The history of sustainable development and the impact of the energy system. (4th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schlör, Holger; Fischer, Wolfgang; Hake, Jürgen-Friedrich
• Is Part Of: International journal of sustainable society. Volume 4:Number 4(2012)
• Page Start: 317
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2012-10-04
• Subjects: sustainable development -- history -- energy -- energy system -- sustainable society; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; Sustainability -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental responsibility -- Periodicals; Sustainable agriculture -- Periodicals; 304.2805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-2538

Abstract

This paper describes the origin of the idea, term and concept of sustainable development. Driving forces were fundamental crises, which were essentially crises of the energy system: the idea originated during the crisis of the medieval agrarian solar system; the term emerged when the agrarian energy system could not satisfy the growing energy demand of the emerging industrial age at the end of the 18th century; the concept originated at the end of the 20th century, when the fossil fuel energy system came close to its ecological limits and society was in search of a concept reconciling ecological, economic and social goals for present and future generations. Currently, we are witnessing a slow transition to a new, probably a post-fossil energy system. Therefore, managing the present and future in a sustainable way is a task that will accompany humanity on its way into the future.