Science and Technology for
Sustainability
P3: Benefiting people.
osperity. Protecting the planet.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and Development
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"Through the power of collaborative networks and partnerships, federal agencies, state
governments, and the industrial and scientific communities can come together to achieve the
goal of sustainability for people, prosperity and the planet."
Mike Leavitt, Administrator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is expanding its extensive sustainability efforts to
encompass research; the integration of social, economic
and environmental policies; environmental futures; and
measuring progress toward sustainability goals. To
enhance this effort, EPA has developed a web site that
provides easy access to EPA's sustainability information.
To learn more about EPA's sustainability initiatives, visit
www.epa.gov/sustainability.
What Is Sustainability?
Sustainability has many definitions, but the basic
principles and concepts remain constant: balancing
economic growth, protecting the environment and
fostering social responsibility that leads to an improved
quality of life for ourselves and future generations. In
1987, Our Common Future characterized sustainability
as "development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs." This concept encompasses
ideas, aspirations and values to inspire public and private
organizations and individuals to become stewards for the
environment and promote positive economic growth and
social objectives.
Achieving Environmental Protection and
Economic Growth
Over the next 50 years, projections suggest that
the world's population could increase by 50 percent.
Global economic activity is expected to increase by 500
percent. Concurrently, global energy consumption and
manufacturing activity are likely to rise to three times
current levels. These trends could have serious social,
economic and environmental consequences unless we
can find a way to use fewer resources in a more efficient
way. The task ahead is to help shape a sustainable future
in a cost-effective manner, recognizing that economic and
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environmental considerations, supported by innovative
science and technology, can work together and promote
societal benefits.
Connecting the Dots
EPA has dozens of programs, policy tools and
incentives that can be used to encourage and practice
sustainability. We are working to find ways to blend
these programs to help improve industrial practices and
assist states and local governments to manage their
resources effectively.
Research. EPA is working to develop knowledge
and decision tools that provide, enable and stimulate
long-term environmental solutions. For more than a
decade, EPA's research office has been conducting and
environmentally preferable products, decreasing the
quantity of material entering its waste stream and
promoting recycling. EPA is also following the U.S. Green
Building Council's LEED green building rating system in all
its major construction projects and striving for maximum
possible use of green power at its facilities,
Collaborative Networking
To encourage and strengthen the many existing
regional, state and local efforts on sustainable development,
EPA is funding collaborative projects that focus on concrete
local and regional problems and solutions. These projects
transcend traditional regulatory approaches to air, water
and land and take a long-term view while measuring
short-term progress. Project areas focus on watershed
"Pursuing the goal of sustainability allows us to use innovative science and technology
to achieve the goals of environmental and economic prosperity for both current and
future generations."
Dr. Paul Oilman, Science Advisor
United States Environmental Protection Agency
funding research on sustainability in areas such as green
chemistry and engineering, global change, economics
and decision sciences, watershed management, industrial
ecology, environmental justice, ecological forecasting and
emerging technologies.
Environmental Technology Council. EPA
established this group to coordinate and focus our
technology programs. The Council will facilitate innovative
technological solutions to environmental problems
and challenges.
P3 Award. To encourage the integration of
sustainability into higher education and training, EPA
launched this national student design competition in
partnership with other public and private organizations.
The competition provides grants to teams of university
students to research, develop and design solutions to
environmental challenges to sustainability. P3 highlights
the three pillars of sustainability - People, Prosperity and
Planet - as the next step beyond pollution prevention.
Visit www.epa.gov/p3/ for more information.
Green Practices. EPA is working to reduce its
own ecological footprint by purchasing and using
management, stream restoration and industrial practices.
Project partners include state and local governments, the
private sector, nonprofit organizations and the public.
Finding a Better Way
In a world of rapidly increasing complexity, conventional
approaches may no longer be adequate to ensure the
viability of the Earth's ecosystems and protect human health.
EPA's Science Advisory Board has urged EPA to think ahead
and plan for the future. EPA is striving to find a better way
to promote prosperity, benefit people and protect the planet
through sustainability.
Visit www.epa.gov/sustainability for more information.
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Visit www.epa.gov/sustainability for more information.
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