Background
The convenience of our daily lives is possible because of the combined
resources and efforts of many people and places. From our comfortable
local situation it can be hard to imagine why we need to reduce
energy and material consumption now with future generations and
distant people in mind. Scientists are now suggesting, however,
that if we are to protect and enhance quality of life for all people
and all time we need to reduce our impact on the natural world tenfold.
This could mean learning how to do more with less, or recognising
that quality of life is about far more than consumption.
What kind of technological and cultural changes are required?
What would these changes mean for peoples’ everyday lives?
Would different consumption choices make people any more —
or less — happy?
Factor of Ten explores these issues, engaging people both emotionally
and intellectually in the quest for a sustainable future. The project
brings together scientists, musicians, visual artists and creative
writers to present ideas about the environment — and explore
how people might create a future worth having. |
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Everyday items have an associated environmental
impact stretching far beyond the obvious. Australian grain
exports, for example, are effectively exporting precious topsoil.
Producing a loaf of bread consumes 2 kilograms of topsoil.
Gold for an average ring typically requires the movement and
disposal of many tonnes of earth and rock. The making of a
car generates about 15 tonnes of solid waste. Even a litre
of orange juice involves the transfer of 100 kilograms of
soil and water.
The ‘efficiency revolution’
required for sustainability can be achieved through changes
in design, technology and consumption decisions. Possible
changes include adopting biologically-inspired production
models (e.g. close the loop), developing more energy- and
materially- efficient technology (e.g. cars which run on renewable
energy or which are recyclable), and making different choices
(e.g. the type of food we choose to eat).
For more on the science and concepts
behind Factor of Ten, see the background
paper produced by Michael Smith, Francis Elliot and Stephen
Still.
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