User:Juho Kutvonen
Homework 1
1.What is the main purpose of environmental health assessment?
- The main purpose of environmental health assessment is to assess and control environmental factors which can cause adverse health effects. In other words, its purpose is to ensure that people live in health-supporting environment.
6. What is benefit-risk assessment?
- Benefit-risk assessment is a certain kind of assessment type in which pros (benefits) and cons (risks) of a phenomenon are weighed. For example, fish contains valuable nutrients (vitamin D, soft fats) but as well it often contains environmental pollutants such as PCB compounds. In benefit-risk assessment it is weighed if the benefits are bigger than the possible risk.
15. What is collaboration?
- Collaboration means working together in order to create something. In environmental health assessments collaboration between e.g. scientists and decision-makers is vital since without it it´s difficult to get desired results improving human health.
←--#: . Very good, to the point, answers. --Mikko Pohjola 10:26, 28 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
Homework 2
What is R-code and how does it work?
Homework 3
Homework 3 can be found from Salla's page.
Homework 4.Helsinki Metropolitan Area Climate Strategy to the Year 2030 Summary
What are the aims/goals of the strategy/program, i.e. what are the desired impacts and outcomes striven for?
The aims of the strategy are:
- to reduce the per capita carbon dioxide emissions of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area by 39 per cent of the 1990 level by the year 2030
- to create a common vision and appreciation of operating policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area
- to ensure that greenhouse gas emission cuts become a consistent element in the objectives imposed by various city agencies for their own operations.
----#: . Aims 2 and 3 look like additional aims supporting the main aim 1. As such, very clear aim. I'm just wondering if the strategy specifies any secondary goals like enhancing green technology business, improving health or social well-being etc. at the same time as it progresses (hopefully) towards its main aim of reducing GHG emissions? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Who are those that benefit if the aims/goals of the strategy/program are reached? How?
- City residents since the air quality is better due to reduction private vehicles and due to increase of public transport (less pollutants in the air) ⇤--#: . Hopefully so. Is it explicit that it would happen if the strategy is realized? What about the possible effect of biomass burning for energy production? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: attack)
←--#: . In total, the net effect to air quality can be zero after actions made. This is because although air quality enhances due to increased use of public transport, air quality may most likely decrease since increased biomass burning causes PM2,5 emissions. --Salla 10:41, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
- Energy companies because consumers may appreciate energy companies which consider environmental values in energy production. ----#: . Does this result from the strategy? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment) ----#: . This is not mentioned in the strategy but may happen in reality. --Salla 11:38, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
- People who use public transport since when public transport is trying to be made more popular, ticket prices will decline. ----#: . Yes, potentially at least. Also the quality of public transport may improve. Is this explicit in the strategy? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)←--#: . Yes, this scenario was presented in the strategy. --Salla 10:57, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
- Helsinki Region Transport because it will have more passengers due to ticket price reduction. ----#: . And lower revenues (or bigger losses) due to lower ticket prices. Someone pays the cost of public transport in a way or another anyway. Of course increased attention on /use of public transport may may make it more efficient and better quality. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
- Cyclists if bike roads are enhanced by land use. ←--#: . Resulting possibly also in improved health, lower healthcare costs etc., but also possibly higher exposures to ambient air pollutants acusing adverse health effects… --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
What are the actions that are needed/intended to take in order to progress towards the aims/goals?
- Development of public transport by increasing frequency in bus turns, dropping ticket prices and ensuring rapid connections. This is because public transport produces less CO2 emissions than private motoring.
- Land use: bikeroad network is enhanced by planning.
- Reduction of energy consumption by economical incentatives.
- Enhancements in energy production:
- energy efficiency can be improved by increasing the efficiency of energy generating, reducing transmission losses and utilising district heating losses return flows more effectively.
- increase of renewable energy sources in energy production.
- Influencing national and international policy making
- Establishing collaborative practices between various administrative branches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improving co-operation between the city and the region.
----#: . OK, but looks more like a list of policies to be considered than actions that either reduce GHG emissions or actions that produce less GHG emissions than the in the current situation. Think about how the world will need to be different if the goal of GHG emission reduction is going to be true someday. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Who are those that actually realize these actions?
