Since 'The Limits of the Growth', the first report of the Club of Rome, was published in 1972, by 1990, the human population has increased from 3.6 to 5.3 billions, the number of automobiles increased from 250 to 560 million and electricity generation capacity increased from 1.1 to 2.6 billions kilowatts. Even if considering rich and undiscovered resources, it is obvious that consumption cannot continue to grow at this rate on a rounded Earth.The book 'Factor Four - Doubling Wealth, Halving Resource Use' by Ernst Ulrich Von Weizsäcker, Amory B. Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins became a bestseller almost instantly after publication in 1997. The book describes possibilities for new forms of progress in direction towards resource productivity instead of labor productivity. Factor Four has been accepted by the Executive Committee of Club of Rome as a New Report of the Club of Rome. This new report offers solutions that lie in using resources more efficiently, in ways which can already be achieved, often not only at costs, but also at profit. If resource productivity was increased by a factor of four, the world could enjoy twice the wealth that is currently available, whilst simultaneously halving the stress placed on our natural environment.
The book contains a wealth of examples of revolutionizing productivity, with examples in areas such as the use of energy, hypercars, low energy beef, materials, sub-surface drip irrigation, electronic books, transport, video conferencing or CyberTrans. It is demonstrating how much more could be generated from much less, today. It also deals with market organization and policy changes such as eco-tax reform in order to increase efficiency and eliminate perverse incentives.
Main reasons for increased resource efficiency and proposals for practical changes are shown in the Introduction. Part I offers fifty examples of increased resource productivity, including energy, material and transport sectors. Part II deals with the concept of efficiency with a more detailed focus on market problems, policy instruments and ecological tax reform. Part III discuses the ecological state of the world. Finally, part IV concentrates on macroeconomic incentives and policies such as greening GDP, service economy, social policy, trade and the environment and consumption patterns.
Improvement of resource efficiency forms one of the most vital ideas discussed in the book. According the book, given the proven potential in many sectors for productivity gains higher than 300 percent, annual global economic growth by 4-5 percent would not seem unrealistic. Policy options for achieving such a goal are discussed in the book.
Changing the direction of progress is not something a book alone can do. It has to be done by the people: consumers and voters, managers and engineers, politicians and communicators. Motivations for action needs to be experienced as compelling and urgent by a critical mass of people, otherwise there won't be enough momentum to change the course of our civilization. The practical promise held out in this book is huge, but it is up to each of us, as individuals, consumers, producers, regulators, etc., to take it.
Ernst Von Weizsäcker is the President of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environmental and Energy, Amory B. Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins are recipients of the Mitchell Prize - the alternative Nobel Price, and, President and Vice President of the Rocky Mountains Institute.
Ernst U. von Weizsäcker, Amory B. Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins: Factor Four; Doubling Wealth - Halving Resource Use. The new report to the Club Of Rome. Earthscan, London 1997. 322pp, £15.99.