Index
abundance, 162
acid rain: partial success against, 19, 71, 95; subsidies and, 54; threat from, 20(fig.), 37, 39, 75; valuation of damages from, 97
Ackerman, Franken, 99–100
advertising: and consumption, 47, 133–134, 159; and green consumerism, 155; restricting, 120, 145; and well-being, 160
Affluenza (de Graaf et al.), 161
Africa, 23, 30, 31
agriculture, 33, 38, 51, 54, 76. See also pesticides
air pollution, 57, 73, 74. See also greenhouse gas emissions
Alaska, 25
Alperovitz, Gar, 183, 188, 191–194, 219, 225
Amazon rainforest, 31. See also deforestation
American Lung Association (2006 report), 74
amphibians, 37, 38, 76
Anderson, Fred, 93
Andrews, Richard, 78
Antarctica, 22. See also glaciers and ice sheets
anthropocentrism, 62
antiglobalization movement, 171–173. See also globalization
Arctic, 24. See also glaciers and ice sheets
Asia, 23, 123. See also specific countries
Audubon, John James, 2–3
Austria, 140(fig.)
automobiles, 50, 152
Baber, Walter, 221–222
Bakan, Joel, 167–168, 180
Barber, Benjamin, 221, 222–223, 225
Barbier, Edward, 97
Barnes, Peter, 193, 194, 218, 225
Bartlett, Robert, 221–222
bass (fish), 77
Baumol, William, 59–60, 121
Becker, Ernest, 157, 158
Belgium, 123
Bell, Daniel, 121, 126
Bentham, Jeremy, 127
Berry, Thomas, 45, 202, 213
Berry, Wendell, 163–164
Bhutan, 144
Bierce, Ambrose, 133
biodiversity, 36–38, 72, 208–209. See also species extinction
birds, 37, 38, 76
Blazer, Vicki, 77
Boulding, Kenneth, 116
Bowles, Samuel, 58–59, 121, 184, 192
Brazil, 30, 48
Brower, Ken, 235
Buell, Frederick, 81–82
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 40
Bush, George W., 47
Business Week, 46, 47, 55, 104–105, 174
California, 29, 74
Camus, Albert, 42
Canada, 35
cap and trade systems, 94–95, 102, 119
capitalism, modern, 46–66; alternatives to, 183, 188–195; and consumerism/materialism, 147, 158 (see also consumerism; materialism) ; defined, 7, 58, 192; future of, 183–195; and government, 62–63, 217–219; inability to cope with environmental challenge, 64–65; present and private vs. future and public, 61–62; profit and growth motive, 7, 58–61, 82–83, 121–122; role in environmental deterioration, 6–8, 60–61, 82–83, 85–86, 111–112, 208–209; and well- being, 127–128, 195 (see also well- being). See also corporations; economic growth; market and market economy
carbon dioxide: atmospheric levels, 2, 21; emissions growth rate, 27, 50, 51, 75; industrial vs. developing nations and, 27–28; oceans and, 23, 26; reducing emissions, 68, 95, 102, 113– 114; sequestration, 30, 38
carbon monoxide, 73
cardio-respiratory diseases, 23
cars, 50, 152
Cavanagh, John, 171
certification of products, 176. See also labeling of green products
CFCs, 21, 102, 115
change: breakdown vs. collapse, 211–212; Friedman and Gandhi on, 122–123; grassroots commitment to, 186–188; international social movement for, 186–188, 195, 235 (see also Earth Charter) ; organic crisis and, 186; resistance to, 235. See also consciousness, transformation in; corporations: transformation of; market transformation; politics: transformation of
China, 28, 29, 33, 123, 239n6
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), 21, 102, 115
Chouinard, Yvon, 162
citizens’ environmental movement, 172–173, 220, 228–31. See also environmentalism: new environmental politics
Civil Rights Revolution (1960s), 231–232
Clean Air Act, 93, 95
Clean Water Act, 73–74, 84
climate change, 19–30; and biodiversity loss, 37; corporate concern about, 176; glaciers and ice sheets, 22, 24, 26; grounds for hope, 234–235, 237; international response needed, 27–28; other issues worsened, 39; projections, 22–25, 28–29; public awareness of, 233–234; reality of, 2, 19–22, 27; speed, 25–26; temperature increases, 21–22, 28–29; “tipping point, ” 25–26. See also desertification; drought; greenhouse gas emissions; Kyoto Protocol; sea level rise; weather Collins, Robert, 121–222
communism, 48, 58, 183, 188
conflict, international/regional, 27, 33, 40