- Helsinki city council (land use, zoning, influence to policy making, development of public transport).
- Helsingin Energia (choice of fuel in energy production).
- Helsinki Regional Transport(development of public transport).
⇤--#: . How about citizens in traffic, residents etc.? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: attack) ←--#: . Citizens in traffic as well realize these actions by using more and more public transport. Residents are able to change their electricity consumption by decreasing it, for example switching the unnecessary lights off. --Salla 10:45, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
What are the decisions that are needed to make in order to enable/promote the actions?
- Development of public transport: Helsinki city and Helsinki Regional Transport must create a contract concerning enhancement of public transport.
- Consumption of energy: a joint program meant to decrease energy consumption in households, companies and energy companies.
- Bikeroad network: decisions concerning changes in land use.
- Increased use of renewable energy sources in energy productions: decisions about what kind of renewable energy source is used
Who are the decision makers?
- Helsinki city council
- Helsingin Energia
- Helsinki Regional Transport
- Experts ⇤--#: . Do experts really decide on anything (except as common citizens on their own everyday life activities? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: attack)←--#: . Experts do not make decisions but they can influence decision makers. --Salla 10:50, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
⇤--#: . Again, how about citizens in choosing the mode of transport, as considering energy efficiency renovations, as heating their homes, ...? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: attack) ←--#: . Citizens can make decisions by supporting public transport. Residents are able to choose an efficiency house when buying one. In addition, residents can can renovate their heating system. --Salla 10:50, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
----#: . Consider the comments on decisions and actions try to think over what are the actions and decision that could/should cause Helsinki region GHG emissions to reduce as intended. Who are those involved in deciding upon actions and making them happen in reality? --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
What direct or indirect health impacts, positive or negative, these decisions and actions (may) have?
- Improvement of public transport decreases amount of air pollutants and since air is cleaner, morbidity is lesser.
- Increased use of biomass in energy production may slightly increase morbidity due to PM2.5 emissions.
- Due to enhanced bikeroad network people have a better possibility to do exercise and hence people feel better.
←--#: . Yes. These are probably the most significant ones. Of course if one believes that the actions of Helsinki region will have also effect on the GHG emissions of the world and thereby mitigation of climate change, also the direct and indirect health effects of climate change can be reduced. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
- ----#: . Possible increase of heavy traffic due to biomass delivery to Helsinki region energy plants also has potential health impacts. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)←--#: . That is correct. --Salla 10:57, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
Are the health impacts big or small in relation to other impacts (e.g. economical, social, climate, other environmental, ...)?
In our opinion the health impacts are quite small in relation to other impacts since for example slightly increased PM2.5 concentration due to biomass fuel does not cause significant impacts, in other words we consider for instance the economical effects greater than the health effects.
----#: . Clear reasoning. However, comparing health impacts and economical impacts is a difficult case, as the economic value of life or health is difficult to estimate so that everyone would accept it. Does the strategy provide any kind of estimates of the direction and/or magnitude of economical impacts or health impacts of the strategy? Generally, the potential adverse health impacts related to biomass burning are considered significant by environmental health experts. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)----#: . The strategy did not provide any kind of estimates of the direction and/or magnitude of economical impacts or health impacts. --Salla 11:45, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
- ----#: . It may also be questioned, whether biomass burning really reduces GHG emissions other than theoretically. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Do the intended policies result in win-win, win-lose, lose-win, or lose-lose situations with regard to health and other impacts?
- Development of public transport results in win-win situation because air quality is better due to lower emissions and bus company (Helsinki Regional Transport) benefits as well since more people travel by bus due to lower ticket prices. ----#: . In addition to above comments, also the bus fleet (and other public transport vehicles) makes a difference. Diesel bus emissions tend to be bigger than in private cars, but the emission/passenger may be lower. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
- Use of biomass in energy production may on the other hand result in lose-win situation because morbidity may slightly increase due to PM 2.5 emissions but in the same time fewer CO2 emissions are produced in energy production.
----#: . How about light traffic increase? Also you can consider if the proposed actions truly reduce GHG and are they really sufficient in realizing the goal. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Formulate a plausible and meaningful specific assessment question that takes account of (some of) the aspects considered in above questions.
What kind of positive health effects will occur due to development of public transport?
