![]() ![]() The environment cannot be protected by conservation alone. It is important to recognize, however, that creating wealth and protecting the environment coexist. Responsible consumption and conservation are ways to solve environmental problems. The connection between each element increasingly forces changes to the traditional way consumers and businesses operate and relate to each other how new technologies and products are developed, sold and used how markets are structured and how communities develop and grow. To this end, there is a growing recognition that these factors be considered simultaneously. The emerging concept of “sustainability” is, however, rapidly expanding to include environmental, economic and social equity. Previously, sustainable development was narrowly defined as improving the quality of life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. The perception of sustainable development has changed. Wealth is not readily created in clean space, especially in today’s age of high-tech information. All goods, services and human health conditions connect with the environment and its quality. Each of these is essential to business and human existence. Capital that produces income and wealth takes on four forms: financial, human, technological and environmental. The environment-whether natural or built-is a unique form of capital. This “dumping ground” mentality has been replaced by “green and clean.” Instead, it was valued as a dumping ground or limitless sink for the diseconomies or wastes of living and industrial operations. The worst offenders considered the environment a resource with no value in itself. The environment is not an issue, it is a “value.” Industrialized societies often perceived the environment as a free good-an expendable, renewable resource. ![]() The natural system is since perceived as a unique form of economic capital that must be kept clean if we are to sustain a suitable quality of life. As populations grew, the earth’s limitations were more apparent and a non-traditional economic view of the natural system surfaced. When the consumer population was smaller, relative to size and the carrying capacity of the natural environmental system, this supposition was reasonable. Instead, dilution sufficed until it was feasible to relocate to a clean environment. The economic system was free to extract as much as possible from the natural system, which was perceived as vast with unbounded abilities to assimilate diseconomies. Past theories surmised that the natural system’s supplying potential was infinite. The requirement that environments must support life, good health and human productivity warrants closer examination of how the environment we build and inhabit is organized and managed.Ī new environment and economic theory is emerging that recognizes four factors. We must build our own environment to meet those needs. They possess unique spiritual, social-political and economic needs beyond what nature provides. Indeed, humans are part of the natural world. While valid, this concern is not critical. The environmental concern of late has been the extent to which human interaction with natural systems is depleting life-sustaining resources. In return, man gives back to the environment all the matter and energy that establishes his existence. Its natural resources and energy also serve as a unique means of capital, allowing us to run our businesses and the economy. The environment fulfills us when it is used to recreate, apply our sciences and practice our arts. Science and technology are the products of observing, studying and using the physical, chemical and biological world around us. While medicines are derived from the elements of the environment and living organisms, sometimes simply being exposed to sunlight and fresh, clean air makes a difference in how we feel. ![]() Along with other essential elements, matter then is transferred to man through the food chain. Energy emitted from the sun travels millions of miles to earth, where it is stored in plants through photosynthesis. As a result, the environment provides man with nourishment and energy. Those elements that constitute our physical form and all living and non-living matter have existed since the earth was formed from the sun nearly 4.6 billion years ago. Every element of our existence is derived from our surroundings. We cannot isolate ourselves from the earth’s natural processes and our immediate environment-whether it be natural or built. Our desire for a clean environment represents a powerful sense of destiny and hope for the future. As populations increase and we become more connected with our environment and each other through global communication, commerce and transportation, that interest also increases. In this age of environmental concern individuals are outwardly interested in the healthy state of their surroundings. ![]()
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