A bio-energy scientist conducts crop research on switchgrass at this U.S. government laboratory

Source: Roy Kaltschmidt/Berkeley Lab, U.S. Department of Energy

In recent decades, global economic growth has been fueled largely by manufacturing industries. Technology advancement in manufacturing has improved production capacity in terms of output and connected the world through efficient supply chain processes. The benefits of global economic growth through an industrial economy are indeed far reaching, providing opportunities for increased quality of life for millions, particularly in developing nations.

The boom of an industrial economy does come at a price. Most manufacturing requires extensive use of fossil fuels to operate efficiently. Research strongly suggests that the use of fossil fuels produces excessive carbon emissions, resulting in significant environmental degradation including climate change. Beyond the effect ...