Human Development and the Environment: Challenges for the United Nations in the New Millennium (Unu Millennium Series)

This text looks at the problems, processes and actors that will have a major role in human development and the environment in the 21st century. It charts some of the significant trends affecting human development: globalization, population, urbanization, poverty, equity, education, health, climate change, biodiversity, desertification, international cooperation and institutions. The book outlines productive ways in which the international community and UN system can address the major challenges of eradicating poverty and reducing the rate of environmental deterioration. The authors conclude that among the existing global institutions, only the UN has the moral legitimacy, global credibility and practical reach to mediate and reconcile the competing pulls and tensions associated with both the process and the outcomes of globalization. Reflections On Human Development And The Environment / Hans Van Ginkel, Brendan Barrett, Julius Court, And Jerry Velasquez -- Conceptual Challenges Of A Globalizing Economy / Karel Van Wolferen -- Into The Twenty-first Century : Assessing Social And Political Concerns / Rolph Van Der Hoeven -- Policy Priorities For Human Development / Ruth Kagia -- Poverty And Inequality In The Era Of Liberalization And Globalization / Giovanni Andrea Cornia -- The Future Of Technology And The Implications For Society And The Un System / Jerome Glenn And Theodore Gordon -- Population : A Global Challenge For The Twenty-first Century / Wolfgang Lutz -- Institutions, Corruption, And Development, And Their Ramifications For International Cooperation / Beatrice Weder -- Future Of Global Economic Governance / Walden Bello -- Environment : Urbanization, Industrialization, And Sustainable Development / Fred Langeweg, Henk Hilderink, And Rob Maas -- Water In Our Future / Motoyuki Suzuki -- The Importance Of Tropical Atmospheric Chemistry In Global Change Research / Paul Crutzen -- Energy Requirements For The New Millennium / Ingvar B. Fridleifsson -- Global Food Security For Tomorrow / Monkombu Sambasivam Swaminathan -- Land Degradation : A Global And Regional Problem / Adel El-beltagy -- Global Governance Of Biological Diversity / A. Hamid Zakri -- International Environmental Governance And Its Impact On Social And Human Development / Akiko Domoto. Edited By Hans Van Ginkel, Brendan Barrett, Julius Court, And Jerry Velasquez. Consists Of Reports Of The United Nations University Conference 'on The Threshold Of The New Millennium' Which Was Held In Tokyo On 19--21 January 2000. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Explores the problems, processes and actors that constitute the milieu for human development and the environment. The contributions in this volume outline productive ways in which the international community and the UN system can address the major challenges of eradicating poverty and reducing the rate of environmental deterioration.