Worldwatch State of the World 2008
By | Mar 21, 2008
Copies of WorldWatch’s excellent ‘State of the World’ report can be download or purchased in traditional book form right now.
This year it focusses upon innovations for a sustainable economy. If you click on the link above you can also download chapters of the book individually, a discussion guide, and a photo slide show, all for free. It’s a great resource, as is their website of course.
“State of the World 2008 makes it clear that our planet and every individual on it face substantial environmental challenges. From the buildup of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere to significant water shortages and a wide range of pollution and natural resource management issues, the road to a sustainable economy is full of potholes. But there are signs of hope. As documented throughout this volume, the pace and scale of environmental innovation is extraordinary.
Most notably, there has been a sea change in business attitudes toward the environment over the last several years. Companies large and small, in manufacturing and in services, in the old economies of the United States and Europe as well as the emerging economic powerhouses of the developing world, have come to recognize that the environment is more than regulations to follow, costs to bear, and risks to manage. As society steps up to a wide range of pollution control and natural resource management challenges—and commits substantial resources to finding solutions—there will be significant market opportunities for those who can bring solutions to bear.
Chapters include:
Chapter 1. Seeding the Sustainable Economy
Gary Gardner and Thomas Prugh, Worldwatch Institute
Chapter 2. A New Bottom Line for Progress
John Talberth, Redefining Progress
Chapter 3. Rethinking Production
Hunter Lovins, Natural Capitalism Solutions
Chapter 4. The Challenges of Sustainable Lifestyles
Tim Jackson, University of Surrey
Chapter 5. Meat and Seafood: The Most Costly Ingredients in the Global Diet
Brian Halweil and Danielle Nierenberg, Worldwatch Institute
Chapter 6. Building a Low-Carbon Economy
Christopher Flavin, Worldwatch Institute
Chapter 7. Improving Carbon Markets
Zoë Chafe and Hilary French, Worldwatch Institute
Chapter 8. Water in a Sustainable Economy
Ger Bergkamp, IUCN, and Claudia Sadoff, IUCN and International Water Management Institute
Chapter 9. Banking on Biodiversity
Ricardo Bayon, Ecosystem Marketplace
Chapter 10. The Parallel Economy of the Commons
Jonathan Rowe, Tomales Bay Institute
Chapter 11. Engaging Communities for a Sustainable World
Erik Assadourian, Worldwatch Institute
Chapter 12. Mobilizing Human Energy
Jason Calder, Future Generations
Chapter 13. Investing for Sustainability
Bill Baue, Socialfunds.com
Chapter 14. New Approaches to Trade Governance
Mark Halle, International Institute for Sustainable Development
Below is a recent item from their email newsletter which might be of interest to some.
Struggling for Sustainability in China and India
In a recent exposé, the Washington Post reported that many solar panels that adorn U.S. and European rooftops have left a toxic legacy in Chinese villages. China’s solar PV manufacturing sector now has the country scrambling to grapple with a mounting waste problem. In the meantime, the industry continues to tread the traditional path of ”pollute first, clean up afterwards,“ writes Yingling Liu, Worldwatch China Program Manager.
India, meanwhile, is struggling to deal with its rising energy demand. Energy efficiency is critical to the country of 1.1 billion as it seeks to expand access to electricity into rural regions. But India’s efforts to improve energy efficiency have been slow and often frustrating, writes Worldwatch Staff Writer Ben Block.
Read:
• The Dirty Side of a ”Green“ Industry
• Can India Improve Energy-Efficiency as its Economy Booms?
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