Published for the first time in the United States, is a unique reference work that illustrates the most important global developments facing us today, explains them, and suggests area for positive change. It relates physical trends to social and political repercussions, drawing together evidence from many interrelated fields to explain the science behind the news stories, sound bytes, and cocktail-party banter. Just how serious are our environmental problems? Are we doing enough to deal with them? How many people can the planet sustain? What are the long-term effects of continued environmental damage? How fast is the process of global warming? What are the implications of our continued dependence on fossil fuels? has the answers. This user-friendly sourcebook is filled with up-to-date facts and figures, making complex but vitally important ideas simple. It is our duty to ensure a sustainable future for our children; gives us the information we need to make this possible.