Energy and Sustainability

摘要: ![Figure][1] The theme for the 2007 annual meeting of AAAS, to be held in San Francisco on 15 19 February, is “Science and Technology Sustainable Well-Being.” The problem energy, which focus this special issue Science linked meeting, looms as a central element web intertwined challenges that embodies. Well-being has environmental, sociopolitical, cultural dimensions well economic ones, goal sustainable well-being entails improving all these ways end points are consistent with maintaining improvements indefinitely. This challenge includes not only sustainably standard living developing countries, but also converting basis currently unsustainable practices supporting industrialized ones. Civilization's ability meet immense clearly depends our strengths natural science engineering. But it social sciences “social technology” form business, government, law, societal wit will integrate elements pursuit sustainable-well-being goal. ![Figure][1] CREDIT: JUPITER IMAGES No part more complex or demanding than its energy dimension. so because supply tightly national international security many most damaging dangerous environmental problems—from indoor air quality global climate change—as capacity basic human needs fuel growth. The multiplicity importance linkages would make vexing even world where demand was constant. we live in. Continuing population growth rapidly rising affluence parts globe driving rate increase use staggering implications. Even if efficiency economy—gross product per unit energy—were continue at long-term historical about 1% year, realization middle-of-the-road projections entail quadrupling century. In today one-third primary comes from oil (two-thirds remaining high-quality supplies probably lie under volatile Middle East) 80% oil, coal, gas combined (virtually carbon dioxide combustion continues go straight into atmosphere), trajectory cannot managed simply by expanding what already doing. Such path merely unsustainable; prescription disaster. The perils dependence change, coupled large increases per-capita availability services, compel an early transition different path. Its requirements include reduction (achievable, fortunately, means desirable their own right) sharply increased emphasis conversion (aiming improve economy year 2% more). Also required several fold public private investments technologies supply. We need know whether how fossil-fuel can affordably reliably sequestered away atmosphere; nuclear made safe enough proliferation-resistant substantially expanded worldwide; extent biofuel production without intolerable impacts food ecosystem services. And affordability direct harnessing sunlight society's needs. Much insight current prospects other available Science. Still agenda along much else germane I commend your attention. Nothing important condition 21st century set challenges. [1]: pending:yes