Congressional Research Service, 100
consciousness, transformation in, 10, 199–216; forces for change, 211–216; new worldview, 205–211; voices for change, 200–204, 235
consumerism, 7, 62, 147–164; environmental agenda and, 225; green consumerism, 10, 149–156, 174–176, 230; growing dissatisfaction with, 160–163; origins/causes, 157–160; in the U. S., 147–149; and well-being, 128 (see also well-being). See also advertising; consumption; materialism
consumption: as addiction, 133–134, 157–158, 236; challenging overconsumption, 160–164; and economic growth, 47; growth of, 50–51, 154; Hamilton on, 117; overconsumption, 92, 156– 157; psychological underpinnings, 157–160; reducing, 148, 154, 156–160, 162–163; in the U. S., 147–149. See also consumerism; materialism
Convention on the Law of the Sea, 72
co-ops, 193
corals, 1, 23, 37
corporations: accountability, 152, 166, 178–179; characteristics affecting behavior of, 166–168, 178– 181; corporate law, 166–167, 178–180; corporate social responsibility (CSR), 175–176, 177; economic and political power, 62, 83, 168–173, 179–180, 217–219; encouraging green practices, 151–152; externalization of costs, 7, 52–53, 60–61, 91–92, 167–168; and globalization, 170–173; good done by, 165; and the media, 79, 168; new ground rules needed, 120; resistance to regulation, 83, 175, 178; stock price, 61; transformation (greening) of, 173–182. See also capitalism, modern; economic growth; globalization cosmopolitanism, 223
cost-benefit analysis, 98–99. See also valuation of environmental damages
Cronkite, Walter, 79
The Crucial Decade: The 1990s and the Global Environmental Challenge (World Resources Institute), 68–69
cultural change. See consciousness, transformation in
customer ownership, 192–193
Dahl, Robert, 11, 204, 226, 277n20
Daly, Herman, 117–119, 124–125
dams, 32
Darwin, Charles, 210
Davies, Terry, 75
Declaration of Independence, 127
deforestation, 1, 76; and biodiversity loss, 37; and carbon dioxide levels, 21; causes, 24, 30; failure of international negotiations, 72; proposals to save forests, 69; statistics, 1, 30–31, 240n3. See also forests
Dell, 151
dematerialization, 55–56, 113, 251n21
democracy: and capitalism, 217–219; as counterbalance to market, 89; deliberative/participative democracy, 221–223; economic growth and, 121; liberal democracy, 63–64; transformation of, 220–232
desertification, 2, 31–32, 72, 241n9. See also land, loss of
developing nations: challenge of, 239n6; deforestation, 30–31; and greenhouse gas emissions, 27–28, 29; growth needed, 11, 109; resource use shifted to, 56; vulnerability to climate change, 23, 24, 27. See also specific nations and topics
Diener, Ed, 128–131, 133–135, 143, 158
disease, 23, 24
displacement of populations, 25
Domhoff, William, 169
Doomsday Clock, 40
Dowie, Mark, 79–80
drinking water. See fresh water
drought, 22, 24, 25. See also desertification
Dryzek, John, 63–64, 185–186
earth: biocapacity exceeded, 41; finite nature, 39; reflectivity, 25, 39
Earth Charter, 206–207, 208–209, 235
ecological economics. See environmental economics
Ecological Footprint, 41
economic growth: automatic correction (prospects), 55–57, 123–124; and capitalist governments, 62– 63; exponential nature, 4–5, 51–52, 59; good vs. harmful growth, 109–110; as imperative, 7, 43, 46–49, 121–122, 144, 172, 236; limiting, 119–121; moving to post-growth society, 9–10, 107–125; physical constraints, 116, 118; questioning the growth imperative, 9–10, 111–119, 121–123, 225; role in environmental deterioration, 7–9, 49–57, 111–112, 115–116, 172; and uneconomic growth, 116–119; and well-being/welfare, 109, 116, 130–131, 134, 136, 139– 140, 140(fig.), 141(fig.) (see also human welfare; well-being). See also capitalism, modern; Gross Domestic Product
economic nationalism, 63
The Economics of Climate Change (Stern Review), 29
Economist, 47
