TODAY, GREENING and green economy are the new buzzwords, yet how many know what exactly a green economy is?
While many definitions and interpretations exist, perhaps the simplest way to understand the term green economy is to think of it as an overall way of living and doing business for societies that is sustainable relative to the earth’s natural resources.
In other words, whether it is the individual or the company, our acquisition, consumption and disposal of goods and services in a green economy should be sustainable.
A simple and well known example is the use of forests for wood and paper production.
In this case, acquisition – the cutting, logging and milling of trees – and consumption, the production and use of wood for products such as furniture, and their subsequent disposal should be done in a manner and at a rate that the forest can support without its degradation or depletion.
If we delve deeper, we will see this is neither as easy nor as simple as it may seem. In the production of paper, for instance, chemicals are used?to treat, bleach or condition wood pulp. Depending on how the paper is disposed of, these chemicals may enter the natural environment.
Consequently, even if forests are managed successfully, there can be impacts to wider ecosystems and other resources. So we may begin to see that our demand and consumption can have side effects on our natural resources.
The area of renewable energy is often seen as the hallmark of a green economy and many countries such as Barbados are striving to introduce more renewable energy options to satisfy their energy demands.
Solar energy is one renewable energy form that has received much attention. Energy from the sun is free and non-polluting.
However, while energy produced from solar photovoltaic panels may be free, these systems themselves are composed of an array of materials crafted from several natural resources such as alumina, silica, copper and steel.
The question that must be asked is this: is the impact on the earth’s natural resources due to the mining and extraction of these resources acceptable and sustainable?
Essentially what this question forces us to consider is that for every use of a resource, there is a consequence.
Environmentalists and ecologists have for some time worked with a concept called carrying capacity, which may be defined as the ability of an ecosystem or a particular environment to support all the species and activities going on within it, up to a natural limit.
This concept can be applied to help our understanding of a green economy.
If all the activities and actors – both individuals and businesses – can be supported sustainably while acquiring, consuming and disposing, then perhaps the economy can be considered a green one.
The task we face, though, is understanding what the natural limit is for our earth.
With seven billion people now living on earth, developing truly green economies may be possible, but will certainly be much more challenging.
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Andre Alleyne is an engineer.
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