Relationship between Sustainable Development and the Anthroposystem – Summary Presented by Chris Rolland “The Sustainability movement seeks to build a sustainable economic society, meant to satisfy the needs of today’s population, without reducing the quality of the environment for future generations.” Sustainable system concept: “Regardless of the used term, they all supported the idea of a society in balance with its surroundings, thus, a self-sustaining system.” Description of the anthroposystem concept enables society to study the holistic nature of the interaction of humankind and its environment. An anthroposystem requires a sustainable economy to recycle used products and resources, and an economy that minimizes pollution. “…scientists must develop universal theories that clarify, identify and unify sustainable human- environment systems.”

Ecosystem and the Biosphere – Summary Presented by Chris Rolland “As in nature, industrial ‘organisms’ consume ‘food’ for the maintenance of their functions and exhale waste products.” “Both the causes as well as the consequences of metabolism lie beyond the confines of an organism. These depend on the external world…” “Ecosystem relies on its decomposers for complete recycling of its elements, the anthroposystem lacks efficient decomposers and recyclers.” Ecosystem Analog Ecosystem-based Material Flow System Environmental Spheres Analog: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere “Human activities most closely resemble the role of the biosphere in the mobilization of matter.”

Critical Comparison Between Essays Presented by Chris Rolland Sustainable Development and the Anthroposystem –Ambiguous as to how “scientists must develop universal theories…” –Lack of clarity in Industrial ecology and the anthroposystem model –Can appreciate the history of the changing perception of a stable human-environment system –Interconnectedness of effects on earth through any actions –The matrix (non-living and non-productive parts of system) is discussed in the anthroposystem model along with the producers, consumers, and decomposers “It provides the structure or fabric in which the other components operate.” –Industrial ecology and the anthroposystem model discusses waste heat factor –Illustration of 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics: “Energy is never completely efficient.” Ecosystem and the Biosphere –Unexplained interaction between “matrix” and biological cycling of materials –Weakness of ecosystem analog in physical transfer of mobilized matter –Concise relationship between industrial “organisms” and biological organisms –Stark contrast between ecosystem and anthroposystem with respect to recyclers –Simplified, understandable ecosystem-based material flow system of potential pollutants –Environmental Spheres Analog conveys linking interaction between all four major environmental compartments