economy, global: costs of ignoring climate change, 40–41; dematerialization, 113; growth, 4–5, 46, 170; momentum, 9; perverse subsidies and, 100
education, 120, 145, 151, 215
efficiency, 29–30, 43, 51, 55–56, 85, 114
effluent charges, 94–95
Ehrlich, Paul, 200–201
Ekins, Paul, 50
employee ownership, 192
employment, 120, 123, 145
endocrine disrupting substances (EDSs), 35–36, 77
energy: co-ops, 193; energy efficiency, 29–30, 114, 155, 156; energy policy, 68, 100, 169–170; increased use/demand, 50; potential for productivity gains, 103–104; U. S. consumption,
75, 149, 152. See also fossil fuels; renewable energy
Environmental Defense, 71, 94, 239n2
environmental deterioration: books on coming crisis/collapse, 5–6, 241–242n21; capitalism’s role, 6–8, 60–61, 82–83, 85–86, 111–112, 208–209 (see also capitalism, modern) ; change in consciousness needed to address (see consciousness, transformation in) ; consumerism’s role, 147–148; driving forces, 6–8; economic costs, 40–41, 91–92, 117; economic growth’s role, 7–9, 48–57, 111–112, 115–116, 172 (see also economic growth) ; and the end of capitalism, 185–188; first generation issues, 18–19; global threats, 1–2, 20(table) (see also specific threats) ; globalization’s role, 172 (see also globalization) ; grounds for hope, 234–235, 237; implications, 39–42; interactions, 39; possible responses, 42–45; response to threats slow, 115. See also market failure and the environment; and specific issues
environmental economics, 90–106; consumption not challenged, 148; economic growth imperative questioned, 117–118; market incentives, 93–95, 119–120; prices and environmental costs, 96–100, 148; public intervention, case for, 91–92
Environmental Grantmakers Association, 151–152
environmental organizations. See environmentalism
environmental performance measures, 141–144
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 70, 74
environmentalism: citizens’ movement, 172–173, 220, 228–231; and consumption, 154–155; in the Earth Charter, 208–209; features and precepts, 68–71; future attitudes toward environment, 205–207; and human rights, 225–226; international movement/approach needed, 228–229; international results to date, 71–73; limitations and shortcomings, 9, 67, 79–86, 220–221; new environmental politics, 225–231 (see also politics: transformation of) ; opposition underestimated, 80; organization statistics, 230; and policy reform, 44–45, 68–70; and regulation, 93–94; in the U. S. (1980s–2007), 67–71, 79–82; working within the system, xii–xiii, 44–45, 69–70, 79–80, 85–86, 219
EPA, 70, 74
Estes, Richard, 142–143
Esty, Daniel, 141–142, 174–175
Europe, 28, 48–49, 151, 153. See also specific countries
extinction. See species extinction
Exxon, 170
Falk, Richard, 64–65, 231, 235
Farley, Joshua, 118–119
“feebates, ” 95
Financial Times, 46, 47, 123, 148, 174
fish, freshwater, 1, 76, 77
fisheries, marine: catch rates, 50; failure of international convention, 72; loss/overfishing, 1, 34–35; subsidies, 54, 251n16; sustainable practices, 150
flooding, 23. See also sea level rise
flowering plants, 76
forests, 1, 21, 24, 30, 54, 76, 150. See also deforestation
Fortress World, 43
fossil fuels: consumption, 51, 51, 75, 149; reducing use, 30; as source of
fixed nitrogen, 38; subsidies, 54
France, 125
fresh water: asset depletion, 40; changes in availability, 22, 26; as commodity vs. right, 104; genderbending pollutants in, 77; growing demand (withdrawals), 2, 32–33, 50, 51, 149; nitrogen’s eff ects, 38; pollution, 33, 73–74; projections, 33–34; species extinction, 32, 37; subsidies, 54. See also drinking water; wetlands
Friedman, Benjamin, 121
Friedman, Milton, 122–123, 199
Friedman, Thomas, 55
Fromm, Erich, 157, 201–202
Galbraith, John Kenneth, 116, 124–125
Gandhi, Mahatma, 123
Gardner, Howard, 212–213, 265n40
Gates, Jeff, 192
GDP. See Gross Domestic Product
Gelbspan, Ross, 78–79
gender-bending pollutants, 35–36, 77
General Electric, 174
Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), 140–141, 141(fig.)
