Ecodevelopment and the irrational use of resources

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Environ. Policy Law; (United States)

OSTI ID:5128693

The difficulties of assessing the economic and social costs of environmental damage have resulted in a company being charged for the cost of prevention or a consumer for the cost of maintaining a standard, but may be better addressed by an ecodevelopment approach. Ecodevelopment, based on citizen understanding of a region's resources and environment, would require that development schemes be designed to protect and maximize specific eco-regions. The use of local materials and soft technologies is appropriate to both developed and developing countries. Using nature as a model, production would promote recycling by emphasizing pollution prevention and abatement at the source. Rational resource management, in which use is oriented toward enhancing the global benefits for future as well as present generations, should replace the commercial approach of basing costs on market value and control on final demand. International agencies have a role in equalizing the benefits of resource management and resolving the conflicts that arise from unequal resource distribution, consumption, and exchange.

• OSTI ID: 5128693
• Journal Information: Environ. Policy Law; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Policy Law; (United States) Vol. 3:3/4; ISSN EPLAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290400 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
298000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
530200 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Assessment of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
BUILDING MATERIALS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
REGULATIONS
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RESOURCE DEPLETION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING