Sustainable Energy: Balancing the Economic, Environmental and Social Dimensions of Energy

Abstract

Many of the problems the World faces are managed from a mostly technical or economical perspective, even though problems also have social and environmental dimensions and could be better managed with a more integrative, global perspective. A common trait of these global issues is their interdisciplinary nature, which makes them complex problems difficult to address from one particular discipline. Energy is an example of a global, interdisciplinary problem which is usually approached from a narrow technical or economical perspective. This paper will approach the energy dilemma from the broader perspective of sustainability, striving to achieve a balance among the economic, environmental and social dimensions of energy. Such a balance can benefit the energy policy process by providing a framework that account for many of the interests involved in developing future energy directions and policies.