Germany, 125, 131(fig.), 140(fig.)
Gibbons, John, 237
glaciers and ice sheets, 22, 24, 26
Global 2000 Report to the President, 18
Global Ecological Footprint, 41
global economy. See economy, global; globalization
global warming. See climate change
globalization, 172; corporations and, 170–173; and the environmental challenge, 63–64; and market failure, 62, 170; and political failure, 54–55; political globalization, 223–224
government: civil authority and good faith, 79–80, 81; corporate power and, 62, 83, 168–173, 179– 180, 217–219; as counterbalance to market, 89; and economic growth, 62–63; engagement in capitalism, 189; environmental economics and government intervention, 90–92; and the future of capitalism, 192, 217–220; and green consumerism, 155–156; and international environmental action, 72–73; and market transformation (see market transformation) ; outsourcing/privatization, 105; today’s environmentalism and, 68–70. See also democracy; policy reform; politics; public policy; regulation, environmental
GPI, 140–141, 141(fig.)
grassroots environmentalism, 68–71, 80, 227–228, 230–231. See also citizens’ environmental movement
Great Lakes, 24, 74
green consumerism, 10, 149–156, 174–176, 230
greenhouse gas emissions: deforestation and, 31; effects, 2, 21, 22; of global corporations, 170; increases, 21, 27; industrial vs. developing nations, 27–28; reduction goals/methods, 29–30, 68, 94–95, 113–114, 239n2. See also specific gases
Greenland, 22, 24
Greenpeace, 70
Greider, William, 85, 191–192, 194, 218
Grim, John, 201
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): in 2006, 125; defined, 50, 110; environmental taxes and, 94; and human welfare/well-being, 111, 130–133, 131(fig.), 132(fig.), 138–140, 140(fig.), 142(fig.), 144–145 (see also human welfare; wellbeing) ; and the IPAT equation, 112–114; limits, 104, 138–139; private consumption percentage, 147; as proxy for throughput, 111. See also economic growth
growth: “growthmanship, ” 121–122; in human welfare and well-being, 11, 110–111, 124, 145–146 (see also human welfare; well-being) ; uneconomic growth, 116–119. See also economic growth; post-growth society
Grubler, Arnulf, 56
habitat loss, 37, 76. See also biodiversity; deforestation; species extinction
habituation, 133–134
Hacker, Jacob, 227
Hamilton, Clive, 117, 121, 124, 160, 190, 194
Hansen, James, 26–27, 28
happiness. See well-being
Happy Planet Index (HPI), 143–144
Havel, Vaclav, 200
Hawken, Paul, 11–12, 102–103, 155 229–230, 235
hazardous waste, 36
health: air quality and, 74; climate change and, 23; health care, 145; and regulatory standards, 101– 102; toxic chemicals in humans, 35–36 (see also toxic chemicals) ; and wellbeing, 135
Heilbroner, Robert, 183–184
Heinzerling, Lisa, 99–100
Held, David, 223
Heritage Foundation, 81, 82
Hertsgaard, Mark, 83, 231
Hill, Stephen, 227
Hofstadter, Richard, 65–66
home size, 76, 148
Homer-Dixon, Thomas, 211–212
hope, reasons for, 12, 13, 234–235, 237
Howarth, Richard, 103
Human Development Index, 110–111, 139
human rights, 225–226. See also social justice
human welfare: economic growth not contributing to, 116–117; GDP and, 111, 138–139, 142(fig.) ; growth in, 110–111; and income distribution, 139; measures of, 110–111, 139–144; proposals to increase, 120, 226. See also well-being
hurricanes, 25
Illich, Ivan, 157
An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore film), 230
Index of Social Health (Miringoff ), 142, 142(fig.)
Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW), 110, 139–141, 140(fig.)
India, 28, 33, 131(fig.), 179, 239n6
Indonesia, 30–31, 48
industrial nations: disproportionate use of resources, 41–42; economic growth, 46–49, 109–110 (see also economic growth) ; and the Global Ecological Footprint, 41; greenhouse gas emissions, 27–28, 29; responsible for failure of international environmental efforts, 73; well-being and income, 130–133, 131(fig.), 132(fig.)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 21–23, 28–29
International Energy Agency, 27
international environmental action, 47, 71–73, 84, 220–221
invasive species, 37
IPAT equation, 112–114
IPCC, 21–23, 28–29
ISEW, 110, 139–141, 140(fig.)
