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This proposal was forked from Adaptation: Marine Hyperloops for Humanity, the Environment, and Profits in the contest Adaptation 2016

Pitch

Hyperloops for Humanity, the Environment, and Profits: A Mediterranean Marine Hyperloop/Refugee/Environmental Collaborative Proposal


Description

Summary

If the EU and the UN jointly decide to create a small working group focused upon creating a proposal for submission to the Hyperloop One Global Challenge, reaching the finals in the competition would have a high probability of success. If that happens, many EU and UN refugee management and marine environmental issues can gain significant media attention along with the Hyperloop One effort...if not actually see the EU/UN proposal, to address the refugee and marine environmental needs, happen in the near term future through a EU/UN/Hyperloop One collabrative effort!

This MIT Climate CoLab proposal outlines how hyperloop technology can help address not just transportation issues but also refugee management and environmental mitigation and adaptation needs in one collaborative effort. This proposal also provides a template for an email text which interested reader can send to the UN and the EU if they believe this Systems of Systems thinking approach to these issues should move forward in the near term future.  

The importance of this opportunity in the materials science field is that fabrics and other materials can be made using marine biomass, specifically bioreactor/microalgae based materials, and those materials can carry the label "Carbon negative materials made by war/climate refugees who help the environment".   


What actions do you propose?

(www.shimz.co.jp) (Youtube)

(Morris Architects)


(The Venus Project)

The above illustrations show but 3 of many large scale marine habitat and marine biomass production concepts. To date, the primary concern with such concepts has been the transport costs/time out to offshore systems as well as being able to assure the safety of a relatively large marine based human population. Marine hyperloops makes both concerns moot as time and cost of transport to offshore infrastructure is minimal and the onboard human population can be quickly evacuated to shore in the event of the emergence of a large storm.

This proposal suggests that this new form of transportation be coupled to both the current humanitarian needs in the Mediterranean area and the need for large scale climate change mitigation and adaption efforts. To this end, an early draft of the below email text has been sent to a few key UN/EU executives. I encourage supporters to send similar emails:

 

Marine Hyperloops for Humanity, the Environment, and Profits: A Mediterranean Marine Hyperloop/Refugee/Environmental Collaborative Proposal

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Hyperloop One Global Challenge has opened for proposal submissions and there is a potential, within this challenge, to help address both the current EU/UN refugee/migration issues. Further, this also can significantly address the need for environmental mitigation and adaptation relative to the Mediterranean Sea itself as well as provide an overall economic stimulation for the region which a large hyperloop infrastructure will provide. The Hyperloop One team is seeking to:

"[...] collaborate with applicants who most powerfully make the case for how Hyperloop would not only transform passenger and cargo transport in their locations, but also how that Hyperloop transformation will drive economic growth, generate opportunities for development, and create radically new opportunities for people to live anywhere, work anywhere and be anywhere."

Beyond the core issue of transportation, this marine hyperloop corridor and infrastructure can provide an important interface with:

a) above surface offshore secure and safe refugee/migrant staging and vetting  accommodations

b) large scale and profitable advanced mariculture operations

c) large scale renewable energy production means and methods

d) large scale marine CO2 removal services

e) marine mammal protection zones

f) large scale spawning areas to support local fishery recovery from overfishing

g) enhanced ecotourism within the region

h) saltwater desalination

i) high volume grid energy storage

(The above list is not exhaustive)

In brief, the profits from the large scale advanced mariculture operations and expanded ecotourism can help financially support a number of high priority EU, UN, and regional environmental issues.The marine hyperloop technology, in essence, provides for a quick, timely and low cost offshore transport and thus much of the safety concerns of offshore habitation and work are eliminated.

The above is an effort at Systems of Systems thinking and thus is not a simplistic proposal. However, it does have a strong logic based largely on the fact that all technical aspects are well known. Profits from the marine biomass mariculture operations can be impressive and thus provides investors (beyond the Hyperloop One group) a sound reason to support the effort.

 

(Green chemistry and the ocean-based biorefinery: Francesca M. Kerton et al.)

In general, why should we develop the Mediterranean Sea (or any other sea/ocean) whether for hyperloop transportation or even refugee management?

 

(Renewing Global Cycles in Five Areas“Harnessing the potential of the deep sea to renew the earth’s cycles and processes and to create a more sustainable human society in five critical areas.”)

I have contacted you concerning this opportunity in hopes of gaining your interest in producing a EU/UN collaborative proposal to be submitted to the Hyperloop One Global Challenge as I see this opportunity as a once in a generation nexus of diverse public and investor interests, political policy priorities and technological development coming together in a powerful and highly synergistic way.

It is my strong belief that coupling both the EU refugee management and marine (global) environmental mitigation and adaptation concerns to this historic development in transportation is an important goal that can easily attract many stakeholders and thus political and market support.

This new paradigm can actually start to become a reality in the near future if the collaboration of the EU and UN happens on this proposal in the next few months.

Please give this request serious thought and pass this idea and file along as broadly as possible as this proposal does need the greatest and swiftest support.

Respectfully,

Michael Hayes

(end of email)

In summary, the above email text offers a template for the interested reader to send to the EU and UN if they wish to see this type of System of System thinking used in the refugee management, marine environmental mitigation, and advanced transportation sectors.

