Ch. 2: Trends and Transitions

1
Ch. 2 Trends and Transitions

• Trends Recent societal changes are staggering
• For 10 of 13 environmental problem areas, half of
  the change has occurred in our lifetime
• Trends are not constant
• Certain locations are becoming unstable
• Transitions Atmospheric and climate changes
• Ozone depletion is less of a problem
• Greenhouse gas effects on the rise
• Local air pollutants still problem in East Asia
• Conclusion Looking forward
• If current trends persist, many human needs
  will not be met, life support systems will be
  dangerously degraded, and the numbers of hungry
  and poor will increase.
• Even the most alarming current trends, however,
  may experience transitions that enhance the
  prospects for sustainability

2
Ch. 2 Trends and Transitions

• Agreed with adapting to current societal and
  environmental trends (Evolving goals)
• Cultivate new dangerous trends to transition them
  towards a sustainable future
• Instead of creating long-term plan to reach
  sustainability, just fix individual problems as
  they arise (CFC emissions)
• Admits that there are current problems, but does
  not provide any solutions to our current dilemmas