HOW WE AVOID THE CLIMATE
CHANGE CONFUSION
-WE
FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES OF 'THE NATURAL
STEP'-
THE NATURAL STEP IS
BASED ON PURE SCIENCE -
*The Natural Step is a
nonprofit organization founded in Sweden in 1989 by
Swedish scientist, Karl-Henrik Robèrt. The Natural Step
has pioneered a "Backcasting from Principles" approach to
effectively advance society towards sustainability.
THERE ARE FOUR KEY LAWS WE MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE & OBEY IN
ORDER TO HARMONIOUSLY TRAVEL IN OUR SPACESHIP
EARTH
> 1.
Matter and energy can not be created or destroyed.
(According to the first law of thermodynamics and
the principle of matter conservation.)
> 2.
Matter and energy tend to disperse. (According to
the second law of thermodynamics) [This means that
sooner or later, matter that is introduced into the
system will be released out into natural systems.]
> 3.
Material quality can be characterised by the
concentration and the structure of matter. (We never
consume matter, only its energy, purity and
structure)
> 4.
Net increase in material quality (orderliness) on
earth is produced by sun-driven processes.
(According to the second law of thermodynamics,
disorder increases in all closed systems.)
From these Four Key
Laws, Four System Conditions for the maintenance of
quality in the whole Earth system can therefore be
deduced.
System
Condition 1. Substances from earth's crust must not
systematically increase in nature. In the sustainable
society, fossil fuels, metals and other minerals must not
be extracted at a faster rate than their slow redeposit
and reintegration into the earth's crust.
System
Condition 2.
Substances produced by society must not systematically
increase in nature. In the sustainable society,
substances must not be produced at a faster pace than
they an be broken down and be integrated into the cycles
of nature or be deposited into the earth's crust.
System
Condition 3. The physical basis (air, soil, water,
sunlight, organisms) for productivity (growth and
reproduction) and diversity (biodiversity) of nature must
not be systematically deteriorated.
System
Condition 4. Fair and efficient use of resources
with respect to meeting human needs.
Application:
The four system conditions provide a descriptive
framework for a sustainable society. Participants on all
levels - households, corporations, local authorities,
nations - can systematically direct their activities to
fit into this frame by requiring all secondary goals to
function as natural steps in the process of achieving
these four conditions of sustainability.
The four system
conditions provide
us with a compass showing the direction for sustainable
development:
We must
therefore:
> 1.
Reduce dependence on mining and fossil fuels - e.g. Less
oil, gas
> 2. Reduce dependence on persistent, un-natural
substances - e.g. Fewer plastic products
> 3. Reduce dependence on nature-consuming activities
- e.g. Less paper, water
> 4. Do more with less. - e.g. Achieve better
efficiency
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