In 2020: On the Circular Economy, Infrastructure, and Sustainability

 The two journal articles at the links below give great insights regarding present and future efforts toward a sustainable world.  [Again, sorry about the copy-and-paste-on-another-page links, but I have no control over that.  As far as I know, that's a Google-Blogger-Blogspot glitch.]

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1.  Title - "Circular Futures: What Will They Look Like?"

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092180091931972X

2.  Title - "Infrastructure Is Key to Make Cities Sustainable"

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/20/8308/htm

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I've noticed on Twitter and elsewhere online that some environmental activists don't understand what's taking so long in regard to a shift to sustainability.  They are a bit frustrated.  I'm guessing these are mostly young people.  No offense intended.  As an old man who has been in this and a couple of related fields for many years (starting in 1970), I offer the following.

First, along with many others, I fully recognize that time - relative to the socio-ecological-economic CRISIS we're in - is short.  The pace of research reflects that; the pace of implementation in most areas of the world does not.  There are many reasons as to why.  In my opinion, here are only two of those reasons, as follows.

1.  Changing Spaceship Earth to genuine sustainability requires a major shift in attitudes, ethics, lifestyle, production, and consumption.  Resistance abounds.  Ignorance abounds.  Propaganda abounds.  Overcoming all that requires patience, and most of all, persistence.

2.  One of the biggest obstacles (perhaps THE biggest) is the fact that mega money largely controls politics.  The overwhelming majority of national politicians are selected, groomed, and financed by the Super-Rich Upper Crust.  Surely by now this is common knowledge.  Unfortunately, most of the Super-Rich are faux "Green".  They've more or less been forced to talk the talk, but have little to no interest in anything ecological or sustainable.  They're short-term thinkers.  Until we get big money out of politics, little will change other than the Crisis getting worse and worse.

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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well, & Persist

More on Ecosystem Services... Plus, More on Ecosystems

 http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/EcosystemAssessmentConcepts/EcosystemServices/tabid/103/Default.aspx

At the link above is a concise and comprehensive rendering of the important concept of ecosystem services.

On the left side of the page are more links to all aspects of ecosystems, e.g., ecosystems & biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, etc.

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Be Well

The Circular Economy: A Few Implementation Methods

 Although I firmly believe Circular Economics does not go far enough in dealing with our ongoing Ecological Crisis - not far enough mainly because the "circular economy" approach still is wedded to unlimited growth - I nevertheless recognize the approach as a step in the right direction.  In that spirit, the links below may provide a valuable insight or two for researchers, policy makers and others.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/circular-economy  [An overview, and specific implementation methods.]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800918306414   ["Circular, Green, and Bio Economy: How Do Companies in Land-Use Intensive Sectors Align with Sustainability Concepts?"]

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

One Aspect of EcoEthics

https://twitter.com/ScottHa85992272/status/1302711900338257921?s=20

Here's how animals should be viewed, one reason why ecoethics is vital, and a worldview that could stop our collective suicidal path. This is Spirituality, not formal organized Religion. It seems to be lacking in too many people.
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Not only my opinion. Be Well

A Paradigm Shift in Ethics is Needed for the Journey to Sustainability

Preface

Philosophy is the study of knowledge, being, and reality.  One of its branches is Ethics, the study of values and behavior.  Ethics is concerned with "right" and "wrong", and in particular, with what is "good" for individuals and society.  Its three primary principles are:  respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.  A simple definition would be:  a code of conduct for human good.  Socrates was the Father of Ethics in the western world.
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The Ethical Problem in Relation to the Cessation of Environmental Damage

As detailed to a degree in previous posts here, the Powers-That-Be in most countries around the world have opted (for decades) to implement neoliberal economics in their lands... resulting in severe, worldwide environmental damage.  Despite efforts to mitigate that damage, it continues to this day.  Most ecologists agree that's because, rather than Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic" (or something similar), countries have chosen to follow the neoliberal path of unlimited growth and overconsumption.

Even in countries that are attempting to "go green", the prevailing ethic is "growthism" not sustainability.  More and more perpetual growth apparently is mistakenly viewed as "good" for society.  History disagrees with that assessment.

Despite the shrinking of nonrenewable natural resources and the overharvesting of renewable natural resources, human populations (in general) have been indoctrinated to accept without question the idea that economic growth must continually expand for the good of individuals and society.  "Going green" supposedly will solve the problems of ecological/environmental damage.  That most likely will help a bit, but only a bit.  Much more is needed.  Here's why.

