Our polluted environment. A long-term perspective

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6765231

Speth, J G

Commissioned by the National Georgraphic Society for its Centennial Symposium, this paper examines four long-term trends in pollution: the change from modest quantities to huge ones; from gross insults to microtoxicity; from purely local effects to global influences; and toward increasing pollution problems in the Third World. After assessing anti-pollution efforts in the United States over the past 15 years, the author identifies six social and technological transitions needed to reduce pollutants at their source. The author calls for the use of renewable and efficient energy instead of fossil fuels, new technologies that are less capital- and materials-intensive technological designs that work with nature, honest economic policies that do not subsidize waste or undervalue natural assets, international cooperation to reduce world pollution, and policies designed to stabilize world population.

• OSTI ID: 6765231
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
292000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
CONTROL
COOPERATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FORECASTING
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
RECOMMENDATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
REVIEWS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS