The 20th annual report issued by the Worldwatch Institute, one of the major environmental think tanks in the world, analyzes progress toward building sustainable economies and offers a new perspective on what changes are necessary to make sustainability a permanent feature of the world’s economies.

(SUSTAINABILITY * ECONOMY)

Current economic growth strategies around the world are rapidly depleting the natural resources and ecosystem services that we depend on. An overview of these challenges is provided from a Global South perspective. A just transition reconciles the sustainable use of natural resources with a pervasive commitment to sufficiency (where overconsumers are satisfied with less, so that underconsumers can secure enough). Rethinks development with special reference to the greening of the developmental state, sustainable urbanization, and agriculture.

(SUSTAINABILITY * DEVELOPMENT * DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABILITY)

Research universities worldwide are well-placed to address the challenges of global sustainability, including climate, environmental, economic, health, poverty, and geopolitical concerns. Discusses how research universities are adapting to the imperatives of global sustainability (e.g., social diversity, resource management, academic programs, research and scholarship) and how they can develop new curricula, student experiences, research paradigms, social engagement, and international alliances to better address the challenges of global sustainability while producing globally identified citizens.

(HIGHER EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY * SUSTAINABILITY AND UNIVERSITIES)

The concept of satoyama describes mosaic landscapes of different ecosystems (forests, farms, irrigation ponds, grasslands, human settlements). It is a long-standing tradition associated with land management practices that allow sustainable use of natural resources, and has been extended to cover marine and coastal ecosystems (satoumi). The 200-plus authors analyze changes that have occurred in satoyama-satoumi ecosystems over the last 50 years and identify plausible scenarios for the year 2050. This offers a new approach to land-use planning that addresses not only economic development, but cultural values and ecological integrity.

(SUSTAINABILITY * SUSTAINABLE LAND-USE * SUSTAINABLE COASTAL AREAS)

Climate change can have major impacts on business (and business can have major impacts on climate change). Risk management is a valuable way of framing climate change issues and for grappling with possible consequences of climate change. Key players involved in managing risks associated with climate change have learned a lot about how to protect themselves and others that all businesses can learn from. These key players are taking and can take ever-more valuable steps in the future not only to protect themselves and others from the negative consequences of climate change, but also to reduce and reverse the impact of the driving forces that are creating climate change. Global sustainability is a multi-faceted, global, multi-generational, economic, social, environmental, and cultural phenomenon and challenge to our species - a challenge we must meet on behalf of all generations and all species.

(SUSTAINABILITY * BUSINESS * CLIMATE CHANGE: MANAGING RISKS)

Examines the experiences of 21 developed and developing countries in adjusting their training provision to meet new demands of a greener economy. Shows that skills development is critical to unlocking the employment potential of green growth, yet skills shortages are becoming an obstacle in realizing this potential. While few new occupations are emerging, massive changes are occurring in existing ones, wih carbn-intensive industries typically losing jobs. Recommends that countries devise strategies based on well-informed policy decisions, social dialogue, and coordination among ministries and between employers and training providers.

(WORK * GREEN JOBS * SUSTAINABILITY AND SKILLS * EDUCATION FOR GREEN JOBS)

The tools and techniques of information technology can help us tackle environmental problems at vast scales. IT-supported efforts toward sustainability include Indian fishermen using mobile phone coordination, installation of smart meters to optimize electricity use in California, interactive museums that teach children the principles of restoration ecology, online systems that provide access to environmental-impact reports about consumer products, Trackulous (a set of web-based tools for people to cart their own environmental behavior), etc.

(INFOTECH AND SUSTAINABILITY * SUSTAINABILITY)

Urban sustainability is being radically rethought – conceptually and politically – in our new economic climate. Analyzes changes in key areas of urban planning, including housing, transportation, and the environment.

(CITIES * SUSTAINABILITY * URBAN SUSTAINABILITY)

Shows how the long history of human consumption has left our world drowning n waste, notably the atmospheric waste from burning fossil energy that is the key driver of climate change. Measures to counter individual problems (food shortages, climate change, atmospheric waste, energy) cannot work. Instead, we need to tackle their common cause – our staggering population growth.

(ENVIRONMENT * SUSTAINABILITY * CONSUMPTION AND SUSTAINABILITY * POPULATION AND SUSTAINABILITY * CLIMATE CHANGE)

Since the Industrial Revolution, most housing has become little more than quickly constructed, mass-produced, uniform boxes. The invention and standardization of the 30-year mortgage and our ever-increasing reliance on credit has come to mean that most of us never own our homes outright. Presents innovative projects that nonconventional home builders can develop using salvaged and reclaimed materials to create zero or low-debt housing, reduce landfill waste, and forge stronger communities.

(SUSTAINABILITY * HOUSING: LOW-DEBT)