Jackson, Tim, 157, 159–160
Jacobs, Lawrence, 226–227
Japan, 47, 48, 131(fig.), 132(fig.), 151, 189
Jasanoff, Sheila, 221
Jefferson, Thomas, 127
jobs. See employment
Kasser, Tim, 157–158
Kellert, Steve, 215, 263n21
Kelso, Louis, 192
Kennedy, Donald, 200–201
Kent, Jennifer, 54, 100
Keynes, John Maynard, 107–109, 124–125, 184, 195
King, Lawrence Peter, 189
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 13, 231–232, 233–234
King, Sir David, 19–21
Korten, David, 206–207
Kunstler, James Howard, 5, 76
Kurlansky, Mark, 233
Kuttner, Robert, 105
Kuznets curve hypothesis, 56–57
Kyoto Protocol (climate convention), 47, 72
labeling of green products, 150–151, 176
labor. See employment
land, loss of, 2, 31–32, 72, 75–76, 241n9. See also wetlands
Lane, Robert, 135–136, 137
Latin America, 31, 123
Layard, Richard, 131–134, 135, 265n40
leadership, 211–213, 235
League of Conservation Voters, 70–71, 231
leisure, 120, 123. See also well-being
Leopold, Aldo, 3–4, 200, 235
Levine, George, 210
Levy, David, 72
Lifton, Robert Jay, 17
Lintott, John, 154
Lipshutz, Ronnie, 220–221
local activism/politics, 221–224. See also citizens’ environmental movement
Locke, John, 127
Lovins, Amory, 11–12, 102–103
Lovins, Hunter, 11–12, 102–103
Lubchenko, Jane, 39
Lyon, Oren, 210–211
Maddison, Angus, 4
malnutrition, 23, 24
mammals, 2, 37, 38, 76. See also species extinction
Mander, Jerry, 171
Maniates, Michael, 154–155
“Manifesto” (Berry), 163–164
margarine, 160
market and market economy: in Bowles’s analysis, 58; democratic government as counterbalance to, 89; market fundamentalism vs. environmentalism, 81–82; Market World, 43, 44, 89, 111; place of, 89–90, 105; proponents’ faith in, 43, 44. See also capitalism, modern; economic growth; market failure and the environment; market transformation
market failure and the environment: corporate transformation and, 177 (see also corporations: transformation of) ; environmental costs not reflected, 7, 8, 52–53, 60–61, 91–92, 117, 167– 168; environmental economics as answer, 90–106 (see also environmental economics) ; globalization and, 62, 170; perverse subsidies, 8, 54, 60, 91, 92, 100 (see also subsidies) ; and social regulation, 105. See also market and market economy; market transformation
market transformation, 9, 12; attacking perverse subsidies, 100; increased resource productivity and natural capital regeneration, 103; market incentives, 93–95, 101–102, 119–120 (see also cap and trade systems; “polluter pays” principal) ; need for, 105–106; political difficulties, 105; sustainability and, 103; valuation of environmental damages, 96–100
Marx, Karl, 184
Maryland, 77
Masters, Roger, 219
materialism: growing dissatisfaction with, 160–163, 234; obsessive materialism, 117; and well-being, 128, 137, 157–160 (see also wellbeing). See also consumerism; consumption
McKibben, Bill, 137, 213, 231
McMahon, Darrin, 126–128
McNeill, J. R., 4, 48, 50
Meadows, Dennis, 116
Meadows, Donella, 51, 116
meat consumption, 50, 51
media, 79, 82, 168
mercury, 36
Merwin, W. S., 235
methane, 21, 26
Meyer, Stephen, 36
migrations, human, 25
Mill, John Stuart, 125, 183–184
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 40
mining, 18, 31, 83, 170
minority environmental leaders, 231
Miringoff, Marc and Marque-Luisa, 142
Mishan, E. J., 116
momentum, 4–5
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, chemical toxin studies, 35–36
Moyers, Bill, 213
Moynihan, Daniel Patrick, 211
Myers, David, 137–138
Myers, Norman, 54, 100
natural capital, regeneration/conservation of, 103, 120
Natural Resources Defense Council, 71, 74, 239n2
Nelson, Harvey, 211
Netherlands, 140(fig.)
