INTEGRATED SYSTEMS AND ZERO EMISSION PRODUCTION PATTERNS IN AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY AND THE ENERGY SECTOR - WHY 'GREEN' IS NOT ENOUGH

摘要

Energy shortage as well as shortage of material resources are day by day source of large concern for scientists and economists, business people and managers, governments and people. The problem is two-fold, since it involves actual material and energy scarcity as well as price increase due to competition for scarce resources by many potential users in developed and developing countries. An additional kind of scarcity is embodied in the excess exploitation of environmental services (fresh water, clean air, topsoil, material cycling) as well as in the decreased ability of the environment to act as a sink of pollutants released by human activities. We deal in this paper with a much-needed shift away from linear production and consumption patterns, towards a reorganization of economies and lifestyle that takes complexity (resources, environment, economy) into proper account. After dealing with the existing constraints to energy exploitation and use, we analyze the potentiality of photosynthesis to become the new source of materials and energy for a growing world population. For this to be possible, a reorganization of production and consumption patterns within a zero emission framework is absolutely needed, for optimum exploitation of resources and decreased pollution.