Hiroshi Komiyama's "Vision 2050" is a plan for paving a road to global sustainability. It lays out a path to a sustainable future for humanity that could realistically be achieved by 2050 through the application of science and technology. A prominent Japanese academic and leader in global sustainability, Komiyama draws upon realistic assumptions and solid scientific concepts to create a vision that makes the living standards enjoyed by developed countries today possible for all people by 2050. "Vision 2050" is built upon three fundamental principles - increased energy efficiency, recycling, and development of renewable energy sources - and the book argues for the technological potential of all three. Specifically, Komiyama envisions a three-fold increase in overall energy efficiency and a doubling of renewable energy resources by 2050. "Vision 2050: Roadmap for a Sustainable Earth" is written to address the concerned citizen as well as to inspire an exchange of ideas among experts, policy makers, industrial leaders, and the general public.

Hersteller:
Springer Verlag GmbH
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Preface Chapter 1: Is the earth sustainable? 1.Changes from which the earth recovers, and changes from which the earth does not 2. Mechanisms for recovery 3. A massive intervention by humanity into the biosphere 4. The flow of materials resulting from "making things" 5. What happens if we continue with "business as usual?" Chapter 2: Knowing energy 1. Energy is conserved 2. What is energy used for? 3. Energy degrades 4. Improving efficiency Chapter 3: The limit of energy efficiency 1. The elementary steps of human activities 2. The energy of elementary steps 3. The energy of human activities Chapter 4: Energy conservation in daily life 1. The automobile 2. Homes and offices 3. Power plants Chapter 5: Making things and recycling things 1. The theory of recycling 2. Recycling that is also energy conservation 3. Is it bad to burn waste paper and plastic? Chapter 6: Introduction of renewable energy 1. Could intensification of nuclear power be the answer? 2. Sunlight 3. Hydropower and wind power 4. Geothermal and tides Chapter 7: How to make a sustainable earth 1. The significance of the Kyoto Protocol 2. Vision 2050: a new road to a sustainable earth 3. A concrete image for Vision 2050 (1) A three-fold increase in energy use efficiency (2) Construction of a material recycling system (3) Development of renewable energy Chapter 8: How will technology and society work together? 1. Forming a total infrastructure for circulating materials in society 2. Making the market work for sustainability 3. Projects for Vision 2050 4. Rebuilding the relationship between technology and society Postscript