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Purcell, Arthur H.Resource Optimization' and. World Peace. Occasional,Paper 30.Stanley Foundation, Muscatine, Iowa.Mar 8227p.Stanley Foundation, 420 East Third Street, Muscatine,IA 52761 (free).

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DESCRIPTORS *Conservation (Environment); Developed.Nations;( Developing Nations;. Futures (of SocietY);,, *Global

Approach; *Natural,R;sources; *Peace;. Recycling;i rld Problems ,

Wc), _

ABSTRACTA comprehensive, international program is propOsed to

help nations/ optimize and conserve natural resources. The aim of theprogram is o increase the overall supply of natural resourcesavailable tO-improve the chances for world peace. The energy andmaterial resources orihe world are finite. We must live with and'adapt to the concept of finite resources didtributed inequitablyaround the globe. Given these limitations and given the growingdemands of thejdeveloping and developed nations for energy andmaterial repouges, it has become increasingly etident that theavailabil417 orand accessibility to .,resources` are crucial factbts in.determininrthe harmony, or lack of it,' among nations of the world.Midtle Eastern domination of oil supplies, Central African dominationof cobalt and precious metals, and Southern African domination ofcobalt,,chromium;'.and precious metalsare three leading examples oflimited resource'availability that,bave created sizable tensions andpolitical trictions.-Thii fiituation'is made more serious by stronginflationary pressures, the growing inequity of incomes, and thegrowing use of resources as political weapons. In discussingconservation as a force foi peace, the author recommends three basicresource.lOptimization strategies. We should make and use fewerresource prodUcts;,6ake and use simpler, more efficient alternativeprocesses and prod4cts;* and recycle the raw material and energy'content of waste resource'products. Efforts at resource optimizationto date are exemined. A

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EDUt ATIONALCIIESTOERURtECRESeNFORMATION

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ResourceOptimization:

andWorld Pease

Arthur H. PurcellOccaional

Paper 30The Stanley Foundation

Muscatine, Iowa USA'March .1982

9ti

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Abaft the :Authp

Arthur H erved as_a member,of the.US delegiitio $1, the first UNConference (2n,Non- tisteanchnology, ofPresident-elect Cartt. Sciente.*Policy TaskForce, of the Preside t Conimission can" theAccident at Mei? tvf, He receiveda German Marshall award to atteridthe First European qbemunit' Conference-, g.

. RattioactivelVast- anagjment in .1980,

n independent scie Jet and director ofTLchnical Informatfo roject, Inc ,Purcell has lecturedl (nsive/-y in theUnited States and iii4i4yionally and,serves as Professoriaraclurer at bathAmerican University an GeorgeWa'shington Univers1V. A regularcontributor to many jotirnals, he has A,

authored 80 publicatio4 on resourceconservation, and related subjects, includinghis recent b"'d6k, The WaVe Watcher:,

A

rResource Optimization and World Peace

IntroductionThe energy and material resources of t`he world are finiteThis is a fact with which we must live While renewableresources pow less severe limas than nonrenewable resources,and while the earth theoretically contains a virtually end,less suppl, of most commodities, we must live with andadapt to the concept of finite resources distributed ineqiuta-blv around the globe,

Giyen.these linutations and given the growing demapd&of the developing and developed nations for energy andmaterial Kosources, it has become increasingly evident thatavailability of and accessibility to resources are crucial fac-tors it determining the harmon'or lack of .1tbetwec rt...nations of the world MidelleEast'orn domination of oilr;up.

*. plies, Central Africa.n domination 4.if cobalt and preciousmetals, and Southern Afritan domination of cliromium:arethree l4achrig examples of litnited resource availability thathave created skLable tensions and political frictions.

A key factor in reducing these threats to peace is a com-prehensivi international- pzogfam of resource optimisationand conservation

-Resource Problems and International Tensions,

Global resource problemsscause and abet inequities that create tensions and reduce prospects for peace The escalatingprices and actual and potential shortages of the world's lim-ited material and energy resources increasengly contributeto international tensions ° political, socioeconomic, andenvironmental. The situation is compounded by several fac-tors.

Strong Inflationary PressuresThe prices of energy and material ire fuelingsevere"inflatiorlin many developing and developed economies. Eyery.mont,hlarger fractions of national budgets are being spent pnimported resources. In the past decade 'the price of oil, theworld's basic energy resource, has increased 500 percentfaster than inflation. Reductions in expenditures in other,areas are inevitable By 1990 developing nations will be

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spending a staggering $100 billion per year on imported oilalone. Many of these countries must import over 80 percentof their total requirements, virtually all developing nationsrequire sybsfantial supplies of imported energy The eco-nomic dislocations caused by these inflated expenditures,with the accompanying buildup of international debts, areclearly a considerable source of tensions All the major prob-lems of international resource sharing are compounded bythe devastating effects of excessive population growth

Growing Inequity of IncomesThe continuing price escalations caused by our global resourcedilemmas are fueling the phenomena of growing ificomeinequity. The affluent are gene'rally becoming more affluentwhile the world's poor are generally becoming 'poorer. Thenegative implications of this situation on world stability arebvious and critical.

