This book combines issues several critical ones in the energy field (low-energy technologies
renewable energies such as the hydrogen economy and geothermal energy).Moving towards a more
sustainable world requires a complete revolution in the way we manage energy and resources.
However from an academic perspective this theme is so broad that most educators and
researchers tend to focus on just one aspect and maintaining the broad viewpoint which is
necessary for making strategic judgments becomes difficult. Tohoku University addressed this
challenge when developing a new education and training program for environmental leaders and
brought together the extensive range of expertise available in specific fields into one special
course which forms the basis of this book. Now in one volume both students and educators can
be brought up to date on a wide range of critical issues currently being addressed in the field
of energy and resources. Chapters on resources include availability (for instance rare earth
metals) extraction and recycling of metals and plastics and technological solutions to
specific waste-disposal problems. In addition broader strategic issues such as limits to
growth and the interaction between the economic system and environmental issues are addressed.
Even though each chapter provides topical data and knowledge from disparate and specialized
fields the book is written at a level that is readily understandable by students from all
scientific engineering and humanities fields.
