The Card CatalogPage ContentsIt is our goal to provide here a handy international repository of both documents and links to documents that will be useful to activists, concerned administrators, researchers, students, journalists and others who are interested in these issues. This is in fact intended to develop into a multi-media depository, and will shortly be extended to provide sound, image, and video as well as the more familiar print files. This is a free public library, and will be as complete and good as we all manage to make it. So don't be afraid to step forward and volunteer.The Card Catalog
Getting Around in the Stacks
Abstracts of Selected Library Resources
Zipped Teleconference Sets
Supporting Materials for Car Sharing
Multimedia Materials
Some Other Related Electronic Libraries Worth Visiting
What's a Library, Anyway?
More Tools for the Library and Media Access
And Your Contribution?
The contents of the library, or what we call the stacks, are a single click away at ftp://ftp.the-commons.org/pub/. You will note that they are organized by general topic or program area, and in many cases subdivided for convenience. We have tried to keep the organization intuitive, and make it so that referencing the various "stacks" is as convenient as the speed of your modem permits. (Notice: We are not altogether pleased with the present internal organization of the Library and are giving it our attention. In the meantime, what you will find here is workable, if not ideal.)
You will note that the items are stored off line, and are thus not directly searchable (as are the various pages of the site itself). Nine times out of ten, people simply download whatever it is they are looking for and print directly. While there is also a "view" option in the better browsers, direct access can be a pretty slow process and really doesn't make a great deal of sense for the longer documents, unless you have a very fast connection. One option of course is to download and then call up the piece in your word processor, from which you can then search to your heart's content.
To download any of the titles listed on the ftp site, you simply need to click it. Once your and others' contributions have been lodged in the library, they are then available for all to access and use as reference materials for the various fora and discussion groups. We see this as an essential concomitant of our virtual sharing.
The materials are presented in (reasonably) uniform form, following in this standardless world the closest things around to universal conventions. More precisely....
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Abstracts of Selected Library Resources
The following can also be directly accessed from here by clicking the respective title.
Robert U. Ayres with Tania Van Leynseele, Center for the Management of Environmental Resources, INSEAD
Abstract: Ecological sustainability at the global level is not consistent with continuously increasing extraction, processing and consumption of material products at the individual or firm levels. This stark fact implies that economic growth must either be disconnected from material consumption or stop altogether. Since the latter outcome would be socially unacceptable, the former must become a major objective of environmental and economic policy. But it must also become a core strategy for firms. Is there a coherent "eco-efficiency" strategy at the firm level that leads in the right direction? What role must government play to encourage firms to adopt this strategy? This paper discusses these questions.
Robert U. Ayres & Geraldo Ferrer with Tania Van Leynseele, Center for the Management of Environmental Resources, INSEAD
Abstract: In this article we consider the underlying imperatives driving the trend toward eco-efficiency and, especially, asset recovery, at the firm level. We show how the enormous potential for adding value while reducing material inputs can be realized in almost every sector of the economy. Many of these gains can be obtained by "internalizing" the product. In many cases there is a large scope for "double dividends", by which we mean increased profits for the firm combined with environmental improvement. We also discuss the role of government regulation as a driver of change. Finally, we review a number of specific cases from (mostly) European firms, with emphasis on the potential for internalizing the product by recovery, remanufacturing and materials recycling. We conclude with a discussion of the economics, the regulatory environment and the organizational and management aspects of the problem.
Robert U. Ayres, Center for the Management of Environmental Resources, INSEAD
Abstract: Zero Emissions is an attractive slogan. It has been adopted, for instance, by the UN University. The question arises, inevitably: Is it a realistic target? If so, in what sense? Wastes and emissions are part of the product life cycle; indeed they are the final fate of most extractive raw materials. The law of conservation of mass holds. It implies that zero emissions is equivalent to zero extraction i.e. final closure of the materials cycle. Ecological sustainability at the global level is not consistent with continuously increasing extraction, processing, consumption and waste emissions by individual households or firms. This stark fact implies that economic growth must, in the long run, either be disconnected from material consumption or stop altogether. Since the latter outcome would be socially unacceptable, the former must become a major objective of environmental and economic policy at the government level. But it must also become a core strategy for firms. Is there a coherent "zero-emissions" strategy at the firm level that makes economic sense? What role must government play to encourage firms to adopt such a strategy? What must governments do to increase the scope of profitable zero-emissions strategies? This paper concludes that there is such a strategy: to sell services rather than products. Policy implications for firms and governments are considered.
