Sustained Emergencies

Emergency situations require more resources than normal operations. If human society does not address environmental problems effectively before they reach the emergency stage, life from then on will be in a sustained (indefinite) state of emergency. Sustainable use of the planet requires optimal use of resources, which can be facilitated by avoiding sustained emergency conditions. Some emergencies beyond human control will always occur, and adequate global resources must be allocated to cope with them. However, a huge number of emergencies is simply the result of failing to take precautionary, preventative action in time.