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Industry 1.61803: the transition to an industry with reduced material demand fit for a low carbon future

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Allwood, JM 
Gutowski, TG 
Serrenho, AC 
Skelton, ACH 
Worrell, E 

Abstract

Arising from a discussion meeting in September 2016, this editorial introduces a special issue on the transition to a future industrial system with greatly reduced demand for material production and attempts to synthesize the main findings. The motivation for such a transition is to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, but unlike previous industrial transformations, there are no major stakeholders who will pursue the change for their own immediate benefit. The special issue, therefore, explores the means by which such a transition could be brought about. The editorial presents an overview of the opportunities identified in the papers of the volume, presents examples of actions that can be taken today to begin the process of change and concludes with an agenda for research that might support a rapid acceleration in the rate of change.

Description

Keywords

climate change mitigation, material demand reduction, transition, policy

Journal Title

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1364-503X
1471-2962

Volume Title

375

Publisher

Royal Society Publishing
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N02351X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K039326/1)
The work of J.M.A. and A.C.S. on this paper was funded by EPSRC grant reference EP/N02351X/1 and that of A.C.H.S. by EPSRC grant reference EP/K039326/1.