. "D Summary of Responses to Call for Comments." Linking Science and Technology to Society's Environmental Goals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1996.
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Linking Science and Technology to Society's Environmental Goals
identifying potentially unsustainable uses of resources, and determining the significance of environmental stress.
Develop new and improved industrial, transportation, and energy ''green processes" that reduce levels of primary pollutants, use more recycled materials, produce more easily recycled products, reduce the use of hazardous waste, and prevent pollution.
Develop more advanced measurement instrumentation and platforms that provide more accurate, detailed, timely, and cost-effective assessment of pollutant distributions, background biogeochemical states and processes, interactive monitoring, and real-time information.
Better manage science and technology, including balancing facts and figures with human dimensions of cooperation, attitudes, and issues.
Undertake rigorous analysis of available information relevant to goals.
Question 2: What do you believe should be the nation's environmental goals for the future?
As indicated by one participant:
Environmental goals are, by nature, multi-faceted, and a detailed listing of all important issues is subject to preferences and priorities. To avoid these choices at this stage, we believe that stating the following overall goal is more productive and allows specifics to be developed later. The nation's environmental goal should be to achieve an economy built on the principles of Sustainable Development. …This can guide the creation of more specific goals and focused objectives.
After that one overarching response, there was no particular consensus. Other key responses were these:
Preserve (or improve) all natural resources as they exist.
Reform environmental legislation and regulation so that they are more cost-effective and flexible without reducing environmental quality.
Question 3: How can science and technology contribute to meeting these future goals?
Provide framework for any future environmental goals.
Create cost-effective technical opportunities.
Develop new options.
Communicate to public and politicians.
Develop measurement tools.
Understand long-term consequences of today's solutions.
