Do you realize the power of transportation to transform our societies? It’s easier to imagine a world with cars, planes, and rail systems. Rail has long been one of the most reliable and efficient modes of transport around the globe—but its impact isn’t limited only to convenience. It can also be a powerful tool for…
The post Exploring the Economic and Social Benefits of Sustainable Rail Construction appeared first on Peak Oil.
On a scale of one to ten, COP15—the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal last month—was a solid five. That may not sound like a ringing endorsement, but it represents significant progress from prior COPs, which dabbled along in the one or two range for the better part of three decades. The progress was evident from the start, when UN Secretary General António Guterres kicked off the conference by noting,
The post COP15: The Good, the Bad, and the Smugly appeared first on Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
The recent news that scientists moved a step closer to fusion energy was greeted with enthusiasm and awe in much of the media, a bright spot of cheer amid the ongoing drumbeat of existential global threats. Only the most cynical of curmudgeons could pooh-pooh this hopeful development—right?
After all, energy is the foundation of human development. Civilizational advance is a tale of ongoing successes in shaping energy for human ends.
The post Fusion Energy: A Different Take appeared first on Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
“Planned obsolescence” has become a household term for 21st century Americans. No wonder, considering that most household appliances today have been designed in accordance with the practice. Now more than ever, things just aren’t made like they used to be. In fact, they’re made to fail—often within a fraction of their potential lifespans—in order to spur more consumption.
The post Ending Planned Obsolescence: a Nonpartisan Movement for Steady Staters to Support appeared first on Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
by Yiran Cheng
China, as the world’s second-largest economy and a rising superpower, is an integral part of the discussion if a steady state economy is ever to be achieved at a global scale. China’s environmental impact grows by the day, yet serious consideration about intentionally slowing economic growth has seldom occurred, let alone the possibility of a sustained 负增长, the Mandarin translation of “degrowth”.
This is not to say China is oblivious to its environmental toll.
The post Prospects for 负增长 Toward a Steady State Economy in China appeared first on Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
Brian Czech once likened modern economic growth to a runaway train. This metaphor drives home the point that to save nature and humanity from an ecological train wreck, the most important thing is to decelerate the global economy. Unfortunately, much writing on environmental protection neglects this imperative and fixates instead on what we must accelerate.
For example, the must-read Living Planet Report,
The post Slow is Beautiful: The Need to Decelerate appeared first on Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
With COP15 coming up, it’s time to don the old conservation biologist hat and proffer a primer on the relationship between economic growth and biodiversity conservation. The last thing we want is a COP15 devoid of discussion about the fundamental conflict between growing the economy and conserving biodiversity. In fact, the 800-pound gorilla—GDP growth—ought to be front and center.
For the uninitiated, COP15 is the UN Biodiversity Conference,
The post A Primer on Economic Growth and Biodiversity Conservation for COP15 appeared first on Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
The impact of climate change is becoming more evident every day, which means that businesses across all industries must take appropriate action toward a greener future. To make your business more sustainable, sometimes all you need is to introduce a few small changes to your daily work processes. This will help you demonstrate your commitment…
The post 11 Actions Your Business Can Take To Mitigate The Impacts Of Climate Change appeared first on Peak Oil.
The hospitality industry is one of the world’s biggest energy consumers. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses use much more electricity than the average household. However, these businesses can also be leaders in energy conservation by adopting smart solutions that will help them reduce their carbon footprint and save money at the same time. Let’s explore…
The post 5 Energy-Saving Tips for Your Hospitality Business appeared first on Peak Oil.