EPIBuilding a Sustainable Future
Books
Lester R. Brown

Table of Contents

Preface (pdf)

1. Entering a New World (pdf)
    Introduction
    The Nature of a New World
    Learning from China
    Learning from the Past
    The Emerging Politics of Scarcity
    Getting the Price Right
    Plan B—A Plan of Hope

PART I. A CIVILIZATION IN TROUBLE

2. Beyond the Oil Peak (pdf)
    Introduction
    The Coming Decline of Oil
    The Oil Intensity of Food
    The Falling Wheat-Oil Exchange Rate
    Food and Fuel Compete for Land
    Cities and Suburbs after Peak Oil     
    The World After Oil Peaks

3. Emerging Water Shortages (pdf)
    Introduction
    Falling Water Tables
    Rivers Running Dry
    Disappearing Lakes
    Farmers Losing to Cities
    Scarcity Crossing National Borders
    A Food Bubble Economy

4. Rising Temperatures and Rising Seas (pdf)
    Introduction
    Rising Temperature and its Effects
    The Crop Yield Effect
    Reservoirs in the Sky
    Melting Ice and Rising Seas
    More Destructive Stores
    Subsidizing Climate Change

5. Natural Systems Under Stress (pdf)
    Introduction
    Shrinking Forests: The Costs
    Losing Soil
    Deteriorating Rangelands
    Advancing Deserts
    Collapsing Fisheries
    Disappearing Plants and Animals

6. Early Signs of Decline (pdf)
    Introduction
    Our Socially Divided World
    Health Challenge Growing
    Throwaway Economy in Trouble
    Population and Resource Conflicts
    Environmental Refugees on the Rise
    Failed States and Terrorism

PART II. THE RESPONSE – PLAN B

7. Eradicating Poverty, Stabilizing Population (pdf)
    Introduction
    Universal Basic Education
    Stabilizing Population
    Better Health for All
    Curbing the HIV Epidemic
    Reducing Farm Subsidies and Debt
    A Poverty-Eradication Budget

 

 

 

8. Restoring the Earth (pdf)
    Introduction
    Protecting and Restoring Forests
    Conserving and Rebuilding Soils
    Meeting Nature's Water Needs
    Regenerating Fisheries
    Protecting Plant and Animal Diversity
    The Earth Restoration Budget

9. Feeding Seven Billion Well (pdf)
    Introduction
    Rethinking Land Productivity
    Raising Water Productivity
    Producing Protein More Efficiently
    New Protein Production Systems
    Moving Down the Food Chain
    Action on Many Fronts

10. Stabilizing Climate (pdf)
     Introduction
     Raising Energy Productivity
     Harnessing the Wind
     Hybrid Cars and Wind Power
     Converting Sunlight to Electricity
     Energy From the Earth
     Cutting Carbon Emissions Fast

11. Designing Sustainable Cities (pdf)
     Introduction
     The Ecology of Cities
     Redesigning Urban Transport
     Farming in the City
     Reducing Urban Water Use
     The Challenge of Urban Slums
     Cities for People

PART III: AN EXCITING NEW OPTION

12. Building a New Economy (pdf)
     Introduction
     Shifting Taxes
     Shifting Subsidies
     Ecolabeling: Voting With Our Wallets
     A New Materials Economy
     New Industries, New Jobs
     The Environmental Revolution

13. Plan B: Building a New Future (pdf)
     Introduction
     Listening for Wake-Up Calls
     A Wartime Mobilization
     Mobilizing to Save Civilization
     A Call to Greatness
     You and Me

Additional Resources (pdf)
Notes (pdf)
Index (pdf)
Acknowledgements (pdf)
About the Author (pdf)