Industrial Ecology: Policy Potential and Research Needs
نویسندگان
چکیده
Over the past decade, a new approach to environmental analysis has developed. Although the scope and definition are not yet completely fixed, the new field of “industrial ecology” focuses on reducing the environmental impacts of goods and services, on systems-based analysis of environmental problems, and on innovations that can significantly improve environmental performance. Industrial ecology has significant potential for U.S. environmental policy. But to establish a firm foundation for significant policy initiatives, there is a need for better understanding of the potential and limitations of a range of promising ap1 *Corresponding author: Princeton Environmental Institute, 25 Guyot Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003. Phone: 609-258-4665; Fax: 609-258-1716; E-mail: [email protected] †This paper is based on a report written as part of the activities of the EPA Science Advisory Board, a public advisory group providing extramural scientific information and advice to the Administrator and other officials of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Board is structured to provide balanced, expert assessment of scientific matters related to problems facing the Agency. This paper has not been reviewed for approval by the Agency and, hence, the contents of this paper do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor of other agencies in the Executive Branch of the Federal government.
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