1st Edition

Vital Signs 2005-2006 The Trends that are Shaping our Future

By The Worldwatch Institute Copyright 2005
    144 Pages
    by Routledge

    128 Pages
    by Routledge

    'VITAL SIGNS does for the environment what stock market indicators do for the City. But it says more about the future of our world than the FTSE ever can ' BBC Wildlife Magazine 'VITAL SIGNS is a sharply focused snapshot of the world� Ideal for dipping into � it makes fascinating reading ' New Agriculturalist 'The scope of the book is vast ... the presentation is clean and seamless ' Humanitarian Affairs Review 'An enlightening insight into the relationship between the environment and human activity ' Green Futures VITAL SIGNS 2005�2006 provides up-to-the-minute information on global warming, population growth, military spending, HIV/AIDS, economic equity, the trade in drugs and a whole range of other environmental, developmental, social, political and economic issues. By distilling 25 'vital signs' of our times from thousands of governmental, industrial and scientific sources, this book allows reader s to track key indicators that show our progress in issues that too often escape the attention of the news media, world leader s and economic experts . Each theme is presented in both text and two colour graphics, providing a thorough, well-documented and very accessible over view.

    Part I: Key Indicators * Food Trends * Grain Harvest and Hunger Both Grow * Meat Production and Consumption Rise * Aquaculture Pushes Fish Harvest Higher * Energy and Climate Trends * Fossil Fuel Use Surges * Nuclear Power Rises Once More * Global Wind Growth Continues * Solar Energy Markets Booming * Biofuel Use Growing Rapidly * Climate Change Indicators on the Rise * Economic Trends * Global Economy Continues to Grow * World Trade Rises Sharply * Foreign Direct Investment Inflows Decline * Weather-Related Disasters Near a Record * Steel Surging * Transportation Trends * Vehicle Production Sets New Record * Bicycle Production Recovers * Air Travel Slowly * Health and Social Trends * Population Continues Its Steady Rise * Number of Refugees Declines * HIV/AIDS Crisis Worsening Worldwide * Cigarette Production Drops * Conflict and Peace Trends * Violent Conflicts Unchanged * Military Expenditures Surge * Peacekeeping Expenditures Soar * Mixed Progress on Reducing Nuclear Arsenals * Environment Features * Mammals in Decline * Global Ice Melting Accelerating * Wetlands Drying Up * Forest Loss Continues Air Pollution Still a Problem * Economy and Social Features * Socially Responsible Investing Spreads * Interest in Responsible Travel Grows * Global Jobs Situation Still Poor * Part II: Special Features * Governance Features * Global Public Policy Cooperation Grows * Greater Effort Needed to Achieve the MDGs

    Biography

    Written by the staff of the award-winning Worldwatch Institute including Chris Flavin, Gary Gardner, Janet Sawin, Brian Halwiel and Michael Renner.