CHAPTER 14The Ten Commandments of Sustainability

From Green Chemistry and the Ten Commandments of Sustainability, Stanley E. Manahan, ChemChar Research,

Inc., 2006manahans@missouri.edu

14.1. We Cannot Go On Like This

The Ehrlich/Simon debate

Common sense says that we will run out of resources

Past civilizations have declined because of exhausted resources

SustainabilitySustainability simply means living in ways that do not deplete Earth’s vital support systems

The great challenges to sustainability are

(1) Population growth beyond Earth’s carrying capacity

(2) Potentially disruptive changes in global climate

(3) Provision of adequate food

(4) Depletion of Earth’s resources

(5) Adequate supply of sustainable energy

(6) Contamination of Earth’s environment with toxic and persistent substances

The Ten Commandments of Sustainability

Commandment 1

Human welfare must be measured in terms of quality of life, not just acquisition of material demands, which demands that economics, governmental systems, creeds, and personal life styles must consider environment and sustainability

Commandment 2

Given that the burden upon Earth’s support system is the product of the number of people times demand per person, it is essential to address both numbers of people on Earth and the demand each puts on Earth’s resources

Burden = (Number of people) x (Demand per person)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

UnitedStates

Australia

Canada

Russia

Germany

Japan

Globalaverage

China

India

MexicoChange in livingstandard doublesworld petroleumconsumption

Metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted perperson each year

Per capita emissions of carbon dioxide per year in some major countries (2004)

Increasing China’s Living StandardIncreasing China’s Living Standard to that of Mexico would double world petroleum consumption

Commandment 3

Given that even at the risk of global catastrophe, technology will be used in attempts to meet human needs, it is essential to acknowledge the anthrosphere as one of the five basic spheres of the environment and to design and operate it with a goal of zero environmental impact and maximum sustainability

Components of the Anthrosphere

Commandment 4

Given that energy is a key to sustainability, the development of efficiently-used, adundant sources of energy that have little or no environmental impact is essential

Commandment 5

Climate conducive to life on Earth must be maintained and acceptable means must be found to deal with climate changes that inevitably occur

Dealing With Climate Change

• Relocation of agricultural production from drought-plagued areas to those made more hospitable to crops by global warming (in the Northern Hemisphere agricultural areas are likely to shift northward)

• Massive irrigation projects to compensate for drought

• Development of heat-resistant, drought-resistant crops

• Relocation of populations from low-lying coastal areas flooded by rising sea levels caused by melted ice and expansion due to warming of ocean water

• Construction of sea walls and other structures to compensate for rising sea levels

• Water desalination plants to compensate for reduced precipitation in some areas

Commandment 6

Earth’s capacity for biological and food productivity must be maintained and enhanced, considering all five environmental spheres

Commandment 7Material demand must be drastically reduced; materials must come from renewable sources, be recyclable and, if discarded to the environment, be degradable

Commandment 8

The production and use of toxic, dangerous, persistent substances should be minimized and such substances should not be released to the environment; any wastes disposed to disposal sites should be converted to nonhazardous forms

Commandment 9

It must be acknowledged that there are risks in taking no risks

The Tenth Commandment

• Must extend to all ages and strata of society

• Must be promulgated through all media

• Is the responsibility of all who have expertise in sustainability

Education in sustainability is essential