Eco-Economy : Building a New Economy for the Environmental Age

by Brown, Lester R.

• ISBN13: 9780393051094
• ISBN10: 0393051099
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-11-01
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc

Summary

In 1543, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus challenged the view that the Sun revolved around the Earth, arguing instead that the Earth revolved around the Sun. His paper led to a revolution in thinking -- to a new worldview.

Author Biography

Lester R. Brown has been described as "one of the world's most influential thinkers" by the Washington Post. He is president of Earth Policy Institute, a nonprofit, interdisciplinary research organization based in Washington, D.C. Brown is widely known as the founder and former president of the Worldwatch Institute, whose board he now chairs. He launched the influential State of the World reports that are now published in over 30 languages. Twenty-five years ago, he helped pioneer the concept of environmentally sustainable development, a concept he uses in his design of an eco-economy. During a career that started with tomato farming, Brown has been honored with numerous prizes, including the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship, the United Nations Environment Prize, and Japan's Blue Planet Prize. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Foreword	xv
The Economy and the Earth	3	(24)
Economy Self-Destructing	7	(7)
Lessons from the Past	14	(3)
Learning from China	17	(2)
The Acceleration of History	19	(2)
The Option: Restructure or Decline	21	(6)
I. A STRESSED RELATIONSHIP
Signs of Stress: Climate and Water	27	(22)
Temperature Rising	28	(2)
The Ice Is Melting	30	(4)
Sea Level Rising	34	(3)
More Destructive Storms	37	(2)
Rivers Drained Dry	39	(4)
Falling Water Tables	43	(3)
Facing Water Scarcity	46	(3)
Signs of Stress: The Biological Base	49	(28)
Fisheries Collapsing	51	(4)
Forests Shrinking	55	(3)
Rangelands Deteriorating	58	(4)
Soils Eroding	62	(6)
Species Disappearing	68	(4)
Synergies and Surprises	72	(5)
II. THE NEW ECONOMY
The Shape of the Eco-Economy	77	(20)
Ecology Over Economics	78	(3)
A Monumental Undertaking	81	(2)
Restructuring the Economy	83	(2)
New Industries, New Jobs	85	(7)
History's Greatest Investment Opportunity	92	(5)
Building the Solar/Hydrogen Economy	97	(24)
The Energy Efficiency Base	99	(3)
Harnessing the Wind	102	(5)
Turning Sunlight into Electricity	107	(3)
Tapping the Earth's Heat	110	(2)
Natural Gas: The Transition Fuel	112	(2)
Getting to the Hydrogen Economy	114	(7)
Designing a New Materials Economy	121	(24)
Throwaway Products	123	(3)
Materials and the Environment	126	(5)
The Earth's Toxic Burden	131	(4)
The Role of Recycling	135	(3)
Redesigning the Materials Economy	138	(7)
Feeding Everyone Well	145	(24)
A Status Report	147	(3)
Raising Cropland Productivity	150	(4)
Raising Water Productivity	154	(4)
Restructuring the Protein Economy	158	(5)
Eradicating Hunger: A Broad Strategy	163	(6)
Protecting Forest Products and Services	169	(18)
Fuel, Lumber, and Paper	170	(2)
Forest Services	172	(4)
Sustainable Forestry	176	(2)
Lightening the Load	178	(3)
The Role of Plantations	181	(2)
Reclaiming the Earth	183	(4)
Redesigning Cities for People	187	(24)
An Urbanizing Species	188	(3)
Car-Centered Urban Sprawl	191	(4)
Urbanization and Obesity	195	(4)
Urban Rail and Bicycle Systems	199	(3)
Planning Cities for People	202	(9)
III. GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE
Stabilizing Population by Reducing Fertility	211	(22)
Breaking Out or Breaking Down	213	(4)
Africa Breaking Down	217	(3)
Filling the Family Planning Gap	220	(5)
The Role of Female Education	225	(2)
Using Soap Operas and Sitcoms	227	(1)
Stopping at Two	228	(5)
Tools for Restructuring the Economy	233	(20)
The Fiscal Steering Wheel	234	(2)
Tax Shifting	236	(4)
Subsidy Shifting	240	(4)
Ecolabeling: Voting with Our Wallets	244	(4)
Tradable Permits	248	(1)
Support for Fiscal Restructuring	249	(4)
Accelerating the Transition	253	(24)
United Nations Leadership	255	(2)
New Responsibility of Governments	257	(2)
New Role for the Media	259	(2)
The Corporate Interest	261	(4)
NGOs and Individuals	265	(4)
Crossing the Threshold	269	(5)
Is There Enough Time?	274	(3)
Notes	277	(46)
Index	323