Achieving Sustainability: The Tipping Point

William A. Wallace, March 24, 2009

4:30pm - Adamson Wing, 136A Baker Hall

Over the past ten years the notion that society’s current form of economic development is not sustainable has moved from extremist thinking towards mainstream opinion. Yet that hopeful shift in opinion has not been met with a corresponding development of strategies for actually achieving conditions of sustainability. This is not surprising given the magnitude of the required change. However, continuing at the current level of activity will only result in more expensive solutions, perhaps made even more memorable by severe resource shortages, wide-scale pollution events or other possible catastrophes. Sound planning and preparation has been stalled, as various groups continue to advocate for business as usual.

A broad view of the requirements for achieving sustainability reveals a tipping point, a set of nine conditions of understanding, public acceptance, collaboration, technology focus and institutional readiness, without which sustainability cannot be reached. One of the key components is a technology roadmap, an integrated set of required technological developments sequenced in a way that moves society efficiently and effectively toward conditions of sustainability while sidestepping expensive disasters, agenda-laden programs and political miscues.

Co-sponsored by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and The Shaw Group

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