View source for Systems and Thermodynamics Perspective on Technology in the Circular Economy


'''* Article: A systems and thermodynamics perspective on technology in the circular economy. By Crelis F. Rammelt and Phillip Crisp. real-world economics review, issue no. 68, 2014'''

URL = http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue68/RammeltCrisp68.pdf

=Abstract=

"Several discourses on environment and sustainability are characterised by a strong
confidence in the potential of technology to address, if not solve, the ecological
impacts resulting from physically expanding systems of production and consumption.
The optimism is further encouraged by leading environmental engineering concepts,
including cradle-to-cradle and industrial ecology, as well as broader frameworks, such
as natural capitalism and the circular economy. This paper explores the viability of
their promise from a biophysical perspective, which is based on insights from system
dynamics and thermodynamics. Such an ecological reality check is generally ignored
or underestimated in the literature on aforementioned concepts and frameworks. The
paper ultimately reflects on what role society can realistically assign to technology for
resolving its ecological concerns. While environmental engineering undoubtedly has
something to offer, it will end up chasing its tail if the social and economic forces
driving up production and consumption are not addressed."


=More Information=

* You may post comments on this paper at
http://rwer.wordpress.com/comments-on-rwer-issue-no-68/ 

[[Category:Thermodynamic Efficiencies]]

[[Category:Articles]]