New Jersey, 29
New Scientist, 33
New Sustainability World, 44, 45. See also sustainability
New York Times, 33, 49, 148, 169–170
New Zealand, 141–142
Newell, Peter, 72
1996 Human Development Report (UNDP), 109
nitrogen: fixed nitrogen, 2, 38;
nitrogen oxide emissions, 21, 51, 73 (see also acid rain)
Nordhaus, Ted, 80, 233–234
Nordhaus, William, 47–48, 49, 141
Norgaard, Richard, 103
nuclear energy, 54, 83
Oates, Wallace, 52–53, 90–91
oceans, 2, 23, 25, 26, 38. See also corals; fisheries, marine
OECD, 46, 49, 94, 123, 170
oil: vs. natural gas, 114; oil companies, 169, 170; Santa Barbara spill, 215–216; U. S. consumption, 75, 149; and U. S. growth, 46. See also fossil fuels; greenhouse gas emissions
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 46, 49, 94, 123, 170
organized labor, 230
ownership alternatives, 192–194, 273n26
ozone: ground-level ozone, 23, 74; stratospheric ozone depletion, 2, 20(table), 71. See also greenhouse gas emissions
“Ozymandius” (Shelley), 158–159
Pacala, Steve, 84
Panayotou, Theo, 91–92
paper and paper products, 50, 51
passenger pigeons, 2–4
Patagonia (company), 162
Pearce, David, 97
performance measures, 141–144
performance standards, 93–95, 119–120. See also regulation, environmental
persistent organic pollutants (POPs), 35–36
pesticides, 35, 54, 76–77
Pierson, Paul, 227
plants, flowering, 76
Polanyi, Karl, 60
policy reform: corporate law and
policy, 178–180; to correct market failure, 53–54; grants to promote, 151; and green consumerism, 155–156; green growth belief, 112; Hamilton’s proposal, 190; human welfare/well-being promotion, 12–13, 145–146; proponents’ faith in, 43–44; quantitative limits and performance standards, 93–95, 119–120; today’s environmentalism and, 44–45, 68–70. See also public policy
politics: challenge of market transformation, 105, 217; complexity of international environmental issues, 84; corporate power and, 62, 83, 168–173, 179–180, 217–219; and cultural change, 211; inability to address problems of capitalism, 217–220; political reform, need for, 227; postmodern politics, 64–65; transformation of, 10, 220–232. See also government; policy reform; public policy
“polluter pays” principal, 94–95, 101–102
pollution: air pollution, 57, 73, 74 (see also greenhouse gas emissions) ; and biodiversity loss, 37; cost not borne by producer, 53, 92 (see also market failure and the environment) ; of fresh water, 33, 73–74; Kuznets curve hypothesis, 56–57; market incentives to limit (see cap and trade systems; “polluter pays” principal) ; of the oceans, 34 (see also oceans) ; quantitative limits, 93–95, 119–120; taxes on, 96–97; toxic chemicals in humans, 35–36. See also regulation, environmental; toxic chemicals; and specific pollutants
population growth: acceleration, 4; as environmental issue, 77–78; fertility rates declining, 123–124; slowing, 234; statistics, 50, 51, 77–78, 123
Porritt, Jonathon, 153
Portney, Paul, 94
post-growth society, 120–125
Potomac River basin, 77
poverty: climate change and, 23 (see also disease; fresh water; sea level rise) ; and environmental deterioration, 6; growth and the alleviation of, 109 (see also social justice) ; responsibility of rich toward poor, 145
precipitation, heavy, 22
President’s Council on Sustainable Development, 69
prices: curbing consumption through, 148; difficulties of incorporating environmental costs, 96–100; environmental costs not reflected, 52–53, 91–92; price signals muted, 103–104; and regulatory standards, 101, 102
privatization, 104
production: environmentally friendly production, 150–151; exportoriented production, 172; global increases (1980–2005 ), 50; overproduction of depleting/polluting commodities, 92; producer responsibility laws, 151; resource productivity, 11, 55–56, 103. See also consumerism; consumption; economic growth
profit and growth motive, 7, 58–61, 82–83, 121–122. See also capitalism, modern; economic growth
