Costs and profits which translate an activity’s economic and social impact but that are not fully included in its account statement. Born half a century ago, the notion of externality has been applied to the energy sector in the 1990’s (USA, Switzerland, Austria, etc.) in reference to the sustainable development. It aims at considering the social and environmental impacts of energies (fossils, fissionable, or renewable), especially on human health and on the long term risks (climate change, nuclear accidents, other serious technological risks, etc.).
More information in the file Ritimo : Biofuel