Increasingl)a. IneQuitable Distributio 'Resourcesl-figla prices, shortage;--, and political onflicts make it con-tinually more difficult for the have an have not economiesto share the, world's resource base. Inequity of,distributionincreases the likelihood of militaristic endeavors to secureresources.

Inefficient, Environmentally Disruptive, and PotentiallyDangerous Use of Resources. Global resource difficulties are sowing the seeds for long-term problems by shifting attention to short-term goals Themost telling example of this is worldwide deforestation whichhas already reached crisis proportions in some nations Aslong as fuelwood is more readily available than alternativeenergy forms, this deforestation will continue With defor-estation will come increased -deVastation of national envi-ronments and heightened anxiety and frustration by thosewho inhabit these environments.

The double-edged legacy of nuclear power developmentis another prominent example The less we conserve tradi-tional energy sources the greater the likelihood of nuclearpower development: Increased nuclear development pre-sents two threats. 1) The possibility of nuclear accidentswith widespread casualties anclwaren international conflictsfrom radioactive releases and 2) the possibility of increasingnuclear weapons development through adaptation of nude-

,ar power technology

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Other important examples of inefficient, environmentallydisruptive, and potentially Xingerous uses of resources are.

1. Increased stripping of agricultural lands for coaland othersolid fossil fuels

2 Pressures to produce biomass energy craps instead offood

3 Increased health threats 'frOm the manufacture'and useof toxic substances

4 Increased dangers of transporting nuclear and hazardouswastes across inteimational borders.

5 Increased international pollution conflicts such as thosecaused by acid rain and river salinity.

Growing Use of Resources as Political WeaponsAs resource inequities and the dislocations they engendermount, it is inevitable that resource commodities will becomepowerful political weapons. Just like conventional weaponsof war, the proliferation of these weapons works directlyagainst the interests of global peace. ,

Obstacles to DevelopmentThe world's resource problems are most deva tating to theleast developed natiolis, °they throw further obstacles intothe paths of. development The slower such developmentproceeds, the faster tension increases among the Peoples ofthese nations.

Every day the world's resource base is strained by the netaddition of over 180,000 human beings The challenge posedby this populatioh growth is of enormous magnitude. Everyyear the world's resource base must be shared by an addi-tionat.60 million people This represents an addition of onepew medium-siztd nation annually in need of furnaces,autbmobiles and trucks, shoes, farm equipment, fOod, andthe countless other products thdt must be squeezed out ofthe world's limited resources The inequities of populationgrowth fall,hdrdest where shatages.already exist.

The spectre of armed conflict ri'sin'g but of internationalresouAF tensions is very real. A major issue in the debilitat-ing war between Iran and Iraq has been control of keyenergy-producing areas Thetnityd States has hinted broadlythat it will take strong measure:5. to ensure its access to Saudi

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Arabian oil The bldody Nigerian civil war in the early 1970swas fought over control of Biafran oil fields The destructionby Israeli war planes of a Fie-nch-built Iraqi nuclear powerplaht came 'aboutatecause of suspicions that this facility

°could be used for making nuclear w,eapOns The NationalStrategy InformatiOn Center, a conservative, dVense on -'vented think tank based in Washington, sees a growing pos-sibility of a resource war over critical materials, especiallycobalt and chromium. Events of the past decade lend cre-dence to this suggestion. When Cuban troops invaded theShaba province of Zaire in 1978, the mining of cobalt, anessential material for steel making, was halted for monthsBecause of the.Shaba's position as a prime supplier of cobalt,tfie world price of the metal rase over 700 percent Repeti-tion of this type of event could well lead to a military court:teroffensive aimed solely at .reopenina a material resourcesupply line

The traditional solution to avoidconfliets over resourceshas been the concept of resource Endependence. If. It is argued,a nation can eliminate its dependence on others for basicresources, it can obviate the pressure for military involve-ment to wassure such resources The resource independenceconcept, like any other self-sufficiency idea, has some obvi-ous validity But total resource independence comes at avery high.c94 in economic, environmental, and sociopoli-tical terms For example, the economic cost of producingsynthetic fuels as substitutes for oil are projected to be veryhigh, even foi:°a resource-rich nation such as the UnitedStates In the early 1970s the Nixon administration launche'da major effort, titled "Project Independence,". to developscenarios to achieve energy independence in the UnitedStates by 1984 A major component of the plan that wasdeveloped was synthetic'fuels from coal, the plan ultimatelywas deemed unworkable, however, largely because of itseconomic costs.

The environmental costs of resource indkpendence can bemassive and irreversible. Synthetic fuels are again a goodillustration In order for the United States to supplant itscurrent oil reliance with synfuels, major stripping and dese-cration of coal -nth agricultural lands would be necessary,and major diversions of agricultural water would be required

1')'to mine and process the coal into synfuels,

The sociopolitical costs of resource independence entail, ..

