ECO World 2.0

The advent of the industrial revolution marked the beginning of modern capitalism, which led to the materialistic advancement of humanity. Within this industrial world order, there exists a dominant Alpha male syndrome that perpetuates the exploitation of finite natural resources without acknowledging the true costs involved. The natural world, including its diverse living beings, flora, fauna, soil, and overall environment, is often seen as separate from and subservient to human beings. However, this perspective is detrimental as the civilization’s reliance on natural capital for economic prosperity is rapidly diminishing. The rate of this decline is directly linked to the extent of materialistic pursuits and well-being. Natural capital encompasses all the familiar resources humans depend on, such as water, air, oil, trees, fish, soil, minerals, and more. It also encompasses the intricate living systems found in rivers, seas, grasslands, wetlands, forests, and beyond.

As the population continues to grow, human greed intensifies, and businesses exert greater pressure on the living system, it becomes evident that the boundaries of prosperity at any given moment will be dictated by the availability of natural capital rather than the capabilities of industrial systems. At this critical juncture, there is a strong desire for an alternative path to be pursued by human society and the planet Earth. Below, we will explore several strategies that can contribute to this alternative path.

Achieving transformative resource productivity is highly desirable in order to address various challenges and bring about positive outcomes for both the environment and society. By utilizing resources more efficiently, we can significantly slow down the depletion of resources, reduce pollution, and create more employment opportunities. This approach has the potential to effectively halt the degradation of the biosphere and prevent the loss of living systems.

One example of the need for transformative resource productivity can be seen in the textile industry. Currently, synthetic dyes are used to colour yarns or fabrics. However, during the washing process, excess dye that does not penetrate the yarn or fabric is released into the wash water. This contaminated water then undergoes treatment in an effluent treatment plant, which requires energy and various chemicals. Unfortunately, when this treated water is discharged into rivers, it poses a significant hazard to the surrounding ecosystem. The Yamuna River near Delhi is currently suffering from the negative impacts of such industrial waste. To change this situation, it is crucial to introduce design modifications in the dyeing process that facilitate effective dye fixation on the yarn or fabric. Additionally, implementing methods for dye recovery at the machine outlet and reusing the dye can lead to a healthier river and living system. This approach emphasizes design thinking to develop processes that prioritize resource recovery right from the initial stages, rather than treating the pipes as conduits for waste disposal elsewhere. By adopting this approach, we can enhance water productivity and prevent further damage to the biosphere.

Bhartiya Darshan, which embraces the worship of nature, holds a significant philosophical and psychological position in driving changes in our energy usage practices. For instance, the foundation of industrial civilization lies in the conversion of chemical energy from coal into heat energy, powering steam in boilers. This steam is then harnessed to create motion for textile mills, cars, and buses. In Bharat, its citizens are devout worshipers of the Sun, representing solar energy. Therefore, it is crucial for Bharat’s citizens to actively engage in converting solar energy directly into motion. The current model of solar energy conversion, involving the transformation from solar energy to DC energy through photovoltaic cells and further to AC energy, is not the most energy-efficient approach. The more steps involved in the energy transformation, the lower the overall efficiency. Moreover, the production of solar cells heavily relies on precious metals, which are predominantly sourced from Chinese mining industries. Furthermore, the safe disposal of solar panels poses a significant environmental challenge, creating a potential disaster. Additionally, China’s dominant position in the energy sector poses a second social and political concern, as it holds significant economic influence. In contrast, the Sun-worshipping society of Bharat is uniquely positioned to directly convert solar energy into motion, thereby heralding a new energy world order.

In nature, waste does not exist as one species’ waste becomes another’s nourishment, maintaining overall harmony. On the other hand, industrial entities acquire raw materials from nature or other industries, utilizing human labour, natural resources, energy, and machinery for processing. The end result is industrial products for human or industrial use, accompanied by waste. In pursuit of economies of scale and maximizing profits, industrial zones have formed clusters, resulting in the generation of significant quantities of similar waste. In contrast to nature’s diversity-driven system, where optimization occurs, industrial clusters lack such diversity. To mimic the natural system, it is wise to establish clusters that process one industry’s waste as raw material for another industry, forming a closed loop of natural or man-made molecules. This approach would promote global optimal efficiency by reducing or eliminating environmental toxicity and its associated negative impacts.

The notion of ownership is deeply ingrained in the human psyche, and the pursuit of more ownership often exacerbates the Alpha male syndrome. The belief that greater ownership equates to increased consumption and social prestige, however, comes at the expense of the unsustainable state of the biosphere. Parameters such as energy consumption per capita in developed and developing economies, the number of automobiles in a country, and similar measurements are fundamentally flawed. Continuing to move in this developmental direction will only perpetuate the current chaotic situation. Instead, it is essential to focus on the services provided by a product rather than the ownership of the product itself. This necessitates a fundamental shift in the producer-customer relationship. An economy based on the flow of services rather than the flow of goods can drive transformative resource productivity and promote material recycling within a closed loop. For example, rather than purchasing a photocopying machine, one could pay for the pages that are actually photocopied. Once the machine breaks down, it can be returned to the manufacturer for upgrading and reuse. Another example involves establishing a robust public transportation system that is collectively owned by all citizens through taxes, as opposed to producing more pollution-emitting automobiles for individual ownership. In the past, the United States prioritized building extensive road infrastructure to boost the sales of automobiles produced by companies like Ford, while neglecting to develop railway infrastructure to the same extent. The consequences of this policy, dating back about a century, are now evident to the entire world. It is crucial to recognize that short-term economic benefits often result in long-term social and environmental disasters.

We need to work towards restoration of earth planet. It is of paramount importance to replenish the stock of the natural capital. This will ensure that biosphere can make available enough ecological services and natural resources. Restoration of the top soil will prevent desertification, improve the climate and rejuvenate the living system. The road ahead will require alternate thinking. The evolution of alternate thinking will require changes in the process of education. Education model 2.0 needs to be holistic and integral. The system of education where in knowledge is imparted in a compartmentalised manner needs change. Every living system is a combination of physics, chemistry, biology, psychology and engineering. The industrial age is driven by the compartmentalized education system. Example, Sewage Treatment systems. The systems to treat the human sewage is mostly designed by the engineers civil, mechanical and chemical engineers. The public health engineering departments are full of civil engineers equipped with least inputs of micro biology and human body. The pathogens present in the human excreta are biological species. The basic understanding of the waste to be treated is not part of the civil engineering curriculum. Unless the basic education system at engineering education incorporates the understanding of human body and micro biology it will be a herculean task to alter and implement the process of treating the sewage. The alteration is treating sewage is highly desired today to conserve the most precious natural resource – WATER.”

It is crucial to shift our mindset and re-evaluate how we construct institutions and businesses, fostering the belief that we are merely a fraction of the larger ecosystems, rather than their rulers. Embracing the necessity to peacefully coexist with all living and non-living entities is essential.

Udayan Shrouti
Technologist – Enviro Energetics.