Gaining the cooperation of the UN and EU on this effort could, in a very realistic way, lead to these compound and multiplexed concept becoming a reality in the near term future.


Who will take these actions?

Gaining support for the Hyperloop One Global Challenge: Marine Hyperloops for Humanity, the Environment, and Profits: A Mediterranean Marine Hyperloop/Refugee/Environmental Collaborative Proposal is the primary focus of this proposal and thus the primary actors are those who read this proposal and send it on to their political/policy leaders and vote for this proposal! 

Bring the idea to reality, however, will require recruiting world class executives and developing a world class investment proposal based upon a business plan which would be widely supported at both the political policy level and the consumer. The below illustrates what a forward leaning business plan, built around the Social Benefit corporate structure may look like.  The B Corp, in essence, waves a big flag saying "We are the good industry actors". The use of 'iWENN', in the below chart, can be replaced as needed. The acronym iWENN stands for the Integrated Water, Energy, Nutrient Nexus Protocol.   



Where will these actions be taken?

The  Marine Hyperloops for Humanity, the Environment, and Profits: A Mediterranean Marine Hyperloop/Refugee/Environmental Collaborative Proposal is obviously focused upon the Mediterranean Sea. Yet this combination of technology can be put to use around the globe.

 

(Maritime Shipping Traffic Patterns)


What are other key benefits?

1) The reduction of the hardships suffered by refugees and migrants is a long term investment on multiple levels. Radical fundamentalism finds many recruits in refugee camps (why not become a suicide bomber if you actually have nothing to live for...not even further education or the simplest job?

2) If this Colab proposal succeeds, it may be sent on to the upcoming UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, for near term support.

"The Forum, which adopts a Ministerial Declaration, is expected to start effectively delivering on its mandates to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations on the 2030 Agenda's implementation and follow-up; keep track of progress; spur coherent policies informed by evidence, science and country experiences; as well as address new and emerging issues."

3) Dr. Susan Solomon on the need for low/neg carbon infrastructure:

(The above list is not exhaustive)


What are the proposal’s costs?

The cost of the hyperloop infrastructure and operation is carried by the Hyperloop One investors while the cost of the marine biomass production and refugee care would be carried by a distinctly different organization, a Social Benefit corporation. Raising $500M, for the B corp. startup would be a good starting point for the B corp. 

Below is a short list of related mitigation/adaptation and refugee supportive organizations. These, and many more, may have some interest in providing the startup funding, to one degree or the other, for the B corp startup. Some supporting actors may only be able to offer consultation during the startup phase yet that is a highly valuable input for a startup.   

Adaptation Fund

"Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), emission-reduction projects in developing countries can earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits. These credits can be traded and sold by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Financing for the Adaptation Fund comes mainly from sales of certified emission reductions. The share of proceeds amounts to 2 percent of the value of CERs issued each year for CDM projects."

Global Environment Facility

Asia LEDS

GET FiT Plus

Africa Solidarity Trust Fund

IUCN

UNHCR

The above list is far from exhaustive and more funding paths can be found Here.


Time line

The fundamentally important aspect of this MIT CoLab proposal is to encourage the EU/UN to link the refugee crisis and marine environmental mitigation needs to the upcoming first large network of hyperloops.    

The Hyperloop One Global Challenge closes Sept. 16th 2016. This MIT Colab proposal may be integral in encouraging the EU/UN to establish a working group, which would develop and submit a proposal to the Hyperloop One group, along the lines of the Marine Hyperloops for Humanity, the Environment, and Profits: A Mediterranean Marine Hyperloop/Refugee/Environmental Collaborative Proposal

As such, this time line is rather short. As to the full development of such offshore infrastructure, the first 1,000 refugees can be accepted within 12-18 months barring any regulatory or funding problems.Such a short time line to occupancy is also dependent upon the hyperloops being ready. A first combined effort, involving just one offshore habitat and one short hyperloop to shore, can be done within the above time line..with or without Hyperloop One's involvement.


Related proposals

UN Oceanic Resources Conservation and Adaptation Platforms (O.R.C.A. Cities)

Algae Derived Ethylene Produces HDPE Algal Bioreactors: Repeat If Necessary!

Ocean Farming Hydrogen and Hydrogen Fueled Aircraft


References

Conservation, Biodiversity and International Law (brief Youtube review of the book)

Green chemistry and the ocean-based biorefinery: Francesca M. Kerton et al

Climate Finance: An interview with Sylvia Kreibiehl, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

The Choice is Ours

FAO begins deploying “fish magnets” to help Somali coastal communities

Alan Miller interview at the Asia LEDS Partnership Workshop on Climate Finance 'Scaling up worry'

GGGS 2013 Plenary I - Delivering Green Growth

GGGS 2013 Plenary II - Green Financing : Instruments, Institutions and Regulations

GGGS 2013 Plenary IV - Technology and Innovation

Current status and outlook in the application of microalgae in biodiesel production and environmental protection

(The above list is not exhaustive.)

 


Per robertscribbler blog "Temperatures rocketed to 123-125 F along India's border with Pakistan on Thursday. These are the hottest temperatures ever recorded for this region of the world. Image source: Earth Nullschool."    Where will a billion climate refugees go?