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perhaps, the greatest expenditures in the ong run Resourceindependence promoIes isolationism The less a nation needsto trade with other nations fo'r its resources, the less interestand incentivlt has to maintain peaceful relationships withmembers of the internatibnal cbmmumtv

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Resource independence comes at high social costs, evenin the most affluent nations The resource-poor countriesmust make large sacrifices to achieve such independenceTwo graphic examples of this sacrifice can be found in Alba-nia and the Petiple's Republic of China (PRC) Albania isvirtually resource independent because of its strong inward-ly turned policies which have fallen, just short of beingxenophobic Albania has shown the world that a few wellmanaged resources can go a long way, it has 'al's() demon-strated, however, the austerity' that resource independencecan foster Mandatory two-year iork programs, exceeding-ly limited transportation facilities, and low per capita incomesare the continuing social costs bf that nation's resource 'ride-

, pendence policies The PRC has until recently been isolatedfrom most of the world and by necessity has been a resourceindgpendent nation., Its leaders, however, have come to real-

, ize that the relatively low standard of living in the PRC canbe significantly raised by, ending this isolation, joining theworld community, and sharing its resource base In the nottoo distant future, the PRewill probably become a significantexporter of several basic natural resources, including coaland titanium, and will be able to use this foreign exchangeto obta4n other less abundant resources

While the goals of the resource independence concept arebasically sound, in practice the concept has only limitedviability. The resources of the world are tgo inequitablydistributed and the resource needs of our peoples are toouniversal to enable more than a few specialized regions tobe resource independent The resource base of the worldmust be shared and nations must incorporate this sharinginto their commercial and economic policies. In order forlong-term peaceful sharing to occur, however, effective inter-national programs must be developed to ensure that resourcesare used as efficiently as possible

Conservation as a Force :for Peace

Thelconomic principles of development have traditionallyargued. strongly against conservation The, logic has been

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produce more, consume more, and thus make more capital'flow The flaws in this logic are becoming quite evident'Inflation of resource pr)ces (which has driven overallInflation), diminishing supplies pf strategic resources, andgrowing costs of fiea tins health problems related tounchecked resource use, all have contributed to serious eco-

snomic dislocations in developed and developing countries

If inefficient use and suboptimal management of globalresources add to Is orld tensions, then increasing efficiencyand optimizing resource-use should reduce such 'nsionsThe most direct wa, to accomplish this is through t. nnpre-hensive programs of global resource conservation unser,vation, makes more resources available to more peo le andenhances the possibility of improving worldwide Lori g stan-dards In- this way conservation can become a viab e forcefor peace

Elements of ResourCe ConservationConservation is a generic term encompassing technological,economic, and sociopolitical strategies timed at optimizingresource use ConservatioR does normean doing withoutOn the contrary, it means doing the same or`better with lessperforming the same function or .making the same goodswith less energy anki material By definition, conservationimplies the process of making ,resources available on a widerbasis by increasing the productivity of individual resourceunits Properly managed conservation programs lead to moreresource:, which-in turn mean more markets and more jobs

Of the several standard toproaches to conservation, onlyone requires an economic cutback of resource use Most aregeared primarily toward' technological means of resourceoptimization, that is making the best use of given resourcesThe term optimization connotes a comprehensive conserva-.t ion approach

There are three basic resource optimization strategies. Allinclude bo\li technological and nontechnological compo-nents.

1. Make and use fewer resource products. A resource productcan be defined as any final form or end use of a resourcePlastic bottles, fuel.oil, internal combustion engines, andeven food for human and animal consumption and waterfor irrigation or sanitation purposes are resource products

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Marti Idling the production and.u4e of fewer of these andcountless other resource products 'is an' effective conserva-tion strategy, it has, however, negativ economic and socialimplications This strategy runs counter to economic growthprinciples and is generally considered 4 last resort Fortu-nately, there are other resource optimizatiori strategies which,

hen properly executed, complement growth and increaser ,-ource productivity

Make and use simpler, more efficient alternative processesand products. Webster's first definition of simplicity is "ab-sence of complexity in form or structure Simplicity ,is avital concept in resource optimization If less material, en er*gy, , and other resources are used resource productsare* lesscomplex, and resource benefits are greater Using less mate-rial and snergy to make,a,given product, substituting moreabundant resources for scarce ones, and developirig renew-" .

able to replace nonrenewable resources areall basic compo-nents of thisley strategy Two simple examples are packagingand attomobile parts. Pa, kaging iss3 tremendous usurper oftialural resources While some packaging is necessary toprotect products and prevent-contamination, packaging cantoo often be excessive. SeVeral years ago a leading papermanufacturer in the United States designed and produceda one pint milk carton that served the same function as thetraditional Carton but had a higher center of gravity. Theredesigned coptainer conserved 31 perent of the paper, 16percent of the plastic, and about 10..percent of the energyneeded to produce the original container

1Included in this strategy is the rapidly, developing field

of renewable resources those which can be rapidly replen-ished through natuql processes. Solar energy, alcohol, nat-ural rubber, and bi4mass are all 'examples of renewableresources. It is gene'rally advantageous to substitute a renew-able fox a nonrenewable resource, provided the renewableresource production, can keep pace with the demand for it.

considera-bly

solar energy this is no problem since theye.is onsidera-bly more sunshine perpetually available than can be uti-

jized. For forest products, however, unplanned use of thisrenewable resource is resulting in severe deforestation prob-lems in many parts of the globe.

