Sustainable development of energy systems for western China
Dates
Year
2010
Citation
Jin, H., Xu, G., Han, W., Gao, L., and Li, Z., 2010, Sustainable development of energy systems for western China: Energy, v. 35, iss. 11, p. 4313-4318.
Summary
This paper gives some examples of the application of systems analysis (the examination of the elements and linkages in an interacting group of items forming a unified whole) to the issue of human development and environmental change. The various examples, taken from a report submitted to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), deal with four basic human needs (food, water, energy and waste assimilation) and illustrate that: (1) it is possible to formulate holistic conceptual models of the socio-ecological system in which we live; (2) systems analysis can help us understand the constraints we face in terms of population growth, natural resources, and the assimilative capacity of the environment for wastes; [...]
Summary
This paper gives some examples of the application of systems analysis (the examination of the elements and linkages in an interacting group of items forming a unified whole) to the issue of human development and environmental change. The various examples, taken from a report submitted to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), deal with four basic human needs (food, water, energy and waste assimilation) and illustrate that: (1) it is possible to formulate holistic conceptual models of the socio-ecological system in which we live; (2) systems analysis can help us understand the constraints we face in terms of population growth, natural resources, and the assimilative capacity of the environment for wastes; (3) we can receive guidance in sharing limited natural resources with both inter-regional and inter-generational equity; and (4) we can gain insight into how our management options may shift in an environment which is constantly changing due to human and natural causes.