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The Ten Commandments of Sustainability: Sustainability, Stanley E. Manahan, Chemchar Research

The document outlines the ten commandments of sustainability proposed by Stanley Manahan. The commandments address issues like limiting population growth and material demands, transitioning to renewable and non-toxic resources, maintaining Earth's capacity for food production, and ensuring widespread education about sustainability. Some specific strategies mentioned include developing efficient and low-impact energy sources, adapting agriculture and infrastructure to climate change, and minimizing both waste and the use of hazardous substances. Overall, the ten commandments present a framework for achieving long-term environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

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Jason Orolfo Salvadora HL
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113 views17 pages

The Ten Commandments of Sustainability: Sustainability, Stanley E. Manahan, Chemchar Research

The document outlines the ten commandments of sustainability proposed by Stanley Manahan. The commandments address issues like limiting population growth and material demands, transitioning to renewable and non-toxic resources, maintaining Earth's capacity for food production, and ensuring widespread education about sustainability. Some specific strategies mentioned include developing efficient and low-impact energy sources, adapting agriculture and infrastructure to climate change, and minimizing both waste and the use of hazardous substances. Overall, the ten commandments present a framework for achieving long-term environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

Uploaded by

Jason Orolfo Salvadora HL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 14

The Ten Commandments of Sustainability

From Green Chemistry and the Ten Commandments of


Sustainability, Stanley E. Manahan, ChemChar Research,
Inc., 2006
[email protected]

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

Sustainability
Sustainability simply means living in ways that do not
deplete Earths vital support systems
The great challenges to sustainability are
(1) Population growth beyond Earths carrying capacity
(2) Potentially disruptive changes in global climate
(3) Provision of adequate food
(4) Depletion of Earths resources
(5) Adequate supply of sustainable energy
(6) Contamination of Earths 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 Earths 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 Earths resources
Burden = (Number of people) x (Demand per person)

Increasing Chinas Living Standard

Increasing Chinas 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
Earths capacity for biological and food productivity must
be maintained and enhanced, considering all five
environmental spheres

Commandment 7
Material 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


Education in sustainability is essential
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

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