A well-managed renewable resources program for forestand other biomass products can foster substitutions, such aspaper fbr plastics, that are favorable to resource optimiza-

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tion Advocates claim, in fact, that well- managed programsof bidmass resources a4rA the most effective way to preventthe feared greenhouse effect There is much evidence point-ing to the fact that globql use-of nonrenewable coal and oilresources is qreafing a sizable buildup of carboen dioxidethe atmosphere, this willt.eventually form a thick enoughlay er to trap so much heat IA the lower atmosphere thatearth ,Vecomes a greenhouse with devastating environmen-tal impacts, including the melting of icebergs and conse-quent flooding f heavily mutated coastal areasY Biomassresource programs would entail large-scale planting, har-vesting, and use of high-g'rowth biomass crops in .such amanner that the carbOn dioxide consuMption of thegr6w-ing crops would roughly equal the carbon dioxide releasesof biomass combustion in energy processes, The net result

. would be little change in the earth's atmospheric carbondioxide levels.

Natural rubber is a simple example of the beneficial sub-stitution of a renewable resource for a nonrenewable resourceNatural rubber, a renewable resource, is generally superiorto synthetic rubber, a nonrenewable resource Currently onlybout 20 percent of world rubber production includes natu-ral rubber The economies of the Asian-and Latin Americandeveloping nations that are producers could be greatly aidedthrough Increased use of natural rubber At the same time,an important resource optimization strategy would be prac-ticed in the annual manufaCture of millions of tires

The most dramatic example to date of resource optimiza-tion through substitution has been the advent of smaller,more ,energy efficient automobiles Countless millions oftons of steel and barrels,of oil have been conserved throughthe substitution of small, efficient automobile, and .trucksfor larger, inefficient ones

inherent in this strategy ,are efforts to Produce and usemore praiale a nd repairable resource prod ucts:to use resource

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products longer, an to reuse waste products and productcomportents in alternative. applications

Durability and repaitability are two vital characteristics ofresource longevity which cah be greatly improved throughresource optimization efforts Materjal resource products can,through appropriate redesign and processing, be made con-;iderably more durable and repairable Throwaway products

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are unationtableAuuries in a re/source pressed 'world andmust make way 'for more resource efficient, long-lastingproducts In this category, a resource optimization strategythat arouses much controversy is ttreconcept of mandatorydeposits on consumer products ranging from tires to bever-age containers A vaem of returnable beverage containersrequires lmIN about half the energy resources of a throwa-way system In the United States alone, this accounts forroughly 35 quadrillion BTUs of energy per year, or enoughto_run the entire country for nearly two days .

the rationale behind the deposit System is that consumerswill have .economic incentives to avoid .discarding usedproducts and losing their deposes, when products arereturned to recycling centers, depositi, will be refunded andresources pill be conserved While the deposit system hasimportant resource optimization poti...ntial, it also arousesformidable political opposition by manufacturers who seeit as an unacceptable means'of limiting new products Fortu-nately, such resource Iptimization can be accomplishedthrough less controvers411 technological metins

One vital,ArFa of this strategy, which will, require consid-erable global attention, is that of corrosion prevention Every'year the .wolid loses billions of kilograms of materials locorrosion It has been estimated that as much as 20 percentof the annual production of steel is used solely to replacecorroded maferkilb s area of resource op,,Qmiza-non represents an important potential coatributain to increas-ing the global resources baiaT

Evil'n in cases where only limited improvements can be.,,made, .dwabifrey and repairability, howe'ver, tliv simplerest/Lime oftimization strategy okusing prdducts longercanbe implemented Most material rit.sgurce products are con-verted to .waste well before their ustTul Jives haiive..ended.The extent to whrch products are disca'rded pre'maturelygenerally depoili on the economic affluence of the user In

---'economncally deprived parts of the world products are oftenused'beyond their useful lauds, in moi;t,societies, however,producas,are often discarded in advance of their service

Periods at a tremendous global resource cost Increasingproduct lives 'canvonserye significant resources, rangingfrom oil to miter to steel This strategy requires hcientific

'approaches, practices, and maintenance procedures whichresource optimization systems can drIlineiite

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Resource products, however, no matter howcarefully andscientifically maintained and used, will eventually reachpoints, of detenbratton that preclude further use .At thisjuncture resource products can be. dismantled, salvagingusable or rebuildab.le components and discafding others,put into alternatke service, or ,discarded in whole form.

