巻頭言 PREFACE

環境の未来像は現代にある？

橘川 次郎

クイーンズランド大学名誉教授 School of Life Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia

Jiro KIKKAWA: Can the future image of the environment be a reality today? Ecol. Civil. Eng. 4(2), 107-108, 2001.

Professor emeritus of School of Life Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia

Abstract:People reaching adolescence in the middle of the 21st Century are yet to be born, so cannot represent themselves in today's government or court, which decides their welfare. Are they going to face the same environmental challenge as we do today? The chances are that they will be much worse off than we are if they try to repair the damage caused by previous generations, and would inevitably ask why their grandparents did not care about them. The future image of the environment should at least project the quality that we still cherish at present. Ecologically sustainable technology is available for most developments needed for the welfare of people today. What is lacking is the political will to put it in the environmental paradigm. The Ecology and Civil Engineering Society has the unique opportunity to play an important role in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and biodiversity in harmony with the prosperity and welfare of human beings.

2001年7月10日受付，2001年7月19日受理
e-mail: jkikkawa@zen.uq.edu.au