CONTENTS
Chapters
- The Earth and Its People
- Pollution and Health Risks
- Feeding a Future World
- Freshwater: Lifeblood of the Planet
- Oceans in Decline
- Forests: The Earth's Lungs
- Endangered Biodiversity
- Toward a Livable Future
HIGHLIGHTS
Population Reports is published by the Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4012, USA
Volume XXVIII, Number 3
Fall 2000
Series M, Number 15
Special Topics |
Toward a Livable Future
Assuring a livable future requires practicing sustainable development. Enabling
people around the world to meet their current needs without depriving
future generations of the resources needed to meet their needs poses a
challenge (259). Currently, humanity is using about one-third more of
the earth's biological productivity than can be regenerated. To achieve
sustainable development, people must learn, in effect, to live on the
world's “ecological interest” instead of drawing down its “ecological
capital” (see Measuring Population's
Impact).
Debate continues about how best to accomplish sustainable
development (6, 8, 91, 189). Nevertheless,
in a number of areas, progress is being made. Particularly important are:
- Improving energy efficiency;
- Planning cities better;
- Ending environmentally destructive subsidies;
- Adopting water resources management;
- Saving forests;
- Accomplishing a second Green Revolution;
- Managing coastal zones and ocean fisheries;
- Curbing pollution, improving health;
- Safeguarding biodiversity; and
- Stabilizing world population
Using energy more efficiently is becoming one of the world's highest
priorities and greatest challenges (50, 80). The 20% of humanity in the
most affluent countries consume close to 60% of the world's commercial
energy (222). Nonetheless, most industrialized
countries use energy more efficiently than developing countries, which
often do not have the means to invest in energy-saving technologies or
pollution control measures (69, 222, 226,
261).
Since the oil crisis of 1973, developed countries have adopted energy efficient and cost-effective technologies. These technologies include more efficient heating and cooling systems, better insulation, and lighting and appliances that use far less energy per unit of output (69, 70, 248). Energy efficiencies also are rising as industrial processes become less energy-intensive and as electric utilities find that selling energy conservation—referred to in the industry as “negawatts”—pays (248). Switching to renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy, is another improvement in conservation. Renewable energy sources are increasingly competitive in price compared with fossil fuels, and they cause little or no pollution (60, 180).
The following actions also could help conserve energy:
- Encourage the design and use of low-energy buildings (69). In India, for instance, Development Alternatives, a nongovernmental organization, has designed a simple, adobe-like house that needs no air conditioning. It is made from specially designed blocks that permit airflow and a new roofing tile made from micro-concrete, free from chemicals and synthetic fibers (13).
- Eliminate government subsidies for fossil fuels. In 1991 direct subsidies for fossil fuels totaled US$220 billion worldwide. Eliminating these wasteful subsidies, paid for with public tax money, and offering tax incentives (subsidies) for wind- and solar-powered energy generation would encourage their development (70).
- Encourage energy efficiency programs in industry. Most industrialized countries have voluntary programs to encourage energy efficiency at work sites. Developing countries are starting such programs, too. China, for instance, has introduced worker bonuses for ideas that lead to more efficient energy use. Since 1990 these programs have resulted in savings of some US$6 billion through energy efficiency improvements, which have increased Chinese industrial competitiveness (69).
- Invest in public transportation. Encouraging public transportation as an alternative to individual vehicles in urban areas is difficult. But it is becoming increasingly needed as urban populations and vehicle use increase. Finding ways to get more people to use public transport would go far to reducing pollution and saving energy.
- Introduce “hypercars.” Hypercars—vehicles that run 80 to 100 miles per gallon of gasoline (petrol)—already are available but have not been produced in large numbers because demand is lacking. Making such vehicles readily available would be a sound investment, perhaps promoted by offering government rebates for their purchase. They are especially needed in smog-ridden urban areas (248).
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