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2 Sustainability: From Ideas to Actions
Pages 16-27

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From page 16...
... Individuals and organizations that are proponents of sustainability are more connected with other members of society through new social media that promote participation and transparency in the development and implementation of sustainability plans. Scientific endeavors are expanding from the study of single environmental media toward systems-focused, integrative research that deploys big-data capabilities and advanced analytics to assess effects over a broad range of considerations.
From page 17...
... The increased mobility that comes from rising car ownership, for example, will put increased pressure on road infrastructure and likely will result in vehicle emission increases that degrade air quality. In addition, the growth of the global middle class suggests an increased demand for resources in global markets for oil, food, and minerals.
From page 18...
... Coupled with the rapid expansion of computing capabilities, massive amounts of data enable highly advanced modeling and analysis that would have been unthinkable even 5 years ago and present new opportunities for sophisticated, evidence-based, and rapidly deployed sustainability assessments. For example, high-performance computing has enabled the business, scientific, and regulatory communities to address a wide variety of complex problems in life sciences, health sciences, climate change, and many other spheres.
From page 19...
... Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, signed by the president in 2009, sets sustainability goals for federal agencies and focuses on improving environmental, energy, and economic performance. The order directs federal agencies to purchase sustainable products and services, improve efficiencies in water and energy use, and plan for climate adaptation (see Box 2-1)
From page 20...
... The focus of sustainability takes companies beyond mere compliance with government regulations to the creation of innovative products and services that give rise to new markets and revenue streams. The Evolution of Sustainability Science The scientific foundation and analytic tools used to support decisions in a sustainability context -- regardless of whether the decisions are made by governments, businesses, nongovernment organizations, or individuals -- will benefit greatly from new knowledge and better use of existing knowledge (NRC 1999; NRC 2011a)
From page 21...
... CENRS subcommittees, such as the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, are encouraged to develop their portfolios of programs with a view to sustainability outcomes. The 2010 annual budget guidance memorandum to federal agencies from the directors of OSTP and the Office of Management and Budget identified science and technology for sustainability as having high priority for the FY 2012 budget, calling for "research on integrated ecosystem management approaches that bring together biological, physical, chemical, and human uses data into forecast models, assessments and decision support tools" that would address the presidential priority of "managing the competing demands on land, fresh water, and the oceans for the production of food, fiber, biofuels, and ecosystem services based on sustainability and biodiversity" (Orszag and Holdren 2010)
From page 22...
... The priority goals stainable futu rity r reflect EPPA's present efforts to adddress climate change and improve air quality, impr rove water qu uality, promote green infrastru g ucture develo opment, reduc chemical ri ce isks, and enh hance the livab bility and eco onomic vitality of neighborh y hoods in and around wast sites (EPA 2014a)
From page 23...
... a Priority Initial Focus Sustainable products and purchasing Multistakeholder systems to define and rate sustainable products and purchasing Green infrastructure Storm-water management Sustainable materials management Food Energy efficiency Measures to enhance electricity-system efficiency that can support the president's Climate Action Plan a The priority areas are the ones provided by EPA (Trovato and Shaw 2013)
From page 24...
... d Sustainable Water Leadership Program Recognize water and wastewater utilities that demonstrate sustainable management approaches for promoting resource efficiency and protection. People, Prosperity and the Planet College competition for designing projects to advance sustainability -- water, Student Design Competition for energy, agriculture, built environment, materials and chemicals, cookstoves, Sustainability (P3)
From page 25...
...  Management that is adaptive and flexible in addressing sustainability objectives among value chains, geographic regions, and time horizons; pursues collaborations and partnerships; seeks to be transparent and accountable in a more connected society; and ensures that decisions are achieving objectives. Research and Development in the Environmental Protection Agency for Sustainability Science In 2011, EPA began to reorganize its research programs to be as responsive as possible to the agency's science-priority needs and to advance sustainability science (see Box 2-3)
From page 26...
... . BOX 2-2 EPA Act X tivities in the G of Mexico Gulf o As a first responde to environme er ental hazards, EPA was calle on to make d E ed decisions abou the use of ch ut hemi cal dispeersants during the Deepwater Horizon oil sp in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
From page 27...
... After the Green Book was issued, EPA also prepared a report Sustainability Analytics: Assessment Tools and Approaches, which provides examples of science-based tools and approaches for conducting sustainability assessments once indicators are selected and corresponding metrics are identified (EPA 2013a)


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