Dematerialization
Dematerialization denotes an ability or access to products and services which require fewer materials. With a reduction in materials used, the environmental impact is likewise reduced (e.g. Simonis 2003, 53).
Deregulation
Deregulation is the act or process of governments easing or removing regulations and standards through changes in the law (e.g. Simonis 2003 54).
Design and Coordination Process
Political programs, especially if they are as comprehensive and extensive as the Planetary Contract, cannot simply be proposed, selected and implemented. Developing programs require a complicated process involving many participants. In this process, a design of relevant programs is created, i.e. goals and measures are defined, including pertinent rules and institutions. Then the manner of procedure by the participants is agreed upon and a vote is taken in order for joint action to be implemented. In regards to the Global Marshall Plan/Planetary Contract, other international organisations (UN, Bretton-Woods-Institution, etc.), national governments, as well as participants from civil society (non-governmental organizations, private companies, etc.) are involved in the process.
Digital Divide
The digital divide of mankind is comprised of an imbalance of people's accessibility to an information technology infrastructure, basically meaning the internet. This imbalance corresponds with the vast difference between poor and rich that is present both locally and world wide (between developed and developing countries, or between the North and South). Through the digital divide this division will only be amplified.
Development
Development in context of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative means development of so-called developing countries to reach economic balance with the wealthier countries. Next to the improvement of general private wealth and public infrastructure, the political structure and the basic social structure must also be taken into account.
Development Economics
The economic and political processes in developing countries are different from developed countries. The specifics are signified by both particular problems and challenges which are marked in developed economies and from the homonymous sector of political economies.
Earth Charter Process
No description at this current time.
Ecologically Effective
Following the principle of eco-effectiveness all products would be developed so that they can either be put back as biological nutriments in the ecological loop or retained as reusable materials. This applies to other economic procedures. To be differentiated from eco-efficiency.
Ecologically Efficient
Eco-efficiency means that economic procedures (especially in industrial production) are more efficient and also reduce the negative impacts on the environment by diminishing the use of harmful substances. Even though environmental polluting and the shortage of raw materials do not stop, they do, however, slowdown. To be differentiated from sustainable eco-effectiveness.
Ecological Footprint
An ecological footprint is a concept based on how much land and water area a human population needs to produce the resources required to sustain itself and to absorb its wastes, given prevailing technology. The term, coined by Canadian ecologist William Rees and Mathis Wackernagel, is used as a resource management and community planning tool.
Economic Miracle
Germany’s economic boom in the 1950’s was called an economic miracle due to the short time span it took the decimated war-torn country to climb to the top of the world economy. This “wonder” was not only enabled by the Ludwig Erhardt (CDU) enforced model of social market economics, but also through the monetary reform of 1948, as well as from the immense aid from the USA (see Marshall Plan).
Energy
Captain Picard need only show a firm hand and point an outstretched finger to get more power. In reality it is a little more complicated: Energy, next to water, is the most important resource for human life and at the same time is unevenly distributed. In order to power our heating systems, machines and cars, energy needs to be extracted and rationed from certain energy sources; non-renewable (e.g. crude oil) or renewable (e.g. sun or wind power). Already this concept alludes to the problem that mankind only has a limited amount of non-renewable energy resources at its disposal. A re-organization of non-renewable energy resources (in regard to sustainable economics) is desperately needed. 'Energy-consumption', as it is commonly called is ironic, as all energy is not totally consumed, but becomes a warming agent of the atmosphere.
Enlightened Selfishness
A correlation in principle to the model assumption of Homo Economicus: one is aware that to help others it depends on is to the benefit of one’s own interest. An accurate example would be the Marshall Plan from the USA. Similarly Homo Economicus Cooperativus.
Environmental Protection Agency
The American EPA is responsible for the economic justifications, regulation and compliancy of environmental standards.
Homepage for EPA
Equator Principles
In July 2003, nine private internationally active investment banks signed the so-called Equator Principles. The nine, along with 11 other banks later, committed themselves and their project financing to the World Bank Group’s environmental and social accountability standards. “BankTrack,” a network of mutually agreed non-governmental organizations, who critically observed the implementation of the Equator Principles, were less enthusiastic with the interim results after one year. The “Equator Banks” who had signed the free-willing agreement continued to further finance controversial projects.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was founded in 1991 in order to support private and corporate initiatives in Middle and Eastern Europe and in the CIS countries. Even though the EBRD belongs to European countries and partially to the EC, it functions as a normal bank participating under a private law foundation in the international capitalist market.
Homepage for EBRD
European Community
The European Community (EC) is a legally recognized international organization which comprises the European Union’s Market and is responsible for its regulation (see Agricultural Policy). It arose out of the three European Communities (ECSC, EURATOM and EEC) and makes up the most important part of the EU. Because the EC appropriated many of the sovereignties of the individual membership states, it is regarded as the actor for most international trade and participates in international contracts and organizations as the contracting party (e.g. WTO).
European Union
The European Union (EU) originated in 1991 in Maastricht through closed contracts which additionally provided for the European Economic Community (EEC, see European Community), a common foreign and security policy (CFSP), as well as a close cooperation in the area of justice and home affairs (JHA). These three “columns” were controlled by the same agencies and labelled collectively as the EU. They were previously, however, not acknowledged by international law as an international organization. As a “country network” (neologism from Federal Constitutional Court) they can not replace the nation-state, but the individual citizens are nevertheless placed under its laws and protections. The adoption of the European Union’s constitution in 2004 cannot be compared to any other political or judicial integrations project.
Homepage for EU
Food and Agricultural Organizations
This UN special organization (FAO) founded in 1945 contributes indirectly to a higher standard of living and overcoming hunger and malnutrition by collecting and processing information. Close to 184 countries, including the EU, are counted as its members.
Website FAO
Factor 10
The limited resources of the earth, as well as the destabilization of the eco-sphere, curbs the lowering of the absolute resource needs (dematerialization) in the western countries with a minimal factor of 10 (see Schmidt Bleek in Simonis 2003, 80). At the same time the Global Marshall Plan strives for an additional tenfold increase of the Gross World Product which alludes to a doubled Factor 10.
Factor 4
“Factor Four. Doubling Wealth. Halving Resource Use” is the title of the 1995 published book by Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and Amory and Hunter Lovins. It suggests a symbiosis between market economics and environmental sustainability. Comparatively simple measures were shown which would allow for considerable savings in energy and other environmental resources in everyday life.
Fundraising
To put the world economy on the path to sustainability, in addition to the current expenditures for development aid, additional monies are still necessary. To this end special externalization laws could be created or minimal taxes could be implemented on previously untaxed international foreign exchange transactions and international trade (Tobin Tax, Terra Tax). Funds to be raised could be in the form of personnel or technology, not just money.
Funds Allocation
The choice over the allocation of the limited financial and other types of resources, which, for example, flows into the structural investment of development aid, is differentiated from funds application. It asks the question to who should the mentioned funds be given over.
Funds Application
The choice over the application of limited financial and other types of resources, which, for example, flows into the structural investment of development aid, is differentiated from funds allocation. It involves the question of what kinds of measures need to be met in order to find a sustainable way out of poverty instead of a short term boost in wealth (see poverty reduction).
Future Formula
The “Future Formula” conceived by the economist and mathematician Prof. Franz Josef Radermacher is a combination of the concept “4:34” and “Factor 10” (see there), that is outlined in his book “Balance or Destruction.”
