State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?

Overview

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 ...
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Overview

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.

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Editorial Reviews

President of Natural Capital Solutions and author of <i>Climate Capitalism</i> - Hunter Lovins
State of the World 2013 cuts through the rhetoric surrounding sustainability, providing a broad and realistic look at how close we are to achieving it and outlining practices and policies that can steer us in the right direction…. A must read for those seeking authentic sustainability.”
Executive Director, Eco-Justice Ministries - Reverend Peter S. Sawtell
“This is a book of hope for a world in profound crisis. It gives honest assessments of the enormous challenges we face, and points us toward institutional and cultural changes that are proportional to our dire situation. State of the World 2013 reaffirms that we are not helpless, but that we have real choices, and that transformation is both possible and desirable.”
publisher of Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability and author of The Armchair - Karen Christensen
State of the World 2013 cuts through ‘sustainababble’ with crisp coverage that puts the news of the year in context and provides an expert survey of today’s and tomorrow’s big issues. It’s a perennial resource for everyone concerned about our common future.”
& Solutions and Founder, Center for a New American Dream - Betsy Taylor
“Every elected official in the world needs to read this book. Mass denial is no longer an option. An ‘all hands on deck’ approach to transforming our culture and economy is the only path to a safe, resilient future. This book is the blueprint for that safe path forward.”
Cofounder, Bioneers - Nina Simons
State of the World 2013 assembles the wisdom and clarity of some of the Earth’s finest thinkers, visionaries, and activists into a dazzling array of topics that merge to offer a compellingly lucid and accessible vision of where we are—and what is the wisest and healthiest course for the future.”
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781610914499
  • Publisher: Island Press
  • Publication date: 4/15/2013
  • Series: State of the World Series
  • Edition description: New Edition
  • Pages: 464
  • Sales rank: 247,801
  • Product dimensions: 6.90 (w) x 9.20 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

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.
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 

State of the World:A Year in Review Alison Singer

Beyond Sustainababble Robert Engelman

THE SUSTAINABILITY METRIC

Respecting Planetary Boundaries and Reconnecting to the Biosphere Carl Folke

Defining a Safe and Just Space for Humanity Kate Raworth

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

Sustaining Freshwater and Its Dependents Sandra Postel

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

Energy as Master Resource Eric Zencey

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

Conserving Nonrenewable Resources Gary Gardner

GETTING TO TRUE SUSTAINABILITY

Re-engineering Cultures to Create a Sustainable Civilization Erik Assadourian

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

Transforming the Corporation into a Driver of Sustainability Pavan Sukhdev

Corporate Reporting and Externalities Jeff Hohensee

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

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

Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment Phillip Saieg

Agriculture: Growing Food-and Solutions Danielle Nierenberg

Protecting the Sanctity of Native Foods Melissa K. Nelson

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

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

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

Pathways to Sustainability: Building Political Strategies Melissa Leach

Moving from Individual Change to Societal Change Annie Leonard

OPEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Teaching for Turbulence Michael Maniates

Effective Crisis Governance Brian Martin

Governance in the Long Emergency David W. Orr

Building an Enduring Environmental Movement Erik Assadourian

Resistance: Do the Ends Justify the Means?
Bron Taylor

The Promises and Perils of Geoengineering Simon Nicholson

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

Climate Change and Displacements Michael Renner

Cultivating Resilience in a Dangerous World Laurie Mazur

Shaping Community Responses to Catastrophe Paula Green

Is It Too Late?
Kim Stanley Robinson

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