OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050: The Consequences of Inaction
This sobering report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a wake up call, not just for policy makers, but for all of us.
Demographic and economic trends over the next four decades will place unprecedented pressure on the environment. By 2050, 70% of the world's population will be living in cities and GDP will have almost quadrupled. The global economy will use 80% more energy, with fossil fuels accounting for about 85% of the energy mix. This report develops a Baseline Scenario which shows how these socio-economic trends will affect the environment in the absence of any significant global policy changes.
This Baseline Scenario reveals that human
progress has reached a critical juncture. Without urgent and comprehensive policy changes, environmental
degradation will begin to jeopardize the rise in living standards
that has pulled millions out of poverty over the last forty years. The Outlook focuses on four priority areas: climate change, biodiversity, water and the health impacts of pollution. The authors argue that change will only come about through strong political leadership and public acceptance of the urgency of the situation.
In addition to this report, the Toronto Reference Library has an extensive collection of books about climate change. Come in and take a look at some of our other new titles.
Comments