The first option includes remaiifitturing. This emergingindustrN has begun to play an important role in utilization,Of secondary resources Products ranging from telephonesto automobile parti, to vending machines are manufacturedwith reclaimed components

The second Ziiition, putting products into alternative seev-ice, is an old resource optimization method which orylv recent-

-1y7has Aceived technical attention One example of puttingproducts into alternative service is ,creating offshore reefsusing discarded tires Studies have. shown that tire reefs'increase fish breeding activities and have no measurablenegative effect on marine ecology

The third option is simply to discard waste products For-tunately , there exists a long establishe'd technology to recov-er resources from discards.

3. Recycle the raw material and energy content of wasteresource products. Over 10 billion tons of resources enterthe global waste stream frOm municipal, industrial, agricul-tural, and mining sources Only a smakl fraction of theseresources are recovered and put back into tAeful form throughrecycling. Recycling is the resource optimization process ofreturning waste or,secQndary- resources to the productioncycle. Recycling conserves vast amounts of clergy and mate-rial and reduces the environmental impacts/of using virgin'resources. Recycling secondary aluminum, for example,requires only 5 percent of the energy needed to producealuminum from, virgin sources. For ,each ton of secondaryiron and steel recycled, approximately 20 tons of virgin oreare conserved Similarly, poisonous sulfur dioxide emis-sions can be reduced up to 99 percent through aluminumrecy.eling and over 10 percent through steel recycling.

Energy, as well as material, can be recovered throughrecycling. About 80 percent of municipal wastes are organicThese can he combusted with an average heat value of over10 million joules per kilogram, up to 5 percentpf total nation-.

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al energy budgets could be met simply through recoveringthe heat value of municipal wastes A barrel of oil- is con-served for each four tons of waste substituted as an energysource

ReCycling is a vital resource optimization strategy whichhas been globally implemented on only limited scales TheUnited States recycles only about 6 percent of its secondarymaterials, the figure is higher for developing nations

There arethat are insin naturebeen desitraditionly moreFrom a tmorecliThe be

reo'ped

ResoPertecauclal

a nutnber of obstacles to increased recyclingtitutional and economic, as well as technological,The worlds production systems have generally

gned to use virgin resources. Fiscal policies haveally made exploitation of virgin resources relative:attractive than utilization of secondary resources.herm#dynamic standpoint recycling is often much

thcult technologically than is use of virgin resourcenefits of recycling, however, dictate that this poten-

source optimization strategy should be fully aevel-

urce Optimization to Date 0haps the most dramatic worldwide example of

hnologically based resource optimization is redesign oftomobiles and trucks to lighter weight, more efficient vehi-

es Another important exampths recuperation of industri-process heat By installing simple systems, many industries

large and small 7- have been able to cut energy usedramatically.

These examples are only representative of the resourceoptimization that can and must take place globally. Todaylittle more than the tip of the resource optimization iceberghas been uncovered. Considerable efforts will have to bemade to achieve the level that will be necessary for promot-ing long-term world stability. Such optimization is, never-theless, achieyable. The World Bank has projected that upto 30 percenta very significant figureof the developingwarld's_vnergy rteeds crnild..beronsepved by 1990 throughconcerted resource optimization efforts

A Fundamental Resource in CrisisGlobal resource health rests on its most basic commodity

. water The outlook for water--thejesourcehthat covers two-thirds of the earth and is essential to all biological and

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commercial processesis critical. Only a comprehensive pro-gram *of global optimization of this irreplacable substancecan avert severe problems in,the near future.

Global water contamination accounts for a staggering 30,000deaths per day from waterborne disease. Four-fifths of theillness in the world is related to poor water and sanitationFifty perCent of the inhabitants of the developing world,together with an estimated 15 million people in the UnitedStates, lack access to safe drinking water

The tensions emanating from this situation are height-enedened by the strategic economic importance of r In manyparts pf the'world dissension continues to bu d where ener-gy development interests and agricultural interests are com-peting for limited water supplies.

Recognizing the crisis potential in Water-res-6urces, theUnited Nations has begun a major program to resolve worldwater problems by 1990. In an unprecedented session onNoveniber 10, 1980, the UN General Assembly devoted a

day to launch the United Nations Decade on Water. Thego I- of the decade is to marshal every available effort toa ieve "clean water for all" by 1990. If this laudable objgc-t e is to come even close to realization, vigorous resourceoptimization programs for dater will have to be developedon' a. worldwide scale . ,

The Resource Optimization for Peace ConceptIn December 1976, delegates from 36 nations gathered inParis to launch a new, integrated approach to global resourceoptimization. The occasion was the First United NationsConference on Non-Waste Technology. At this major gath-er* the ide'a of nonwaste technology (NWT) as a long-range resource conservation strategy was detailed NWT prin-ciples were set forth and recommendations were generatedfor an informal international framework for resourceoptimization programs. The recommendations of Ahat mid-1970s conference are highly pertinent to the resource pro,b-lems of the 1980s.

