Eco-restructuring: Implications for Sustainable Development (UNU, 1998, 417 pages)

(introduction...)

1. Eco-restructuring: The transition to an ecologically sustainable economy

(introduction...)

Introduction: On sustainability

The need for holistic systems analysis

Environmental threats and (un)sustainability indicators

Sharpening the debate

Non-controversial issues: Population, resources, and technology

Controversial issues: Pollution, productivity, and biospheric stability

(introduction...)

On toxicity

The stability of the biosphere: The impossibility of computing the odds

Technical preconditions for sustainability

Finding the least-cost (least-pain) path

Concluding comments

Notes

References

Part I: Restructuring resource use

2. The biophysical basis of eco-restructuring: An overview of current relations between human economic activities and the global system

(introduction...)

Introduction

The earth system

The climate system and climatic change

Climatic change and vulnerability

Biological diversity

Fresh water

Soils

The solid earth (lithosphere)

Land-cover and land-use changes

Human impacts and industrial metabolism

The case of West Africa

Outlook

3. Ecological process engineering: The potential of bio-processing

(introduction...)

Editor's note

Introduction

The current situation: The status of biotechnologies

Potential and promises

Market penetration by biotechnology

Barriers to penetration

Final remarks

Notes

References

4. Materials futures: Pollution prevention, recycling, and improved functionality

(introduction...)

Editor's introduction

Background

Strategies to increase materials productivity

Materials technology

Material attributes

Material performance trends

Conclusions

Notes

References

5. Global energy futures: The long-term perspective for eco-restructuring

(introduction...)

Introduction

What is the energy system?

Energy system inefficiencies

The deep future energy system

Transition and the rate of change of the energy system

North-South disparity and sustainable energy systems

Concluding remarks

Notes

References

6. Fuel decarbonization for fuel cell applications and sequestration of the separated CO2

(introduction...)

The challenge of stabilizing the atmosphere

Flue gas decarbonization vs. fuel gas decarbonization

Lifecycle CO2 emissions - without and with CO2 sequestration

Options for sequestering CO2

Framing the cost analysis for CO2 sequestration

Major findings of the sequestration cost analysis

Appendix A: The importance of the water-gas shift reaction in fuel decarbonization

Appendix B: Biomass CO2 emission offset potential in a world where some coal-rich regions cannot or will not reduce emissions

Appendix C: Pipeline transport of hydrogen

Acknowledgements

Notes

References

7. Photovoltaics

(introduction...)

Introduction

The technological potential of PV

PV costs

A PV market diffusion strategy

Possible PV adoption and diffusion scenarios

Concluding remarks: PV and eco-restructuring

Notes

Bibliography

Part II: Restructuring sectors and the sectoral balance of the economy

8. Global eco-restructuring and technological change in the twenty-first century

(introduction...)

Globalization

Population growth and economic growth

Environmental pressures for global change

Scenario analysis and the use of materials

The challenge for eco-restructuring

Concluding remarks

Notes

References

9. Agro-eco-restructuring: Potential for sustainability

(introduction...)

Editor's note

The broad situation

Identifying the limiting factors

The technological feasibility of sustainable agriculture

The possible course towards sustainable change

Final remarks

Notes

References

10. The restructuring of tropical land-use systems

(introduction...)

Introduction

Models of rural development

The need for integrated solutions in tropical land use

Strategic issues

Concluding remarks

Notes

References

11. The restructuring of transport, logistics, trade, and industrial space use

(introduction...)

Introduction

The significance of freight transport

Past growth and patterns of freight transport development

Spatial and transport outcomes

Future developments affecting freight volumes and patterns

The scope for reducing freight volumes

Taking up the potential

Conclusion

Notes

References

12 National and international policy instruments and institutions for eco-restructuring

(introduction...)

Introduction

Building on small agreements

Economic policy instruments and mechanisms

International distributional implications

A precondition for social breakthroughs in the context of developing societies

Issues of science and technology for development

A future united nations system

References

Contributors

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