Rm. Mackay et Sd. Probert, NATIONAL POLICIES FOR ACHIEVING ENERGY THRIFT, ENVIRONMENTAL-PROTECTION, IMPROVED QUALITY-OF-LIFE, AND SUSTAINABILITY, Applied energy, 51(4), 1995, pp. 293-367
For this study, countries are categorised on the basis of their level
of economic development (i.e. as being either industrialised or develo
ping) and with respect to their indigenous energy resources (i.e. as b
eing either energy rich or energy poor). A further factor to consider
is the growing strength of the emerging regional trading blocs in the
world, and the more-effective protectionist measures that these blocs
have the potential to administer: a developing country is likely to be
nefit when it becomes parr of such a trading bloc. Nevertheless not on
ly regionally, but also worldwide, governments are failing to address
with sufficient urgency the simultaneous but related problems and cons
equences of: (i) the major depletion of fossil-fuel reserves that will
occur during the next 50 years, and (ii) the rapid environmental degr
adation occurring as a result of our non-sustainable lifestyles. The i
ssues that need to be considered when trying to implement sustainable
energy policies are discussed.