property rights, 95, 218
public goods, 92
public policy: case for government intervention, 91–95; corporate power and, 62, 168, 169–170; energy policy, 68, 100, 169–170; today’s environmentalism and, 68–70. See also policy reform
public trusts, 193
public vs. private sectors, 61–62
Raskin, Paul, 43, 201, 205–206, 224–225
rebound effect, 155
recycling, 110, 150, 151
Red Sky at Morning (Speth), 19, 71, 73, 154, 178, 229, 260n19
Rees, Sir Martin, 5–6
reflectivity of earth, 25
regulation, environmental: complexity and proliferation, 83–84; corporate resistance/fear of, 83, 175, 178, 218; limited shortcomings, 84–85; performance standards approach (quantitative limits), 93–94, 119–120; public views on, 175; standard setting philosophies, 101–2
Reich, Charles, 202–204
relationships, importance of, 135–136, 263n22
religion and the environmental crisis, 214–215, 230, 234
renewable energy, 30
Repetto, Robert, 18, 139, 179–180
reptiles, 76
resources: commodification of, 104; depletion of, and GDP, 138–139; disproportionate use, 41–42; earth’s capacity exceeded, 40–41; economic growth and resource use, 49–52 (see also economic growth) ; finite nature, 39, 116, 118, 208; growth rates of consumption, 50–51; market system inadequate to protect, 52–53 (see also market failure and the environment) ; resource productivity, 11, 55–56, 103; setting quantitative limits on use, 119–120; underpricing of, 92–93. See also specific resources and issues
Resources for the Future, 75
the right, 81–82
roads, 54, 76. See also transportation
Robinson, William, 186
Roy, Arundhati, 237
Russia, 48, 131(fig.)
ruthless economy, 49, 120, 144. See also well-being
Sagoff, Mark, 105
Sale, Kirkpatrick, 220
Samuelson, Paul, 47–48, 49
sanitation, 33
Santa Barbara Declaration of Environmental Rights, 215–216
satisfaction. See well-being
Scholte, Jan, 63
Scitovsky, Tibor, 157
sea level rise, 22, 23, 25
Seligman, Martin, 128–131, 133–134, 135, 143
Senge, Peter, 201
Shellenberger, Michael, 80, 233–234
shellfish, 23
Shutkin, William, 220
Sierra Club, 71, 230
Skocpol, Theda, 226–227
Smith, Adam, 166, 183
social democratic capitalism, 189
social greens, 44, 45
social health and development, 142(fig.), 142–143. See also human welfare; social values
social justice: environmental degradation and, 40, 225–226; international social movement for change, 186–188, 195, 235; social and economic inequality, 226–227. See also conflict, international/regional; human welfare
social movements: and consciousness change, 214, 235; international social movement for change, 186–188, 195, 235 (see also Earth Charter)
social values: change needed, 12–13, 44, 199–216; culture war over, 80; current values, 62 (see also consumerism; materialism) ; in the future, 205–207; Keynes on return to, 107–109; and the sustainability worldview, 44, 120. See also well-being
socialism, 11, 183–184, 188–190
Southeastern United States, 24
Southwestern United States, 24, 31
species extinction, 36–38; contributing factors, 37, 40; effect of climate disruption on, 22–23, 26; freshwater species, 32; statistics, 1, 37–38; in the U. S., 2–4
spiritual change. See consciousness, transformation in
Stern Review, 29, 40–41
subsidies: eliminating perverse subsidies, 100, 105, 151; environmentally helpful subsidies, 68; fishing subsidies, 34, 251n16; perverse subsidies, 8, 54, 60, 91, 92, 100
sulfur dioxide, 50, 51, 73, 94–95, 102. See also acid rain
surplus product (profits), 58–59, 60. See also capitalism, modern: profit and growth motive
Susskind, Lawrence, 227
sustainability: consumer power and, 150, 151–152; corporations and, 175–176; encouraging sustainable business practices, 152; food production, 150; and market transformation, 103; setting quantitative limits, 119–120; strong vs. weak sustainability, 120; as worldview, 44, 45, 201. See also green consumerism
Sweden, 131(fig.), 140(fig.)
