Green Industry : Glossary

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Environment
23 May 2002
A combination of the various physical and biological elements that affect the life of an organism. Although it is common to refer to 'the' environment, there are in fact many environments eg, aquatic or terrestrial, microscopic to global, all capable of change in time and place, but all intimately linked and in combination constituting the whole earth/atmosphere system.
Advanced industrial societies
23 May 2002
Nations such as Japan and those of Europe and North America whose economies are based on industrial manufacturing and the use of fossil fuels. While virtually all nations have developed an industrial base to some extent, the advanced nations dominate the world economy in both their use of resources and in the total value of their economic activity.
Development
23 May 2002
A process of economic and social transformation that defies simple definition. Though often viewed as a strictly economic process involving growth and diversification of a country's economy, development is a qualitative concept that entails complex social, cultural, and environmental changes. There are many models of what 'development' should look like and many different standards of what constitutes 'success'.
Eco-efficiency
23 May 2002
The ability of an economic entity to generate great economic value from fewer resources.
Economic growth
23 May 2002
The change over a period of time in the value (monetary and non-monetary) of goods and services and the ability and capacity to produce goods and services. It is economic growth which generates the wealth necessary to provide social services, health care, and education. It is the basis for ongoing job creation. However, sustainable development requires that there be a change in the nature of economic growth, to ensure that goods and services are produced by environmentally sound and economically sustainable processes. This will require efficient use of resources, value-added processing, sustained yield management of renewable resources, and the consideration and accounting of all externalities and side-effects involved in the extraction, processing, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal of those goods.
Economically sustainable
23 May 2002
The characteristic of prolonged, careful, efficient, and prudent (wise and judicious) use of resources (natural, fiscal, human), products, facilities, and services. It is based on thorough knowledge and involves operating with little waste and accounting for all costs and benefits, including those which are not marketable and can result in savings.
Economy
23 May 2002
What human beings do. The activity of managing resources and producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services.
Environmentally-sound
23 May 2002
The maintenance of a healthy environment and the protection of life-sustaining ecological processes. It is based on thorough knowledge and requires or will result in products, manufacturing processes, developments, etc. which are in harmony with essential ecological processes and human health.
Newly industrialized countries
23 May 2002
A category including several Southeast Asian nations (South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia) that have achieved high rates of economic growth in recent years by attracting manufacturing and assembly plants for the automotive, electronics, and other industries. These industries have benefited from relatively educated workers, low wage levels, various sorts of government incentives, and generally lax environmental regulations.
Proper resource pricing
23 May 2002
The pricing of natural resources at levels which reflect their combined economic and environmental values.