li
Research and Technology for
SUSTAINABILITY
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ACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
The ability to "meet the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs" has
come to be known as SUSTAINABILITY.
It is a goal of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which called for federal
agencies to create and maintain conditions under which people and nature "can exist
in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of
present and future generations of Americans." EPA, along with other national agencies
and state and local governments, business and financial leaders, and communities and
individuals around the world, is committed to and is working hard to achieve this goal.
THE GROWING POPULATION and rapidly expanding economy, in the U.S. and
globally, arc propelling this emphasis on susiainabilny. From EPA's founding in N70
to mid-200f>, [he U.S. population grew hy more [han 45% lo nearly 300 million;
the U.S. gross domestic product is expected to double over the next three decades.
We must meet the environmental challenges posed by population and economic growth
and support environmental improvement, the protection of human health, and the
quality of life. How a society achieves growth determines the quality of life for present
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY
THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
.ce ot ueseorcn an.
-veiopmem
(ORD) conducts innovative research
and fosters the sound use of science
and technology to support the Agency's
mission of protecting human health and
itegy for Sustainability aims to meet
...e challenges facing society by providing
scientifically based models, methods.
technologies, and strategies for long-term
environmental protection.
SEEKING TO HELP SOCIETY
research
ntal protection. Recognizing that
vironmental problems are rarely
contained within a single resource area
or a single product's life cycle. ORD
is employing a more broadly integrated
approach to environmental protection.
IN THE COMING DECADE
nifjcant
and systems-oriented approach to environ-
nture capital
investment will take place in a broad
spectrum of new technologies supported
by nanotechnology. genomic research,
computational toxicology, computer
science, and the cognitive and
behavioral sciences. The development
and application of such emerging
technologies can enhance our ability
to protect human health and the
environment in a sustainable fashion.
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ERA'S ONE-STOP WEB SITE provides pu
programs. To learn more about EF
and fuiure generations. This
is what sustainability is all about.
Sustainable solutions can
support economic competi-
tiveness by boosting efficiency
and leading to new products
and markets. The evidence
of industrial and governmental
support for sustainability
is mounting.
MORE THAN 75% of surveyed
CEOs told PricewaterhouseCoopers
that sustainability is vital to
the profitability of any company.
THE U.S. BUSINESS
ROUNDTABLE, an association of
leading U.S. companies with more
than $4.5 trillion in assets, is asking
America's top corporations to set
challenging goals for environmental
and social improvement while
creating business value.
THE MAYORS OF 50 CITIES
around the world have signed the
United Nations Urban Environmental
Accords, pledging to undertake 21
sustainability-support ing actions
in waste reduction, urban design,
transportation, environmental health,
and use of water and energy.
HOW IS EPA USING RESEARCH
AND TECHNOLOGY TO
ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY?
Through its research focusing on sustainability,
EPA is driving innovation in environmental protection.
These programs provide support for the decision-
makers of today and tomorrow in crucial ways:
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH. EPA conducts and
supports research in green chemistry and
engineering, nanotechnology, global change,
economics and decision sciences, watershed
management, industrial ecology, human health.
and ecological forecasting. Researchers at
EPA's new National Center for Computational
Toxicology are using high-speed computers
and advances in genomics to better understand
the risks posed by certain chemicals.
DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS. EPA researchers are
developing new methods, analytical models, and tools
designed to help individuals, businesses, communities,
and government to better understand how their
decisions can contribute to environmental sustain-
ability. ORD energy models are already being widely
used by states and regions to assess future energy
needs and least-cost eftergy technology options.
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Dlic information and easy access to more than 250 sustainability
A's sustainability activities, visit WWW.EPA.GOV/SUSTAINABILITY.
ECOSYSTEMS
STEWARDSHIP
AND SUSTAINABILITY
ORD's research program supports EPA initiatives to
advance stewardship throughout our society and economy.
A recent EPA report, Everyday Choices: Opportunities for
Environmental Stewardship, identifies the goal of achieving
sustainable outcomes in six natural resource systems.
NATURAL RESOURCE SYSTEMS AND ERA'S PROPOSED SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES
ENERGY GENERATE CLEAN ENERGY AND USE IT EFFICIENTLY
AIR SUSTAIN CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR
WATER SUSTAIN WATER RESOURCES OF QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY FOR DESIRED USES
MATERIALS USE MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND SHIFT TO ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE MATERIALS
LAND SUPPORT ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE LAND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
ECOSYSTEMS PROTECT AND RESTORE ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS, GOODS. AND SERVICES
TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES, EPA IS GREENING ITS WORKPLACES
AND OPERATIONS. THE AGENCY IS ALSO PROVIDING INFORMATION TO CITIZENS,
PRIVATE FIRMS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES ON WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE,
CONSERVE ENERGY, AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. TO LEARN MORE,
VISIT "HOW CAN I HELP?" AT WWW.EPA.GOV/SUSTAINABILITY.
TECHNOLOGY. EPA conducts and supports
research to develop inherently benign, less resource-
intensive materials, processes, products, and
systems. Leadership by EPA's new Environmental
Technology Council is enabling the Agency's
innovative technology programs to play an essential
role in achieving sustainable outcomes.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
EPA and industry are collaborating with universities
to marshal the creativity and skill of tuture
scientists and engineers to address the nation's
most pressing environmental problems. Partners
from industry are supporting EPA's P3 (for People,
Prosperity, and the Planet) National Student
Design Competition that challenges student teams
to design and develop sustainable technologies.
Several of these are already moving toward
commercial development.
COLLABORATIVE DECISION-MAKING.
Achieving sustainability will require meeting the
needs and desires of many stakeholders. ORD
laboratory scientists are partnering with university
and industry scientists on a wide array of technical
problems. Through EPA's Collaborative Science
and Technology Network for Sustainability, scientists
and decision-makers are working together at
local and regional levels to develop practical new
ways of applying science to decision-making in
pursuit of sustainability.
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Doorway to the future
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xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
OFFICE OF RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT (8101R)
WASHINGTON, DC 20460
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE
$300
EPA/600/F-06/014
SEPTEMBER 2006
WWW.EPA.GOV
PRESORTED
STANDARD
POSTAGE & FEES
PAID
EPA
PERMIT NO. G-35
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