The Concept of Sustainable Development and Real Challenges of Civilization
V. S. Arutyunov
Abstract
Our Civilization is the most complex natural system we know. Its further progressive development is impossible without a constant increase in energy consumption to overcome entropic processes and, accordingly, constant dissipation of this energy into the environment. Hence, with time, irrespective of the nature of the energy sources used, a violation of the thermal balance of the planet and an increase in the temperature of its surface are inevitable. The concept of sustainable development, drawing attention to the fight against the consequences of the anthropogenic impact of Civilization, does not consider this irreparable contradiction in the development of Civilization under the conditions of limited resources and the scale of the encompassing planet. Without giving an answer to this global challenge, extremely costly environmental measures only increase the anthropogenic pressure on nature. Until more realistic ideas about the ways of development of Civilization and respective strategic decisions are elaborated, the most rational tactic is not to fight against inevitable changes but to prepare for the upcoming transformations.