1.  The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it only can be transformed from one type to another.
2.  Because of entropy, every time energy is transformed some of it is lost as dispersed heat.  "Lost" means it's no longer available to do "work" because it's too dispersed.
3.  As a result, because of entropy nothing can be 100% recycled.  So, nonrenewable mineral resources (e.g., rare earth minerals which are gobbled up by high tech industries) will continue to shrink.
4.  Although solar energy is renewable, it obviously has to be captured.  If the rate of consumption of solar power exceeds the rate of the in-flow and capture of solar energy, then sooner or later, consumption has to be limited.
5.  While the stock of solar energy (the sun) is super-abundant, the in-flow and capture of it are limited.
6.  Whether "green" or not, all material economic growth consumes resources and produces wastes.  That's even true of service industries such as health care, education, taxi service, tourism, and others.
7.  Ever-increasing growth results in an ever-increasing flow of "throughput":
resources from Earth's ecosystems to the economic subsystem, and then back to ecosystems as wastes.  Sooner or later, throughput will exceed Earth's resource regeneration and waste assimilation capacities.
8.  Renewable resources, such as ocean fish and trees, are being overharvested already.  More and more economic growth will exacerbate the problem.

All the above means sustainability is nowhere in sight.  It also means that, first and foremost, we have a massive ethical problem.  Without a paradigm shift in the cultural and ethical thinking & behavior of humans, serious ecological damage on Earth will continue.  Why?  Because the Powers-That-Be are firmly locked onto the path of unlimited growth and overconsumption.  The only way to change that is from the ground up, not the top down... and, in my opinion, that won't happen until a majority of us (or at least a significantly large number of us) adopt what ecologists call "eco-ethics" (or ecoethics).  Only then will people gravitate to demanding the implementation of ecological economics.
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Here's a declaration by which to live---
https://www.int-res.com/articles/esep/2002/E21.pdf
[It will warm your heart.]

It's a short read.  Have a look, and, as best you can, try to live by it.  Thanks.  Younger generations thank you as well.
[NOTE--- At the above page, the print can be enlarged by moving your cursor to the lower right-hand side.]
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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well

"Economics for a Full World", & a Sustainable World

Preface

This isn't only about economics.  It's also about ethics, respect for and appreciation of the biosphere/ecosphere, respect for all sentient beings, and a path to a sustainable, mostly peaceful world.

At the links below, Professors Herman Daly and William Rees give masterful, concise explanations of ecological economics.  The Daly essay is a longer, illustrated read, but both require your full attention in order to comprehend them.  The Rees piece (the link was posted previously on this blog) includes a brilliant comparison to neoliberal/mainstream economics (aka, neoclassical economics).

Both essays do a great job of weaving the larger ethical, political, and ecological contexts into the discussions.
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https://greattransition.org/publication/economics-for-a-full-world

https://greattransition.org/publication/economics-vs-the-economy
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Conclusion

For anyone desiring to understand the best solution to a large part of our ongoing problems on Earth, the essays above are a must-read.  Study them as if our lives depended on it... because they do.  Then, do whatever you can to support and promote these concepts.  Thanks, and my grandkids thank you as well.  😊
p.s.  I recommend reading the Rees piece first - Economics vs. the Economy.
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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well

Not Understanding Aspects of Science Can be Problematic

Preface

What is "science"?  Both definitions below apply.
1.  Science is a systematically/methodically organized body of knowledge on a particular subject.
2.  It's also an activity involving the systematic study of the structure and function of various aspects of the physical/natural world.
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What Some People Don't Seem to Understand

1.  Science and scientists deal in degrees of probability, not certainty.  In other words, science is not absolute.  Why?  There are too many variables (known and unknown) to be accounted for in any scientific investigation.  Because of that, when new discoveries are made in a particular area of research, the previous theory is likely to be modified or even discarded.  With new research, past conclusions change.

At any particular time, our knowledge is limited.  Even some theoretical physicists have said (paraphrased):  we humans have barely scratched the surface of reality.  That runs contrary to what many, perhaps most, people think regarding what we know.  In short, we are not as knowledgeable as we generally believe.  One of the biggest problems in the world today is that too many times we jump to conclusions based upon insufficient/inadequate information.

2.  Scientists sometimes do not arrive at the same conclusion regarding any particular topic of research.  Why?  The reasons are many and varied.  For instance, scientist A may have a vested interest in a particular outcome, while scientist B may be more objective.  Or, scientist A may understand the technical aspects of the study much better than scientist B.  Or... etc.

