Environmentally Sustainable Growth: A Pragmatic Approach

Description

How do we move away from the current environmentally destructive economic system toward one that is more sustainable while still ensuring continued economic growth? This book offers a positive vision of an environmentally sustainable future and lays out the steps ahead as we make the transition. Steven Cohen explores the causes of environmental degradation and examines what sustainability looks like in practice. He outlines realistic paths toward a renewable resource-based economy, demonstrating that, in many respects, the shift to sustainability is already underway. Cohen describes a range of public policy and infrastructure initiatives that can encourage cleaner production in the private sector and consumption in everyday life. He argues that the politics, advocacy, and communication around environmental protection must change to emphasize successes, reduce scare tactics, and make sure that the lifestyles and careers associated with a more sustainable world sound attractive to a wide range of people. The book depicts an appealing and equitable future that assures quality of life while protecting the planet. Environmentally Sustainable Growth brings together insights from many disciplines, spanning the latest scholarship and practical experience. Useful for students and courses, this book will be informative for practitioners, managers, analysts, activists, and scholars whose work incorporates environmental sustainability. Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1. Defining and Understanding Environmental Sustainability 2. The Current State of Environmental Degradation 3. The Fundamental Causes of Environmental Degradation 4. A Strategy for Reducing Pollution and Growing a Renewable Resource-Based Economy 5. Building Public Sector Infrastructure to Support Environmental Sustainability 6. Changing the Politics and Communication of Environmental Sustainability Conclusion: The Long Transition to Environmental Sustainability Is Already Underway Index