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NWT can Ile defined as a fully integrated approach tomaximizing resource productiVity and minimizing resourcewaste and misuse. It includes energy and material conserva-tion, effluent control, and environmental pollution abate-

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ment NW l' is based on technoliigical criteria. It is designedto meigate complex political and socioeconomic factors inresource optimization efforts and concentrate-on technolog-ical solutions

While the NWT concept may seem obvious, the fact remainsthat even today, many years after the UN conference onNWT, only'limited efforts are being made globally to placeresource optimization programs in unified frameworks pal-atable to wide audiences Today well-intentioned resourceoptimization programs often opertIte independently of eachother Moreover, little attention is directed toward meshingoverall resource optimization goals with objectives of reduc-ing political and socioeconomic tensions As a consequence,these programs not only are failing to achieve their resourcepotentials but are making only minimal contributions toenhancing long-term prospects .for international stabilityand peace .

One internationally oriented group that has conductedsmall but effective programs for resource optimization isVolunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA). It is based in theUnited States but spends most of its limited budget in thedeveloping world VITA projects are aimed, at maximizingresource productivity at fhe local level.

The 1981 United Nations Conference on New and Renew-/able Sources of Energy (UNCNRSE) in Nairobi made animportant contribution to the held of resources develop-ment. This gathering brought together experts from manynations to develop cooperative international strategies fordeveloping and augmenting supplies of energy resourcesvital to the world's well-being. UNCNRSE contribUted tointernational recognition of renewable resource optimiza-tion needs. In the words of one conference official, UNCNRSE"put reritewable resources on the map "

The World Bank has recognized the key role that resourceavailability will have on the future slate of world orderSince 1978, the Bank has committed several billion dollarsto energy projects and is considering the establishment ofa special Bank affiliate to concentrate solely on energy resourcedevelopment. This affiliate would have vastly expanded eco-nomic .resources at its disposal.

The latter two efforts are aimed at development of resources,

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a vitalsomponent of over 1 global resource strategies. It isessential, however, that Conservation-oriented resourceoptimization efforts paralt _these development programs.Re:sone (74 intrzatzon can ge tally achieve increased resourcesharing goals in a shorte period than resource develop-*lent In the long-term, re -urce optimization will make itpossibleXornaximize the us Ail life and availability of devel-oped resources,:

International Resource,Coptimization for PeaceCenters .

It is essential that the results of the UN conference on NW r,UNCNRSE, on-going World lAnk projects, and other inter-national endeavors be focusediinto comprehensive mecha-nisms to foster substantive glpbal resource optimizationSuch mechanisms should:

Coordinate major and often f Ogmented resource optimiza-tion efft;rts now being cond.' worldwide into viableand efficient programs.Enliante the complementary jcepts orconservat ion anddevelopment

Possess strong technological components for addressingquestions of resource optimization having minnnal non-

. technological aspects,Possess sophisticated political and socioeconomic compo-nents for addressing nontechnological aspects of resourceoptimization problems:

Have strong financial bases of support ,

Include expertise of established international organiza-tions familiar with resource issuesTake into full account regional needs and constraints inresource optimization

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A group of international ResourCe Optimization for Peace(Rorp) centers are proposed to develop and maintain thesemechan Isms. The centers would be based in regions possess-ing common resource optimization needs and would focuson the vegional resource optimization problems Most direct-ly related to international, tension reduction. They wouldfunction in two mode-S- which can he termed kechiNogicaland into-disc:pi:nary. The technological mode woull, includescientific and technical assistance, training, in fordation dis-semination, and related services for resource optimizationprojects The interdisciplinary mode would identify and

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engage in planning and development for resource optimiza-tion programs with substantive political and socioeconomiccomponents.

The technological mode would include developing sys-tems to recover and recycle critical materials, ,designingremanufacturing systems for waste products reutilization,establishing energy from waste programs, and implement-ing waste heat recinXbry systems for industries Whose geo-graphic locations or other factors make them particularlyvulnerable to energy supply disruptions.

Interdisciplinary mode activities might include organiz-ing deposit systems for products, planning substitutionschemes for alternative material and energy processes, andlifestyle modification planning for resource optimizationThe centers would function on a first come first served basisTheyAould be established and directed by a board of "gover-nors which would incltide resource optimization experts, aUN representative, an international financial expert, non-governmental organization representatives, and regionalleaders

It is proposed that the World Bank serve as a major fund-ing source for the centers, with the United Nations andother international organizations contributing fniancial assist-ance. The Bank, as noted above, has expressed a strong inter-est in establishing one or more affiliates'concerned strictlywith resource issues. It would appear that directing thisinterest toward ROFP centers would be an ideal matchingof this interest to global needs.

The model that VITA has demonstrated for providingdirect assistance in resource optimization would be a usefulone to incorporate in the actual functioning of the centersVITA minimizes the dissipation of funds, concepts, and timeby providing assistance primarily in the form of on-siteperson'nel rather than in the form of grants or contracts.VITA is.able to minimize actual program costs by makingfull use of the-large corps of volunteers worldwide who canprovide capahkle assistance.