All the above is why science relies on many investigations, rigorous peer review, and constant challenging of results before accepting any theory as the closest known approximation to what's "true".  Even then, the future may hold some surprises concerning accepted beliefs.
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Why A Lack of Understanding of the Above Items Can be Problematic

• Too many people appear to want instant answers nowadays.  Worse than that, they seem to expect absolutes.  When they get neither, too many migrate over to nonscientific, emotional positions held by autocrat wannabes, corporatists, and others with destructive vested interests.
• Their misunderstandings of science often lead them to reject scientific warnings of damage to natural systems which is not immediately and blatantly visible.  They can experience damage to the economy.  When it comes to the complexity of ecosystem damage, that's not always so visible.
• When new research results in a modification to some particular theory, instead of accepting that as normal, I suspect that too many people tend to reject science in total.  A trivial example---  A fictitious person with little science knowledge speaking:  "First their research claims that drinking coffee is bad for you, then more research says it's good for you, and now it's back to bad for you.  They don't know what's what."  

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Conclusion

Every time I've read a research article, a "journal article", I've again been impressed with the dedication, the rigor, and the discipline that goes into scientific investigations.  Because of my interests, that's especially true for the natural sciences.  So, for decades I've been amazed and somewhat dismayed by too many people seemingly rejecting the warnings by scientists of the damage being done to natural systems... and of the ever-increasing impact on humans and society in general.

I believe this essay explains a part of that rejection.  Other things are instrumental, too... propaganda/advertising, materialism, the wanting of more & more & more, a lack of education, distractions due to "bread and circuses", etc.  If organized human existence is to thrive on our finite planet, then all that has to change.

Some people believe the answer is for humanity to migrate to another celestial body.  I'm open-minded, but consider the following.  Exactly how are we going to transport billions of people to this new home.  More importantly, who do you think would get to make the trip (should it ever be a possible choice)?  My guess is:  the Super-Rich, and a small contingent of "workers".  Not many others.  So, I don't think that's a viable option.

Though the obstacles are great, a much better option is to change our ethics, change our economic system (which is destroying our life support), and clean up the mess we've made.  Some countries, Germany comes to mind, are already starting that whole process.  Europe, in general, is light-years ahead of the USA in that regard.  Kudos.
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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well

Violence Erupts - The State-Corporate-Financial Complex Has Failed Us For Decades

Preface
As frustration boils over, in this essay we'll accept the premise that most protesters basically are nonviolent, and most cops essentially are good people.  Plus, the current situation goes way beyond a Racial Crisis and misdeeds by Law Enforcement.
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In the USA and much of the rest of the world, decades of neoliberal policies implemented by the State-Corporate-Financial Complex (the Corporatocracy) have fueled the fires of---
1. a racial crisis,
2. a socio-economic class crisis,
3. an economic crisis,
4. a health crisis,
5. an ecological/environmental crisis, and
6. an ethical crisis.
They are all interrelated.

The policies to which I refer include:  austerity (except for the war & police machinery), the militarization of law enforcement, privatization, deregulation, wage stagnation, an inadequate healthcare system, a gross distortion of "conflict of interest", an ugly conversion of our educational system to one which produces compliant robots, bizarre financialization (which produces little to no employment), so-called "free trade", the almost complete destruction of labor unions, ditto for decent retirement plans, and more.  In addition to all that, too many private & public Powers-That-Be have demonstrated a blatant disregard for both common people and the environment.  Equity seems to have become a long-forgotten concept.  Inequality (including income inequality) is the flavor of the day.  Nature is unimportant.  And so it goes, ad nauseam.

Meanwhile, the ecological crisis of the century--- Climate Disruption ---appears to have been put on the back burner.  On top of that, the gross degradation of necessary biodiversity, the interference with crucial ecosystem functioning, pollution, corporatist propaganda, the suspension of enforcement of EPA regulations, etc., are all ongoing.

In short, neoliberal policies have failed utterly... except for people in the Upper Crust.  The current eruption of violence isn't about only racism toward people of color.  [The response to it has been multiracial.]  It isn't about only a few very recent murders.  This situation has been building for decades, and almost everyone is frustrated and fed-up to the gills.  It's not just about Race, or economics, or police, or inequality.  Perhaps more than anything else, it's also about ethics.

As the Harvard Professor, Cornel West, stated today on Democracy Now, "The American Empire is imploding.".  West also had a telling opinion piece in The Guardian.  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/01/george-floyd-protests-cornel-west-american-democracy

The time is ripe for a global paradigm shift to ecoethics, ecoliberalism, ecological economics, common sense, and equity.

