The World’s Search for Sustainable Development

This text explores the evolution of sustainable development and climate change within the framework of the United Nations.

This text explores the evolution of sustainable development and climate change within the framework of the United Nations.

Preface; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Social dimension of sustainability; Part I. Consumption in an Unequal World: Framing International Cooperation: 2. Geopolitics of the global environment; 3. Natural science - policy - institutions interface; 4. Focus on developing countries; 5. Limitations of multilateral environmental agreements; Part II. Climate Policy: Global to National: 6. Political origins of climate policy; 7. Questions on the framework; 8. Burden shifting rather than burden sharing; 9. Development of a shared vision; 10. The middle class and global ecological limits; 11. The new climate regime; Part III. Sustainable Development: National to Global: 12. Conceptual and institutional foundation; 13. Politics within the United Nations; 14. Limitations of the building blocks of sustainability; 15. Use of natural resources; 16. Distribution of natural resources; Part III. Consumption in a More Equal World: Shaping Societal Functions: 17. Geoeconomics of human well-being; 18. Social science - policy - society interface; 19. Reframing the 'common concern' from a physical to a social problem; 20. Developing a shared global vision; Part IV. Geopolitics to Geoeconomics: Rural-Urban Divide, Rather Than between Countries: 21. Urban areas: sustainable development and human well-being; 22. Rural areas: climate change, fragile states and human security; 23. Global sustainable development goals; 24. Transformative impact of the re-emergence of China; Part V. The Asian Century: 25. Moving from ideas to reality will depend on how Asia structures its urban future; Index.