----#: . This is an interesting question and some related research has been done recently. However, as for an assessment, it would be good to tie the decision options directly in to the question. Also it is probably not necessary to limit the assessment to only consider positive health effects. You could try to formulate something like "which decision option (from a finite set of alternatives) regarding the development of Helsinki region public transport has the greatest net benefit (regarding which impacts?, needs to be specified) --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: comment)
Extra question: In what ways your answers do or do not represent "shared understanding"? (The climate program/strategy can be considered a compilation of contributions by many experts and attempting to reflect the views and needs of different decision makers and stakeholders).
it conforms to the decision,aims and strategies.
Our answers represent shared understanding in a way that different stakeholders and decision makers in collaboration are trying to meet the goals described in the climate strategy report.
⇤--#: . Are they? Provide some reasoning why your statement should be considered representative of reality. --Mikko Pohjola 15:49, 31 January 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: attack) ←--#: . Perhaps the co-operation between stakeholders and decision makers is not yet sufficient enough to reach the goals set in the strategy. Hence, we consider that co-operation should be enhanced by creating a working group which would enhance the co-operation. After this they should aim at reaching the goals. --Salla 11:56, 4 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence)
Homework 5.
part A:
- Who are the relevant participants of the assessment?
- What roles the different participants (may) take in the assessment?
- Helsinki city council (Decision makers and executors; sources of information)
- Helsingin energia (executors; sources of information)
- Helsinki Regional Transport (executors; sources of information)
- Experts (Experts in human health effects; facilitators)
- What kind of relevant knowledge they (may) have regarding the assessment?
- Experts: knowledge on health effects, sources of renewable energy, effective land using
- Helsinki Regional Transport: knowledge on the most run bus turns, how to run a bus company
- Helsingin Energia: knowledge on how much Helsinki Metropolitan area needs energy, how to produce energy, emission calculations
- Helsinki city council: knowledge on decision making
- What needs and aims do they represent in the assessment?
- Helsinki city council ( Aims: reduction of GHG emissions by different actions. Needs: scientific knowledge and assessments )
- Helsingin energia (Aims: efficiency of energy production and increased use of renewable energy sources. Needs: assessments )
- Helsinki Regional Transport ( Aims: increased use of public transport by development of public transport. Needs: assessments; plans )
- Experts ( Aims: positive health effects /lack of negative health effects. Needs: Data; Financial support for studies )
←--#: . 5A: Clear and concise answers. Excellent. --Marjo 12:54, 5 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence) part B:
- How could the relevant participants be involved in the assessment in an effective way?
- Certain area of responsibility should be given to a certain relevant participant (no overlap)
- Regardless of different areas of responsibility there should be discussion where every participant takes part.
- How can the quality of an assessment be assured if anyone can participate?
- Everybody is heard but only reasonable comments will be taken into account.
- How can you prevent malevolent contributions where the purpose is to vandalise the process?
- to give every person participating the assessment an authorized access (username and password)
- How can you make the outcome converge to a conclusion, because all issues are uncertain and controversial?
- All point of views will be taken care of and realistic alternatives will be considered.
- How can you ensure that the outcomes are useful for the users?
- Before excecuting the decicions resulting certain outcome, citizens´ feedback about planned decisions will be evaluated.
←--#: . Good, useful ideas. --Marjo 12:54, 5 February 2013 (EET) (type: truth; paradigms: science: defence) part C: Prepare following tables from the climate programme of your selection. Instructions for table structures can be found at Training assessment.
- Decisions table
| Decision maker | Decision | Option | Variable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki city council | Reduction of GHG emissions | Climate strategy programm | Exposure |
| Helsingin energia | Efficiency in energy production and increased use of renewable energy sources | Reduction of GHG emissions | Technical costs |
| Helsinki Public Transport | More passangers in public transport | Reduction of bus ticket prices and enhanced frequency in turns | Number of passangers |
| Experts | Prevention of health impacts | Increased health education | Education costs |
- Endpoints table
| Stakeholder | Variable |
|---|---|
| Helsinki city council | Exposure |
| Helsingin energia | Technical costs |
| Helsinki Public Transport | Number of passangers |
| Experts | Education costs |
| Citizens | Health impact |