Wuppertal Institute, World Resources Institute (USA), Dutch Environment Ministry, and Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies
Abstract: Using material flow accounting to track the physical flows of natural resources that get depleted in the economic production cycle, this report measures resource usage in the four countries with a new index: the Total Material Requirement (TMR). TMR uses a physical accounting process that includes all domestic and imported natural resources that go into the national economy regardless of monetary value. Such a method of looking at the costs and benefits of national economic activity more completely documents the environmental impact of natural resource usage. A summary of the report can be located at the above Web address . Copies of the full report (ISBN: 1-56973-209-4) are available from the World Resource Institute and can be obtained via their Website.
A Report for the European Commission by James Robertson, TP2000
Abstract: This Briefing for Policy Makers on "The New Economics of Sustainable Development" was commissioned by the Forward Studies Unit (or Cellule de Prospective) of the European Commission. James Robertson [a biographical note is at Annex D] submitted it in early May and presented it to a half-day seminar at the Commission in Brussels in early June. The Forward Studies Unit plans to publish it as a book in French and English at the end of 1997 or the beginning of 1998. The aims of the Forward Studies Unit include fostering dialog and debate on advanced visions and positions. In making this Briefing public, the FSU does not necessarily agree with it; it is agreeing to foster discussion on the ideas and proposals it contains. [This particular version of the report has been kindly made available by the author and the Commission, and has been hastily cobbled together from not quite complete electronic elements. Nonetheless, while the formatting is a bit rough and the page numbering on the Table of Contents not quite exact, almost all of the text is intact.]
by Eric Britton, with Patricia Mokhtarian, Jack Nilles, Horace Mitchell, Andrew Bibby, Andy Lake, Mattias Hoejer, Noel Hodson, Peter Johnston, Robert Pestel, Robert Theobald.
Abstract: We know that sustainability can be achieved only via major and massive increases in the efficiency of materials and energy use. Neither small percentage improvements (while certainly not to be disdained) nor 'holding the line' will be enough. It is hard to be optimistic under the circumstances. The uncomfortable truth is, however, that virtually every major public initiative taken or announced to date in this broad area has failed to offer realistic promise of attaining the extremely large efficiency increases that must be realized if we are to move toward this challenging goal. Experience of the last few years has made it clear that an apparently unbridgeable gap exists between the basic sustainability objectives (at least those that the leading edge of the science and policy communities claim we should all be trying to achieve), and our actual conduct and choices in daily life. This breach is, in fact, the fundamental dilemma of sustainability, and this is precisely the challenge which now needs to be directly addressed and resolved. This special edition of The Journal Of World Transport Policy & Practice (March 1996) examines alternative views concerning the information society & sustainable development: experience, contradictions, myths, propaganda, possible truths, visions, and the implications for policy, practice, well-being & community. (Incidentally, the journal was planned, written, assembled, peer reviewed, edited (and is now being distributed to you) without one single physical meeting between the various authors, the editor and the publisher. Everything was 100% handled via email and The Commons WWW site. In its own way, a twin event of our current virtual conference).
H-H Rogner and Eric Britton, EcoPlan, Centre for Technology & Systems Studies
Abstract: Prepared as an independent thinkpiece to supplement the Commission's own work and reflections in the area of longer range energy policy. Follow-on of a major report and techno-economic database prepared by EcoPlan for the Commission, Choosing Europe's Energy Future. The authors were asked to draw not only on their past work and databases, but also the findings and views of a wide range of leading thinkers, institutions and adversarial sources. The report opens with a reflection on current concerns with the threat of climate modification in the face of rapidly increasing emissions from fossil fuel combustion. At present European and other OECD governments are coming under pressure to implement measures which promise to reduce, or at least stabilize, such emissions over the next decade. Despite the fact that the expert community shows considerable misgivings about their chances, many governments are announcing and even legislating short term measures. The authors maintain that this approach makes at best only limited sense, and needs to be set within a coherent longer term strategic frame. They contend that effective policies are being held back, above all, because the wrong questions are being addressed. The authors chart the broad outlines of a reference structure which they call the deep future energy system, claiming that we must be prepared to look fifty years or more into the future in order to develop a competent strategic frame for the sector.
