Thermodynamics: Fundamentals about the Nature of Environmental Problems

In order to systematically understand the necessary connection between human action and its effects on the environment, we want to consider whether it is possible to find an influence that is not only significant in all economic actions, but even in all natural processes. Could it perhaps be that such an influence exists and is also a major cause of environmental problems? Indeed, there is such an influence, namely energy. Every economic activity requires energy. The use of energy always means that energy is being converted. This conversion follows physical laws, which are formulated with the two main laws of thermodynamics. To understand why environmental problems necessarily arise from our industrial economic system, we must deal with thermodynamics, that is, with the area of physics that considers the laws of energy. This chapter will first introduce the basic concepts and laws of thermodynamics. We will then show how thermodynamics contributes to a better understanding of both the emergence and the elimination of environmental problems.