system, working within: belief in, 69–70; failure of, xii–xiii; limitations, 44–45, 79–80, 85–86, 219
Szelenyi, Ivan, 189
taxes: environmental taxes, 94, 96–97, 119; progressive taxation, 120
technology: availability of better
technologies, 234; efficiency and resource productivity increasing, 55–56; new environmental issues, 83; for a new paradigm, 120; potential to compensate for growth, 112–115; and regulatory standards, 101
throughput, 56, 110, 111, 119–120. See also waste
Tietenberg, Tom, 96–97
Tobin, James, 141
toxic chemicals, 2, 35–36, 54, 76–77. See also greenhouse gas emissions; and specific pollutants
tragedy of the commons, 92, 95
transportation, 54, 76, 104–105, 172. See also cars; fossil fuels; oil
trust: in government, 79–81; importance of, 130–131, 173
Tucker, Mary Evelyn, 201, 214
unhappiness (depression), 130–131, 134
United Kingdom, 125, 132(fig.), 133, 140(fig.), 153
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 69, 70
United States: air quality problems, 73, 74; consciousness transformation, 203 (see also consciousness, transformation in) ; consumption, 47, 147–149, 156 (see also consumerism; consumption; materialism) ; democracy in, 217–219, 226–227, 231 (see also democracy; politics) ; economic growth, 46, 49, 125; energy consumption, 75, 149, 152; energy policy and subsidies, 100, 169–170; environmental failures, 24, 75–78, 255n21; environmental movement (see environmentalism) ; environmental performance measures, 141–144; environmental regulation, attitudes toward, 175; environmental successes, 73, 75, 78; environmentalism today, 67–71; fisheries loss, 35; government, 62–63; green consumerism, 152; greenhouse gas emissions, 27, 75, 94–95; greenhouse gas emissions, reducing, 29–30, 113–114; hazardous waste, 36; inequality in, 226–227; and international environmental efforts, 47, 72, 73; market incentives in, 94–95; materialism, attitudes towards, 162; natural abundance ( pre-1900), 2–4; pollution laws, results of, 73–75; population growth, 77–78; post-growth society, 123–125; privatization and government outsourcing, 104–105; readiness for change, 65–66, 213; subsidies, 100 (see also subsidies) ; systemic crisis, 188; water issues, 33–34, 73–74, 75, 149; well-being in, 130–133, 131(fig.), 132(fig.), 136–144, 140(fig.), 141(fig.), 142(fig.) (see also well-being)
valuation of environmental damages, 96–100
values. See social values
Virginia, 77
Vogel, David, 177
Wall Street Journal, 46
Wallerstein, Immanuel, 185, 188
Wal-Mart, 174, 179
Wargo, John, 76–77
waste: absorption capacity of environment, 118; eliminating, 11; growth/increase, 6, 56, 76, 118. See also throughput
water crisis, 32–34. See also fresh water
weather, 22, 25. See also drought
Weber, Max, 128, 210
Weighted Index of Social Progress, 142–143
well-being (happiness, satisfaction): components of subjective wellbeing, 129; consumption/materialism and, 157–164; Earth Charter on, 209; economic growth not contributing to, 10, 116–117; in the future, 205–207; and money (income), 128–134, 131(fig.), 132(fig.), 136–138; nature and history of, 126–128; and a new worldview, 205–206; policies to promote, 190; and the possibility of change, 65–66, 195, 213; reordering of priorities needed, 144–146; social positioning and habituation and, 133–134; wellsprings (contributing factors), 134–138, 262–263n21. See also human welfare
Westerfield, Brad, 17
wetlands: degradation/loss, 1, 18, 32, 34, 75–76, 255n21; methane gas release, 26
White, Allen, 181–182
White, Curtis, 214
Whybrow, Peter, 136–137
wilderness preservation, 75
wildlife. See species extinction; endangered species; fisheries, marine; habitat loss; and specific types of animals
Winston, Andrew, 174–175
Wordsworth, William, 210
World Conservation Union, 37
World Environment Organization (proposed), 178
World Health Organization (WHO), 24, 33
World Resources Institute, 68–69, 71, 94, 239n2
World Social Forum (Porto Alegre), 186–188, 231
worldviews, 43–45, 205–211. See also capitalism, modern; consciousness, transformation in; market and market economy: Market World; policy reform; social values; sustainability