Student's Profile

Name

Xavier Ballansat

Institution

ETH Zürich

Town, Country

Zürich, Switzerland

Profile

I am studying for a master in civil engineering at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) with specialization in hydraulics and transportation. My field of study deals very much with resources and ecological impact of humanity. Indeed, early half of the world greenhouse gases emissions are due to transportation and building heating or cooling. Both of these sectors are directly related to civil engineering (e.g. optimization of public transportation, construction of low energy consumption buildings). Furthermore, choices of building materials and techniques have a high impact on material extractions all over the world.
 

China, India, Brazil and many other countries are developing rapidly. This will exacerbate the scarcity problems of many resources, especially energy and water. As natural resources are finite on earth, each individual will have to come along with less of them. As no one likes to pass on his comfort, we will have to raise our energetic efficiency.
 
I expect the World Resources Forum to carry out efficient lobbying on the decision makers, would they be politicians or company directors, to tend to a more efficient use of resources in our society. This forum is one of the many undertakings that will contribute to change opinions and live styles as well as push the resources scarcity issues on the very top of the governmental agendas. More specifically, I expect new ideas of possible ways for Governments to enforce energy efficiency in developed countries.
 
My personal commitment to environmental causes is not new. After my accession to the Swiss Green Party in 2004, I have been trying to implement at the local level ideas aiming at a sustainable development. Think globally – act locally: I am looking forward to hearing new ideas and concept to implement this famous saying.

History

Member for

27 weeks 5 days