Sustainable Development Indicators (Applied Ecology and Environmental Management)

Analyzing the self-sufficient Danish island of Samsø, this book explains sustainability through a bio-geophysical understanding of how to best use society's limited resources to achieve true sustainability. The method used derives from the thermodynamic function of exergy. By analyzing exergy flows and establishing a system for evaluating the energy and the materials used in a society, the author creates a platform for monitoring certain indicators of sustainability. These indicators inform readers about the actions that must be taken and the time frames for achieving sustainability goals. The exergy-based approach is an important tool for carrying out such an analysis because it

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• Focuses on several key thermodynamic concepts and the usefulness of exergy analysis for evaluating sustainability
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• Explains sustainability by implementing thermodynamic laws to societal consumption and the use of resources
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• Discusses new methods that integrate energy and material fluxes and evaluates them against each other
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• Provides direct indicators for finding the largest problems/obstacles and deciding where measures should be taken
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• Includes instructions on how to establish an accounting system for evaluating the energy and the materials used in a society
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This book is aimed for professionals, researchers, and students working on nature conservation and environmental management projects related to sustainability.