State of the World 2013

Every day, we are presented with a range of "sustainable" products and activities-from "green" cleaning supplies to carbon offsets-but with so much labeled as "sustainable," the term has become essentially sustainababble, at best indicating a practice or product slightly less damaging than the conventional alternative. Is it time to abandon the concept altogether, or can we find an accurate way to measure sustainability? If so, how can we achieve it? And if not, how can we best prepare for the coming ecological decline?

In the latest edition of Worldwatch Institute's State of the World series, scientists, policy experts, and thought leaders tackle these questions, attempting to restore meaning to sustainability as more than just a marketing tool. In State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?, experts define clear sustainability metrics and examine various policies and perspectives, including geoengineering, corporate transformation, and changes in agricultural policy, that could put us on the path to prosperity without diminishing the well-being of future generations. If these approaches fall short, the final chapters explore ways to prepare for drastic environmental change and resource depletion, such as strengthening democracy and societal resilience, protecting cultural heritage, and dealing with increased conflict and migration flows.

State of the World 2013 cuts through the rhetoric surrounding sustainability, offering a broad and realistic look at how close we are to fulfilling it today and which practices and policies will steer us in the right direction. This book will be especially useful for policymakers, environmental nonprofits, and students of environmental studies, sustainability, or economics.

Auteur

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.

Contenu

Acknowledgments

State of the World: A Year in Review Alison Singer

1 Beyond Sustainababble Robert Engelman

THE SUSTAINABILITY METRIC

2 Respecting Planetary Boundaries and Reconnecting to the Biosphere Carl Folke

3 Defining a Safe and Just Space for Humanity Kate Raworth

4 Getting to One-Planet Living Jennie Moore and William E. Rees

5 Sustaining Freshwater and Its Dependents Sandra Postel

6 Sustainable Fisheries and Seas: Preventing Ecological Collapse Antonia Sohns and Larry Crowder

7 Energy as Master Resource Eric Zencey

8 Renewable Energy's Natural Resource Impacts Shakuntala Makhijani and Alexander Ochs

9 Conserving Nonrenewable Resources Gary Gardner

GETTING TO TRUE SUSTAINABILITY

10 Re-engineering Cultures to Create a Sustainable Civilization Erik Assadourian

11 Building a Sustainable and Desirable Economy-in-Society-in-Nature Robert Costanza, Gar Alperovitz, Herman Daly, Joshua Farley, Carol Franco, Tim Jackson, Ida Kubiszewski, Juliet Schor, and Peter Victor

12 Transforming the Corporation into a Driver of Sustainability Pavan Sukhdev

13 Corporate Reporting and Externalities Jeff Hohensee

14 Keep Them in the Ground: Ending the Fossil Fuel Era Thomas Princen, Jack P. Manno, and Pamela Martin

15 Beyond Fossil Fuels: Assessing Energy Alternatives T. W. Murphy, Jr.

16 Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment Phillip Saieg

17 Agriculture: Growing Food-and Solutions Danielle Nierenberg

18 Protecting the Sanctity of Native Foods Melissa K. Nelson

19 Valuing Indigenous Peoples Rebecca Adamson, Danielle Nierenberg, and Olivia Arnow

20 Crafting a New Narrative to Support Sustainability Dwight E. Collins, Russell M. Genet, and David Christian

21 Moving Toward a Global Moral Consensus on Environmental Action Kathleen Dean Moore and Michael P. Nelson

22 Pathways to Sustainability: Building Political Strategies Melissa Leach

23 Moving from Individual Change to Societal Change Annie Leonard

OPEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

24 Teaching for Turbulence Michael Maniates

25 Effective Crisis Governance Brian Martin

26 Governance in the Long Emergency David W. Orr

27 Building an Enduring Environmental Movement Erik Assadourian

28 Resistance: Do the Ends Justify the Means? Bron Taylor

29 The Promises and Perils of Geoengineering Simon Nicholson

30 Cuba: Lessons from a Forced Decline Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan

31 Climate Change and Displacements Michael Renner

32 Cultivating Resilience in a Dangerous World Laurie Mazur

33 Shaping Community Responses to Catastrophe Paula Green

34 Is It Too Late? Kim Stanley Robinson

Notes

Index.