Vital Signs Volume 20

From meat consumption to automobile production to hydropower, Vital Signs, Volume 20 documents over two dozen trends that are shaping our future in concise analyses and clear tables and graphs. The twentieth volume of the Worldwatch Institute series demonstrates that while remarkable progress has been made over the past year, much remains to be done to get the planet on a more sustainable track.

Worldwide, people are waking up to the realities of a resource-constrained planet: investments and subsidies for renewable energy have reached new heights, consumers are slowly shifting away from meat-heavy diets, and new employment structures like co-operatives are democratizing the global economy. Yet with over 1 billion people lacking access to electricity, natural disasters that are more costly than ever before, and an adherence to the factory farm model of food production, it is clear that many obstacles loom on the horizon.

Covering a wide range of environmental, economic, and social themes, Vital Signs, Volume 20 is the go-to source for straightforward data and analyses on the latest issues facing an increasingly crowded planet. By placing each trend within a global framework, Vital Signs, Volume 20 identifies the solutions we need to transition toward a more sustainable world.

This book will be especially useful for policymakers, environmental nonprofits, and students of environmental studies, sustainability, or economics.

Autorentext

Founded in 1974 by farmer and economist Lester Brown, Worldwatch was the first independent research institute devoted to the analysis of global environmental concerns. Worldwatch quickly became recognized by opinion leaders around the world for its accessible, fact-based analysis of critical global issues. Now under the leadership of population expert and author Robert Engelman, Worldwatch develops innovative solutions to intractable problems, emphasizing a blend of government leadership, private sector enterprise, and citizen action that can make a sustainable future a reality.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments

Overview: Peak Production from a Planet in Distress, by Michael Renner

1 Energy and Transportation Trends

Growth in Global Oil Market Slows

Global Coal and Natural Gas Consumption Continue to Grow

China Drives Global Wind Growth

Hydropower and Geothermal Growth Slows

Smart Grid and Energy Storage Installations Rising

Fossil Fuel and Renewable Energy Subsidies on the Rise

Continued Growth in Renewable Energy Investments

Auto Production Roars to New Records

2 Environment and Climate Trends

Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Concentrations on the Rise as Kyoto Era Fades

Carbon Capture and Storage Experiences Limited Growth in 2011

3 Food and Agriculture Trends

Global Grain Production at Record High Despite Extreme Climatic Events

Disease and Drought Curb Meat Production and Consumption

Farm Animal Populations Continue to Grow

Aquaculture Tries to Fill World's Insatiable Appetite for Seafood

Area Equipped for Irrigation at Record Levels, But Expansion Slows

Organic Agriculture Contributes to Sustainable Food Security

Investing in Women Farmers

Foreign Investment in Agricultural Land Down from 2009 Peak

4 Global Economy and Resources Trends

Wage Gap Widens as Wages Fail to Keep Pace with Productivity

Metals Production Recovers

Municipal Solid Waste Growing

Losses from Natural Disasters Reach New Peak in 2011

The Looming Threat of Water Scarcity

Advertising Spending Continues Gradual Rebound, Driven by Growth in Internet Media

5 Population and Society Trends

Emerging Co-operatives

Climate Change Migration Often Short-Distance and Circular

Urbanizing the Developing World

U.N. Funding Increases, But Falls Short of Global Tasks

Notes

The Vital Signs Series.