016 we will be

energy by the end of 2016 we will be

energy by the end of 2016 we will be able to maintain it hamper a surprise to

able to maintain it hamper a surprise to

able to maintain it hamper a surprise to between 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius by the

between 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius by the

between 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century I have to tell you

end of the century I have to tell you

end of the century I have to tell you that 1 degree Celsius is everyone’s

that 1 degree Celsius is everyone’s

that 1 degree Celsius is everyone’s nightmare and if you would have realized

nightmare and if you would have realized

nightmare and if you would have realized we are probably the last generation to

we are probably the last generation to

we are probably the last generation to act on it coming to the end of this

act on it coming to the end of this

act on it coming to the end of this century 2000 hundred we

century 2000 hundred we

century 2000 hundred we most of us here maybe in our 80s or 90s

most of us here maybe in our 80s or 90s

most of us here maybe in our 80s or 90s we are the last generation to act on it

my second question to you why

my second question to you why development but not grooved when I was

development but not grooved when I was

development but not grooved when I was preparing through this talk I talked to

preparing through this talk I talked to

preparing through this talk I talked to a number of people one of them was the

a number of people one of them was the

a number of people one of them was the author of the book flourishing within

author of the book flourishing within

author of the book flourishing within the limits to growth so I told him prof

the limits to growth so I told him prof

the limits to growth so I told him prof this is the situation I have a talk I

this is the situation I have a talk I

this is the situation I have a talk I wish to talk about the ecosystem I wish

wish to talk about the ecosystem I wish

wish to talk about the ecosystem I wish to talk about climate change and how it

to talk about climate change and how it

to talk about climate change and how it is based on the system thinking we can

is based on the system thinking we can

is based on the system thinking we can do something about it and I say my topic

do something about it and I say my topic

do something about it and I say my topic my proposed topic is modeling two words

my proposed topic is modeling two words

my proposed topic is modeling two words sustainable growth we came to these

sustainable growth we came to these

sustainable growth we came to these discussions that the prof asked me then

discussions that the prof asked me then

discussions that the prof asked me then you find it it is very contradicting to

you find it it is very contradicting to

you find it it is very contradicting to say sustainable growth because we know

say sustainable growth because we know

say sustainable growth because we know that growth is referring to quantitative

that growth is referring to quantitative

that growth is referring to quantitative increment in fact we know that the earth

increment in fact we know that the earth

increment in fact we know that the earth has limited resources to offer us we can

has limited resources to offer us we can

has limited resources to offer us we can be always taking from the earth forever

be always taking from the earth forever

be always taking from the earth forever if it comes through depletion that is

if it comes through depletion that is

if it comes through depletion that is why

why

why the United Nations use the words

the United Nations use the words

the United Nations use the words development instead of growth the words

development instead of growth the words

development instead of growth the words development it is referring to the

development it is referring to the

development it is referring to the improvement in terms of quality and now

improvement in terms of quality and now

improvement in terms of quality and now when I say in terms of quality is

when I say in terms of quality is

when I say in terms of quality is referring to our well-being our

referring to our well-being our

referring to our well-being our happiness our health education or even

happiness our health education or even

happiness our health education or even love and if you look at this SDG

love and if you look at this SDG

love and if you look at this SDG affordable and clean energy is on the

affordable and clean energy is on the

affordable and clean energy is on the seventh agenda and here if you bring to

seventh agenda and here if you bring to

seventh agenda and here if you bring to my last question to you what is the

my last question to you what is the

my last question to you what is the trade off if we go hundred percent

trade off if we go hundred percent

trade off if we go hundred percent renewable yes going to renewable we

renewable yes going to renewable we

renewable yes going to renewable we could delay the rising temperature but

could delay the rising temperature but

could delay the rising temperature but what is the trade off everything come

what is the trade off everything come

what is the trade off everything come with a trade-off according to the United

with a trade-off according to the United

with a trade-off according to the United Nations in order for us to fully replace

Nations in order for us to fully replace

Nations in order for us to fully replace fossil fuels by the renewable energy the

fossil fuels by the renewable energy the

fossil fuels by the renewable energy the investment that we are investing into

investment that we are investing into

investment that we are investing into renewable made energy right now has to

renewable made energy right now has to

renewable made energy right now has to be tripled which means it has to be

be tripled which means it has to be

be tripled which means it has to be increased from 400 millions USD per year

increased from 400 millions USD per year

increased from 400 millions USD per year right now to 1.25 trillions USD per year

right now to 1.25 trillions USD per year

right now to 1.25 trillions USD per year before 2030 we have a limited time frame

before 2030 we have a limited time frame

before 2030 we have a limited time frame let’s take the case in Malaysia see now

let’s take the case in Malaysia see now

let’s take the case in Malaysia see now here in Malaysia we want to go hundred

here in Malaysia we want to go hundred

here in Malaysia we want to go hundred percent renewable and we found that the

percent renewable and we found that the

percent renewable and we found that the hydropower is the cheapest to invest in

hydropower is the cheapest to invest in

hydropower is the cheapest to invest in should we go hundred percent with

should we go hundred percent with

should we go hundred percent with hydropower no why going hundred thousand

hydropower no why going hundred thousand

hydropower no why going hundred thousand hydropower in is cutting down more trees

