Product Description

In 1972, The Limits to Growth shocked the world and forever changed the global agenda by demonstrating that unchecked growth on our finite planet was leading planet earth towards ecological 'overshoot' and pending disaster. Employing computer modelling and hard data the book went on to sell 13 million of copies and ignited a firestorm of controversy that burns hotter than ever in our days of soaring oil prices, wars for resources and human-induced climate change. This substantially revised, expanded and updated edition follows on from The Limits to Growth and its sequel Beyond the Limits, which raised the alarm that we have already over-shot the planet's carrying capacity. Marshalling a vast array of new data, more powerful computer modelling and incorporating the latest thinking on sustainability, ecological footprinting and limits, this new book presents future overshoot scenarios and makes an even more urgent case for a rapid readjustment of the global economy toward a sustainable path. This is compelling, essential and indeed necessary reading for all concerned with our common future.

Product Details

• Published on: 2004-11-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Updated for the second time since 1992, this book, by a trio of professors and systems analysts, offers a pessimistic view of the natural resources available for the world's population. Using extensive computer models based on population, food production, pollution and other data, the authors demonstrate why the world is in a potentially dangerous "overshoot" situation. Put simply, overshoot means people have been steadily using up more of the Earth's resources without replenishing its supplies. The consequences, according to the authors, may be catastrophic: "We... believe that if a profound correction is not made soon, a crash of some sort is certain. And it will occur within the lifetimes of many who are alive today." After explaining overshoot, the book discusses population and industrial growth, the limits on available resources, pollution, technology and, importantly, ways to avoid overshoot. The authors do an excellent job of summarizing their extensive research with clear writing and helpful charts illustrating trends in food consumption, population increases, grain production, etc., in a serious tome likely to appeal to environmentalists, government employees and public policy experts.
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Review
'If you only read one book... make this it!' Hunter Lovins, co-author of Natural Capitalism; 'An impressive sequel... [that] shuns gloom and doom to be boldly pragmatic about the future' Kirkus Reviews

Customer Reviews

Humanity Needs to Wake Up: We Are Devastating the Planet
This is a thorough, scientific account of what mankind is doing ecologically to the planet. There are many charts, graphs and research studies proving that the planet is in danger.

Mankind has already gone past the level of sustainability. It's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN the planet will not be able to sustain humanity at the current population level and standard of living.

This book explains about the earth's resources and how we are overusing them. Also about the byproducts of our use of these resources and the pollution it causes. Many examples are given of how people can change their ways of production and resource use.

It is disturbing to think what humans are doing to the planet and what the future will be if we don't change our ways. This book gives the big picture of what is happening ecologically to the planet and what needs to be done NOW to stop the devastation.