The Quintuple Bottom Line Concept

Abstract

The processes of moving our world towards an ecologically-sustainable phase of human activity may be aided by extending the ‘triple bottom line’ concept of economic, environmental and social concerns, to a quintuplet of guiding principles that includes energy-efficiency and energy-conservation assessments and makes provision for replenishing bio-diverse biomass. An investigation in how to accelerate the transition to an ecologically-sustainable private transport fleet concluded that nuclear power generation would enable a sustainable future. While advocating this position satisfied the design criteria provided by the ‘triple bottom line’ concept and could satisfy the energy efficiency considerations advocated in the ‘quintuple’ concept it neglected the critical need to restore bio-diverse biomass. Redressing this neglect can be demonstrated by a case study advocating a ‘functional’ landscape approach using GIS technology to replenish diminished forest resource, not only in rural areas, but also in densely populated urban areas.