Earth at a Crossroads: Paths to a Sustainable Future

By Hartmut Bossel

Book Overview

Can we reach a future that is both environmentally and socially sustainable? Many issues characterise global developments at the end of the twentieth century: globalization of the economy, unemployment, social problems, environmental pollution, resource waste, ecological destruction. Earth at a Crossroads offers a holistic systems view of the development of human society within the natural environment on which it depends for support. The book stresses the dynamic nature of interconnected feedback processes, traces possible future paths of societal development and their impacts, determines their sustainability, and points at necessary changes. Two alternative visions of the future are presented: a Path A resulting from continuation of current trends, and a contrasting Path B that would result from adhering to principles of sustainability and protection of the natural system in the interests of future generations. This book will become an important reference in the discussion of global society's path into the next millennium.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521639956
• ISBN13: 9780521639958
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Invaluable Book

An invaluable book. Daunting in scope, the research and organization contained in "Earth at a Crossroads" are extremely impressive."Earth at a Crossroads" gives readers the choice of two alternative paths to the future - one of unsustainable competition which we are currently following, or one of global partnership based on equitable and sustainable economic and social development.Chapter after chapter, Harmut Bossel provides concrete and attainable plans of action for those concerned enough to act. Far and away one of the better books on sustainable development available and an invaluable reference for anyone interested in acting to bring about a sustainable future.