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Time's Up: It's Now or Never for the Implementation of Ecoethics to Avoid Catastrophe

Preface
All credit to Paul R. Ehrlich, ecologist, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, and still active in the Center for Conservation Biology.  Kudos, too, to the Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics (ESEP) section of IR, Inter-Research (Science Publisher), and its Open Access approach regarding crucial, scientific information.
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My first job as an ecologist was as one of the main researchers and authors of the "Water Pollution Control and Abatement Plan for Drainage Basin 15, State of Washington".  That was in 1973.  Over subsequent years and various positions in teaching, consulting, & a period of almost seven years with the Sacramento County Environmental Management Dept, I came to the following conclusions.
1.  Despite some progress, Humanity was heading for more and more ecological disasters.
2.  Some of the reasons why included materialism, unlimited consumption, unlimited growth, neoliberal policies, and politics.
3.  The main reason, though, was/is a lack of ethics... specifically, ecoethics.
[Dr. Ehrlich coined that term, I believe, in 2009.]

Our environmental/ecological problem on Earth is not only material in nature, it's metaphysical, spiritual.  Spiritual not in the sense of organized religion, but rather in the sense of ecoethics, life purpose, relationships to nonhuman life, and values which benefit/respect all biotic & abiotic parts of this amazing planet.  It's a question of where and how to direct our energy during our short time in this physical, cosmic dimension.

When first thinking about this particular blog post, I decided to do a limited "literature search" on the subject.  Perhaps someone else already has covered the subject... better than I ever could.  And that's the case.  In the essay at the link below, Professor Ehrlich brilliantly connects all the dots.  [It's on an Open Access venue.]  It's well worth your time.
https://www.int-res.com/articles/esep2014/14/e014p011.pdf
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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Corona, Climate Disruption, and Biodiversity - All Connected

Here's why ecosystems are important, biodiversity is crucial, and Climate Disruption must be addressed immediately.

https://www.propublica.org/article/climate-infectious-diseases
At the very least, read the first few paragraphs.
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Why BIODIVERSITY is crucial to the well-being of humanity---
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCH1Gre3Mg0
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For your ecological glossary---

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem

Ecosystem Services and their value---
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6luBEJfi3s
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An important point to remember:  ecosystems are dynamic, always adjusting, always striving for a type of homeostasis (balance).  When we humans interfere with the functioning of them, we should do so with the least damage possible under the particular circumstances.  Why?  Because:  1) they all, directly or indirectly, contribute to our health, prosperity, & well-being; and 2) human existence is not possible without the functioning of natural cycles, and those cycles are found in ecosystems.  Even if you're in artificial surroundings all day and night, you still need clean air, clean water, decent food, shelter, protection from floods, disease, etc.  That all is provided by properly functioning ecosystems.  Everything is connected to everything else.  [Barry Commoner's first law of ecology.  https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/barry-commoner-scientist-activist-radical-ecologist ]
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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Myopia and Deep Denial by Too Many People

Continuing on with the Introduction to Ecological Liberalism---

Any informed, reasonable assessment of the current state of humanity on finite Earth surely would conclude with the following.
1.  The Powers-That-Be and too many Main Street people apparently believe we humans are separate from and superior to Nature... and thus not subject to the Laws of Nature.
2.  As a consequence, we have been and continue to be on a path of subduing Nature, rather than extracting natural capital in a sustainable manner.
3.  The results have been:  overuse, degradation, and dangerous disruption of our natural habitat... plus, pollution in the extreme.
4.  Much of the above is due to propaganda, a lack of knowledge concerning natural science (especially ecology), economics, & ethics, and a deep denial of readily apparent facts.
5.  Too many people have bought into the fallacies of unlimited population and economic growth, expanding consumption/consumerism, and the ability of technology to overcome any problem whatsoever.

Fortunately, amidst all the short-sightedness and denial, many institutions and people are working hard to provide valuable education toward a sustainable, ecological path forward.  Here are a few of them---

https://naturalcapitalproject.stanford.edu/

https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/never-let-a-good-crisis-go-to-waste/

https://mahb.stanford.edu/

https://psmag.com/magazine/fallacy-of-endless-growth

http://williamrees.org/on-herman-dalys-economics/#more-261

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/04/06/The-Earth-Is-Telling-Us-We-Must-Rethink-Our-Growth-Society/

If you really want to educate yourself, you're going to have to read and/or watch relevant videos.  Twitter is great, but 140 characters only points the way.  😊

Not only my opinion.  Everyone Be Well