Call to drive the next industrial revolution
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Industrialists, academics and government should join forces to drive a new industrial revolution which would help tackle climate change, says a new report.
The authors of Towards a Sustainable Industrial System are calling for an industrial equivalent of the human genome project in order to help business address the threat of global warming. Some of the world's leading manufacturing experts have combined to produce the report published by the IfM.
The ambitious venture aims to understand how essential elements of industrial systems – resources, processes and organisation – could be integrated to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining acceptable standards of living without damaging the planet.
A global co-operative research effort would provide an opportunity to pool expertise in industrial design, production research and regulation.The project would help speed change through the rapid sharing and application of environmentally-sound manufacturing practices as well the systematic development of new green technologies and approaches.
The report’s authors are Professor Steve Evans of Cranfield University, Professor Margareta Norell Bergendahl of the King’s Technical School, Sweden, Professor Mike Gregory of the IfM and Professor Chris Ryan of the University of Melbourne.
The report, launched on September 23rd, is designed to highlight the benefits and opportunities which can flow from a more integrated approach to industrial sustainability.
