Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies

Sustainable development seeks to compare economic benefits with environmental and health costs of new technologies, with challenges such as climate change, food shortages, and social justice issues. The Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies provides a comprehensive analysis of these challenges and innovations for better resource use and resiliency.

Format: Multiple-component retail product
Length: 2000 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2024
Publisher: Elsevier - Health Sciences Division

Technological advancement has brought about significant societal benefits in terms of economic growth, but it has also posed challenges in its impact on the environment and human health. Sustainable development aims to find a fair way to compare the economic benefits of a new technology with its environmental and health costs. This revised encyclopedia explores sustainability initiatives across various industries, offering insights into future opportunities for technological development. Since the publication of the first edition, a wide range of human challenges has become more severe. Climate change is now a global phenomenon, contributing to severe weather events such as extreme drought in Australia, intense wildfires in California, and flooding along the great rivers of Africa, North, and South America. The expansion of the use of biomass as a raw material in chemical processing leads to food shortages, and the poorest nations are often the most affected. The Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies, Four Volume Set provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges of modern technology and the innovations that are leading to better use of limited resources and improved resiliency as we learn to adapt to a changing world. Each chapter examines in depth a technological solution to support a specific human need, evaluates it relative to its impacts on the environment and human health, and considers the social justice issues underlying its development. The new edition includes updated information on the latest sustainability initiatives and technologies, making it an essential resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of sustainable development.

Dimension: 276 x 216 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780323903868
Edition number: 2 ed