Environment in the 21st Century and New Development Patterns (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, 2)

Economic growth after World War II was made possible through dramatic increases in the use of material resources and energy. It is apparent that current development patterns followed by industrialized countries are causing serious environmental problems and that they are neither ecologically nor socially sustainable. In recent years, many Asian developing countries, which have suffered from poverty for decades, are experiencing high rates of economic growth by introducing material-intensive production and consumption patterns. The globalization trends magnify on a global scale the problems associated with current development patterns. How can we transform existing economic and social systems into more environmentally benign and sustainable ones? This book presents a number of issues that must be considered whn discussing new development patterns, which are environmentally friendly and socially fair. It covers concepts of new development patterns, new energy and water supply, sustainable agriculture, information technology and environment, information disclosure and poverty alleviation. __Audience:__ This volume will be of interest to those who are involved in innovative interdisciplinary policy studies on environment and development, particularly in Asia and the Pacific region. Also those who are interested in realizing sustainable development through agriculture, water supply, information technology, chemical industry and sustainability issues in China and India.

Economic growth after World War II was made possible through dramatic increases in the use of material resources and energy. It is apparent that current development patterns followed by industrialized countries are causing serious environmental problems and that they are neither ecologically nor socially sustainable.
In recent years, many Asian developing countries, which have suffered from poverty for decades, are experiencing high rates of economic growth by introducing material-intensive production and consumption patterns. The globalization trends magnify on a global scale the problems associated with current development patterns.
How can we transform existing economic and social systems into more environmentally benign and sustainable ones? This book presents a number of issues that must be considered whn discussing new development patterns, which are environmentally friendly and socially fair. It covers concepts of new development patterns, new energy and water supply, sustainable agriculture, information technology and environment, information disclosure and poverty alleviation.
Audience: This volume will be of interest to those who are involved in innovative interdisciplinary policy studies on environment and development, particularly in Asia and the Pacific region. Also those who are interested in realizing sustainable development through agriculture, water supply, information technology, chemical industry and sustainability issues in China and India.

Front Matter....Pages i-8 Asian Environment and New Development Patterns....Pages 9-24 Front Matter....Pages 25-25 Material Cycles and the Formation of an Environmentally Sound Market Economy....Pages 27-46 Energy and New Development Patterns....Pages 47-67 Energy and the New Economy....Pages 69-85 Impacts of the Information Technology Revolution: Economic Challenges of New Development Patterns....Pages 87-113 The Role of Information Disclosure in Corporate Governance: The Case of the Chemical Industry....Pages 115-145 Sustainable Water Strategies for New Development Patterns....Pages 147-162 Toward Sustainable Agriculture and Development....Pages 163-197 Front Matter....Pages 199-199 New Development Patterns in Asia....Pages 201-213 New Development Patterns in India....Pages 215-237 New Development Patterns and Innovation in China’s Environmental Policy....Pages 239-253 Front Matter....Pages 255-255 International Development at the Dawn of the 21st Century....Pages 257-270 Enjoy it by Giving it up — Toward Sustainable Development Patterns....Pages 271-290 New Development Patterns in Asia — Securing Economic Growth, Social Justice, Healthy Environment, Sustainable Human Development and Good Governance in the 21st Century....Pages 291-300 Afterword....Pages 301-303