A revolution means a radical change. That's exactly what the government's latest environment report calls for. It stresses the importance of building a new socio-economic society through environmental conservation -- a society in which "environment-friendly" technologies are broadly blended with the day-to-day lives of "environment-minded" consumers. In short, the report envisions an "environmental revolution."
The message is universal: The 21st century must be a "century for the environment." The "mass production, mass consumption and mass waste" practices that gave the 20th century a bad name cannot be repeated. The pursuit of convenience and comfort must be reconciled with the imperative of environmental protection.
As the report points out: "It is essential to reduce the environmental load and to share the benefits of the environment with future generations while improving the quality of life. This new mind-set, along with ensuing technological innovations, will significantly contribute to the development of our daily lives and our socio-economic activities."