The ROFP centers are envisioned as independent organi-zations with strong participation and support from estab-lished groups. Chief among these, of course, is the 4nitedNations. The vast capabilities, human and financial resources,

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, and established international networks of this premier orga-nization could be of immense assistance to the centers. Keep-ing the centers in4ependent, however, would obviate. theneed for the Unite Nations to take on the added responsc--bility of administering the centers, at the same tinie, it wouldfacilitate more rapid resource optimization decision-makingprocesses that could prove crucial to defusing peace-threat-ening tensions

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Develop-ment Programme (UNDP), and the Department of TechnicalCo-operation for Development (DTCD) are three UN focalpoints of particular relevance to development of ROFP cen-ters. UNEP has extensive expertise in measuring and assess-ing environmental implications of resource developmentand use UNDP's mission includes promoting efficient andenvironmentally compatible technological development.DTCD, including its Division of Natural Resources and Ener-gy, is part of the UN Secretariat and serves as a centralpolicy-influencing force in the United Nation's efforts toimprove global resources The activities Of all three organi-zations are complementary to the ROFP process.

An ongoing linkage between UNEP, UN DP, DTCD, andthi? central ROFP structure would be a basic feature of ROFPcenter establishment. This linkage would facilitate the match-ing of capabilities with resource optimization needs andwould serve to Prevent overlapping and duplicate efforts.to strengthen the linkage, ranking representatives from thesethree groups would serve and play leading roles on theboard of governors.

US Policy Initiatives and RecommendationsIt is in the- best interests of the United States to put itselfsquarely behind the ROFP process. Such support wouldincrease global stability, enhance the image of the UnitedStates in enteifiational relations, and extend opportunitiesfor exporting resource optimizing technologies.

The prominence of the United States in the world com-munity dictates that its support of this peace-enhancing con-

, cept can add significantly to ROFP viability. At the same\ time, such support can measurably enhance the image ofthis country in international relations. US support of ROFPalso has extremely important potential domestic economic

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benefits, since if tan lead to numerous opportunities for theincreased export of resource optimizing technologies indsystems 'The current administration has recognized thebenefits of US support of programs aimed a.t improving theglobal resource picture In his address td the UWNRSE, USU.deleption chairman Stanton Anderson stated

., Our rationale is threefold Fit, more abundant energysupplies lessen international economic and-political ten-sions Second, increased availability of overall energyresources is indispensable to the healthy economic growthof all countries Third, new and renewable energy sourcescreate markets for new technologies and services

-. .

How can the United States help the world and itself accruethe benefits of a comprehensive ROFP program? A numberof policy initiatives must be undertaken by both the presi-dent and Congress These include.

. o

1 Generating definitive support for ROFP centers A state-ment of support by the chief executive wcwld be sufficientto launch US participation in tie ROI'? process The Con-gress and the president would then have to work togeth-er to develop economic programs which would directly .aid establishment of ROFP centers, as well as contribute ,.

in a more indirect manner to global resource optimiza-tion programs. .

The former category might include such initiatives OSspecific recommendations to the World Bank on estab-,lishing funding mechanisms for ROFP centers and prO-' I

e grams The latter would consist of aid and loan programsto nations seeking assistance in resource optimizationCurrently, the US Agency for International Develop-ment (AID) is carrying on work in this area,, there is astrong need for increased activity, sufficiently broadenedto envelop ROFP obi chves. The United States can alsoprovide incentives f r domestic development of tech-,niques and systems, including appropriate technological

b activities that can usually be generated at low cost onsmall scales.

2 Vigorously implementing recommendations of the FirstUN Conference on Non-W5ste Technology This confer-ence called for member nations to identify govA'nmentactivities and administrative jurisdictions most amenable

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to development Of NWT principles and practices4

Throughthis basic effort, the United States could' develop animproved assessment of its overall capabilities in the ROFP,process

3 Assuring nonrestrictive import and export policies onresou rce-optimizing materials, products, and systems Thefree international flow of resource=optimiiing compo-nents will allow the greatest possible optimization ofnatpral resources This applies to commerce ranging fromthe import of energy-conseiiiing automobiles to the exportof scrap materials for recycling Interest groups hayepushed strongly fur restrictions on the and othelr import/export issues that directly affect global resource use. Thecause of global resource optimizabion will be best served,however, through free trade in resource-optimizirig com-modities -

-I Developing strong participation mechaLsms for theUnited Nations Decade on Water The United States hra crucial stake in global optimization of water resources,and it can play a.pivotal role in helping work toward thisend The United States can meet this responsibility throughsignificantly increasing it* assistance programs in waterand through ensuring that water issues receive strongemphasis in ROFP center development.