hydropower in is cutting down more trees

hydropower in is cutting down more trees the dams it is deforestation taking

the dams it is deforestation taking

the dams it is deforestation taking another case we found that there is a

another case we found that there is a

another case we found that there is a very fast way of growing crops and then

very fast way of growing crops and then

very fast way of growing crops and then converted into a recipe

converted into a recipe

converted into a recipe should we go all-out for biomass energy

should we go all-out for biomass energy

should we go all-out for biomass energy no growing crops means yeah we have to

no growing crops means yeah we have to

no growing crops means yeah we have to consider we need land and water to grow

consider we need land and water to grow

consider we need land and water to grow food for our own consumption as well

food for our own consumption as well

food for our own consumption as well which is our basic needs and now this is

which is our basic needs and now this is

which is our basic needs and now this is what most of the energy planning

what most of the energy planning

what most of the energy planning researchers are working on the research

researchers are working on the research

researchers are working on the research questions that we are trying to answer

questions that we are trying to answer

questions that we are trying to answer what would be that optimal combinations

what would be that optimal combinations

what would be that optimal combinations of renewable energy we can implement in

of renewable energy we can implement in

of renewable energy we can implement in different trees in different scenarios

the researchers one of them is right now

the researchers one of them is right now standing in front of you and it brings

standing in front of you and it brings

standing in front of you and it brings to the last things that I want to share

to the last things that I want to share

to the last things that I want to share why am I here if you realize the things

why am I here if you realize the things

why am I here if you realize the things the question the thought that I have

the question the thought that I have

the question the thought that I have been sharing a field in the past 15

been sharing a field in the past 15

been sharing a field in the past 15 minutes they are it is not something

minutes they are it is not something

minutes they are it is not something that you can see when sharing is a

that you can see when sharing is a

that you can see when sharing is a thought structure why I’m offering to

thought structure why I’m offering to

thought structure why I’m offering to you is an idea a structure a thinking

you is an idea a structure a thinking

you is an idea a structure a thinking logic most of the time if you go through

logic most of the time if you go through

logic most of the time if you go through a researchers who is working on modeling

a researchers who is working on modeling

a researchers who is working on modeling he or she won’t come to you and say hey

he or she won’t come to you and say hey

he or she won’t come to you and say hey this is my product however they do see

this is my product however they do see

this is my product however they do see the value of how they are working how

the value of how they are working how

the value of how they are working how their model is helping the policy makers

their model is helping the policy makers

their model is helping the policy makers the decisions makers to make more

the decisions makers to make more

the decisions makers to make more precise decisions when it comes to a

precise decisions when it comes to a

precise decisions when it comes to a very complex problem solving it doesn’t

very complex problem solving it doesn’t

very complex problem solving it doesn’t mean that they don’t appreciate

mean that they don’t appreciate

mean that they don’t appreciate something invention product

well of a scientific research the value

well of a scientific research the value of this scientific research should go to

of this scientific research should go to

of this scientific research should go to the society I have been in front and

the society I have been in front and

the society I have been in front and before I have been working on the ground

before I have been working on the ground

before I have been working on the ground well before I organize conference of ok

well before I organize conference of ok

well before I organize conference of ok the environmental sustainability raising

the environmental sustainability raising

the environmental sustainability raising awareness among the high school students

awareness among the high school students

awareness among the high school students I also go to the ground and contest the

I also go to the ground and contest the

I also go to the ground and contest the race to the rural community should

race to the rural community should

race to the rural community should science to society project as I abandon

science to society project as I abandon

science to society project as I abandon slurry such journey I thought that I’m

slurry such journey I thought that I’m

slurry such journey I thought that I’m getting more distance away from the

getting more distance away from the

getting more distance away from the reality something that’s when you do you

reality something that’s when you do you

reality something that’s when you do you see the impact directly that’s why today

see the impact directly that’s why today

see the impact directly that’s why today I decided to stand up here and speak to

I decided to stand up here and speak to

I decided to stand up here and speak to you how how the thought process that

you how how the thought process that

you how how the thought process that during the journey of research I’m here

during the journey of research I’m here

during the journey of research I’m here standing to share it with you and lastly

standing to share it with you and lastly

standing to share it with you and lastly I hope at least by the end of this talk

I hope at least by the end of this talk

I hope at least by the end of this talk if bring use it brings you three thought

if bring use it brings you three thought

if bring use it brings you three thought the first one what is the limit to

the first one what is the limit to

the first one what is the limit to growth

why development but not growth what is

why development but not growth what is the trade-off if we go hundred percent

the trade-off if we go hundred percent

the trade-off if we go hundred percent renewable thank you

”

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