Suchergebnisse

In 1950, the term environment denoted limited conditions at home or in the workplace. In the following years the concept evolved to include the complex interactions between man's activities and all components of the natural environment. The modern concept of environment encompasses ecological, economic, aesthetic, and ethical concerns. This essay describes the evolution of the concept of environment from a North American and personal point of view. The emphasis is on the political developments, primarily in the United States but also internationally, that shaped the concept.

Recent years have witnessed a growing recogmtion of the link between emission of carbon dioxide and changes in global climate. Of all anthropogenic activities, energy production and use generate the largest portion of these greenhouse gases. Although developing countries currently account for a small share of global carbon emissions, their contribution is growing rapidly. If these countries are to participate in any program to slow the growth the growth of greenhouse gases, they must receive and develop applicable teehnology. Successful technology transfer has several preconditions. Most important, there must be a local demand for the technology. Closely allied to this requirement is that the technology must be appropriate to the situation. Information about the technology must be available to potential users. If a community is to use the technology successfully, the supporting infrastructure must exist, and adequate capital must be available. Overall, the economic consequences of technology transfer must be positive.. These prerequisites are illustrated by examples of technology transfer that succeeded and some that failed.

The degradation of the human environment is a worldwide problem which has increasingly led to worldwide concern. All countries, whether rich or poor, young or old, irrespective of political and economic institutions, are finding that they must understand and improve the relationships between man's activities and the total environmental system. The recognition that the planet's resources and its capacities to absorb waste are definitely limited raises important questions as to how to approach solutions in a way that not only safeguards legitimate national interests but in the long run protects and enhances those resources essential to the future welfare of all states.