This site is a useful reference, though still in the process of abuilding. Nonetheless it already has several reports available, including Renewable Resources For Material Purpose: An Overview Of Options (November 1995). The site offers the statement: 'Our work involves looking at the environmental impact of products, services and systems that meet human needs. The objective is to make them more sustainable'.
The World Bank Energy and Environment Strategy Process is a recent initiative that aims to develop a better understanding of World Bank policy and lending priorities at the nexus of these two areas. As a major step in this process, The Environment Department and the Industry & Energy Department of the Bank have prepared a draft Energy and Environment Strategy Paper. In its current version, the Strategy Paper as posted on the Web, is a provisional draft and is subject to revisions based on input from World Bank staff and management. It is for discussion purposes only, and is not to be cited. After it is reviewed internally and approved by the Bank's Board, the Paper will help shape country-specific assistance programs.
If you wish to work your way much more quickly through the non-interactive portions of the conference (the WebBoard will not work here of corusem, though you can if you wish link to it via Internet at any point), download this zipped set of files and run the conference from your hard disk. Don't forget the associated graphics files, which get loaded into another (directly parallel)directory at graphics_new.
This zipped file contains all html and images associated with site as of 27 September 1997. Can be transferred to your hard disk and run directly (and quickly) from there. The file is zipped, and should be unzipped respecting folder names (the main folder being "zero-ems", and within it sub-folder entitled "images". You unzip utility will probably so this automatically, but if you have any problems all you need to do is transfer all the htm files to the outer folder (zeri-ems) and keep all the image files (gif and jpg) together in the image folder.
The organizers have prepared and uploaded this print-out of the main Web pages for the site on 13 August. This is handy for viewing offline, but of course has none of the power or learning potential of the site itself. Looks a bit scrappy at this point, but perhaps worth downloading for those who are feeling not quite so sure of their Web skills (for now). (More useful will be the full WWW site file which has subsequently been placed in the library: Zero Emissions Site Contents as of 23 August 1997.)
Supporting Materials for Car Sharing
The following titles can be already accessed directly from here. You may however find it useful to consult the library directly as well, since new items are regularly uploaded without always landing here at first.
MultiMedia Materials -- Getting Started
Some Other Related Electronic Libraries Worth Visiting
This rich bibliographic source offers a comprehensive list of internet sites dealing with sustainable development, including organizations, projects and activities, electronic journals, libraries, references and documents, databases, directories or meta databases keywords: sustainable development, index, environment, development, resources, internet, world wide web, sites, WWW, durable, sustainability, Virtual Library, ecological economics. This page is maintained by the Center for Economic and Social Studies on the Environment , located at Université Libre de Bruxelles.
The Sustainable Earth Electronic Library (SEEL) is a digital library devoted to the collection of publications that educate people on ways to preserve and restore our natural environment. By providing access to this valuable information, it is our hope that participating organizations and individuals will share with one another the ways in which they are making the world ecologically secure. Both site users and those who submit materials do so at no cost. SEEL provides Internet users access to an extensive digital collection of publications from environmental organizations, and SEEL creates a digital presence (Web site) for environmental organizations and their publications in order to reach people, share ideas and facilitate communication. SEEL is a project of Sustainable Earth, Inc., a Virginia 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created with the purpose of using the considerable leverage of technology for the benefit of the environment by creating Internet-based information resources and services. Computer space for the library collection is provided by the EnviroLink Network, a nonprofit that provides environmental information to the general public.
Every other month IISD's Information Centre compiles a list of key information sources on the number one 'hot idea' from Developing Ideas Digest. Designed for people wanting in-depth information on the topic, each list is annotated. (Selected Sources)Compiled by Marlene Roy - Information for Sustainable Development Project
What's a Library, Anyway?Like many public libraries, especially when they are starting up, this is a cooperative effort. As such it will succeed because there are people out there who understand the concept and want to make it work. So, if you have first class materials on the issues and concerns here that can be added and thus shared with people around the world who need to know about the best of the work available on these tough topics, this is the place to come to contribute them (in electronic form, please).
If this sort of thing -- putting your books together, libraries,shared efforts for objectives that may take longer than the next commercial break to achieve -- appeals to you at all, you may wish to jump quickly to an early section of The Commons - Time Frame for some of Ben Franklin's perspective on all this.
You will also note that we are seeking additional high quality materials to add to the library for all to be able to get to easily. Of course where they can be accessed via links, that is every bit as good -- but we need to know what they are and have the approval of the authors.
And Your Contribution?Your suggestions and materials for the library here
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