5 Continuing and expanding the practice (14assunng envi-ronmental safeguards of resource-consuming exports.'Whether it is a nuclear power technology or a manufac-turing process for organic chemicals, many of this coun-try's resource-intensive exports carry widespread potentialenvironmental impacts, ranging from localized pollu-tion to poisoning to in the case of nuclear pqwerthe pOssibility of weapons development and use.ausingIrge-scale destruction. All these axe clearly ten-sion-producing. As recognized specifically by the Carter.administration, the United States has a grave responsibrrity to take adequate steps to minimize potential misuse.

6. Balancing policies directed toward resource indepen-dence with those of international resource sharing. TheUnited States must, in its quest to reduce its vulnerability,to resource supply interruptions, refrain from policieswhich insulate itself from international commerfe andwhich preclude total access of vital natural resources byother nations.

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7. Inreasing and improving prligrams in information flowand technical assistance AID has upgraded its support ofnew and renewablg eneiky jes6urce programs from $36million in fiscal year 19814rti74 in.1982. Thissum still falls far short, he needed. -Inthe information area, the U....tates hastremendou§resources which should be`streamllned end coordinatedto increase their Usefulness Odle international cornmu--nity AID's Energy Assistance Rolicy Paper pointsspecifically to problem areas in develoPing global resoineprograms whiCh U$ assistance can help",specifically. t

Lack of basic resource knowledge.Lack of ade'quately trained personnel. ='t°Lack of appropriate technology.Lack ci comprehensive energy planning a'ncl °manage-' ment.Lack of sufficient financial resources.

8 Creating econojnic incentives for sharing of new,resourceoptimization tecfraologies. Every day new technologies

. are developed in this country that could be fed directlyinto the global ROFP network. Incentives to the privatesector for sharing these techn6logiesloo often arelack-ing, particularly iD the early stages. Federal tax and inves,t-wment can enhanCe the sharing process,

'` James Stromayet US coordinator for_VN-ENRSE 'and aLongtime advocate of global resource assistanc programs, .has made a key observation which could well summarizethe objectives of US policy initiatives in the ROFP process.As Ambassador Stromayer succinctly stated, "We very badlyneed [to develop a definition of national interest thatembratesinternational interest."

Resource Optimization and the. FutureThe next few years will determine whether the world com-munity will have endugh energy and material resources todevelop peacefully. If, by the end of this decade, wedo nothaire well established international programs 0 ensure thatthe globe's limited resources are managed optimally, theoutlook for future world stability will be cloutle&A grow-ing number of recognized analysts have, in fact, begun ta14-

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i'ng -of the possibility of resource wars. Establishment of aworldwide peace-oriented resource optimization programcan, however, significantly diminish this possibility'

In a speech to UNCNRSE, United Nations University Rec-tor Soeiatmoko accurately pointed out that the world's abili-ty to enhance the self-reliance of developing nations is a keyfactor in survival of the world as a whole ROFP centers canplay an important role in facilitating such self-reliance and

o thus be an important part of global survival strategies

RefecencesLcortomie Commission tor Lurope, Proceedings, First UN Seminar on Non-

O Waste technology, Paris, 1976, (Geneva, 1977)

US Depart ment ot State, New and Renewable Sources of Energy, CurrentPolicy No 31i, (Washington, DC, 13 August 1981)

US Agency fur International Development, I nergy Assistance Polio Paper,(Washington, DC , January 1981)

Arthur H Punell, The VVa,te 11att hers, Doubleday/Anchor Press, (NewYak, 1980) ,

Ambassador James StromaNer, private communication, (Washington, DC1981)

Ambassador John McDonald, Remarks before the Washington, DC UnitedNations Association; (Washington, DC, 14 October 1981)

National Strategy Information Center, "the Rewurce War ,and the UBusiness Community," (Washington, DC, June 1980)

Lester R Brown, Building a Sw.tansable ;Nkltu (W W Norton, New York,-19'81).

Arthur Ff Purcell, -F1 e mpl co de los materiales y la conservacion de ener-gra mirando al futuro, in Desarrollo Nacional (Westport, Connecticut,November-December 1979)

United Nations, 'Report of the UN Conference on New and RenewableSources of Energy,- (New York, 19811

. .

Assistant Secretary James L Malone, Remarks at the Strategy Conferenceon Biological Diversity, (US Department of State and Agency for Interna-tional Development, 18 November 1981)

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About the Essay 44

Demand for the world's finite resources isincreasing. Dr. Purcell discusses therelationships between the inequitabledistribution of limited resources and'growing tensions among nations. As hestates, "... it has became increasingly .

evident that availability of and accessibilityto resources are crucial factors in deter-mining the harmony or lack ofbetween nations of the world."

To diminish the:possibility Df resource warsand related threats to peace; Dr.1PUrcellproposes "... a comp ehensive interna-.titon51 program of reso ree bptimizationand conskration aimed at increasing theoverall supply ,of resourc a ailable." 'f\heResource Optimization for- ace.Programwhich he suggets Would atilitate ,

self-reliante and could thus be a significantglealsurvival strategy.

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