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adjustments in the decision-making processes. Corporate capitalism, as we
know it today, can hardly be expected to be compatible with the results.
Imagine an economic evolution toward a system that operates according
to rules similar to the principles stated above and at the end of the previous
section on social equity. The guidelines and constraints offered by ecologi-
cal integrity and social equity will be of critical value, and it would not be
unreasonable to presume that a newspaper report on the process of adjust-
ment could read:
Ecological integrity and social equity harness economics in the
interests of comfortable viability for the human species.
This sounds like a grandiose statement, but in truth we should settle for
nothing less. Even so, getting there will be a long journey, and the scenario
cries out for practical examples. Let us proceed to examine a few real-world
proposals for the purpose of experimenting with how the use of the triple
bottom-line concept might apply in practice.
Proposal to Build a Coal-Fired Electrical Generator
We clearly have need of electrical energy in the future, and coal-fired plants
are thought to be among the least expensive methods of producing it.
Although economics, acting alone, would rank such a proposal quite highly,
environmental considerations elevate the cost considerably due to extreme
externalities, such as pollution of the air with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides that kill forests, which not only affects all life dependent on the for-
ests but also the ability of forests to sequester carbon and thus act as a con-
trol for climate change. Moreover, coal, which appears to be abundant, is
a depletable resource and thus fails the test of stability, even without the
negative environmental effects. No one would want a coal-fired plant in his
or her community; thus, it would qualify as an alienating technology that
destroys, as opposed to supports, a sense of community with good-quality
air. Substantial capital is needed to build such a plant, so only a large corpo-
ration will undertake building one. Without attempting to indict capitalism,
we contend that this project will also negatively affect social equity through
the uneven distribution of income.
Therefore, although the pure economics, discounting the externali-
ties, would look favorably on such a project, it would soundly fail the test
imposed by the pillars of ecological integrity and social equity. Incidentally,
any large, centralized generating facility would probably be evaluated simi-
larly, regardless of the specific energy source—with the possible exception
of solar energy. Let us continue in the energy sphere with another example.
Establishment of a Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Plant
Here, the final product is also in the form of electricity, but with a differ-
ence. The electricity from a coal-fired plant is consumed impersonally from
the grid, while solar panels can be individually purchased and put on one's
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