The Century Ahead: Searching for Sustainability

Paul D. Raskin, Christi Electris and Richard A. Rosen
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Paul D. Raskin: Tellus Institute, 11 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
Christi Electris: Tellus Institute, 11 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
Richard A. Rosen: Tellus Institute, 11 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA

Sustainability, 2010, vol. 2, issue 8, 1-26

Abstract: The global future lies before us as a highly uncertain and contested landscape with numerous perils along the way. This study explores possible pathways to sustainability by considering in quantitative detail four contrasting scenarios for the twenty-first century. The analysis reveals vividly the risks of conventional development approaches and the real danger of socio-ecological descent. Nonetheless, the paper underscores that a Great Transition scenario—turning toward a civilization of enhanced human well-being and environmental resilience—remains an option, and identifies a suite of strategic and value changes for getting there. A fundamental shift in the development paradigm is found to be an urgent necessity for assuring a sustainable future and, as well, a hopeful opportunity for creating a world of enriched lives, human amity, and a healthy ecosphere.

Keywords: sustainability; scenarios; global; simulation; development; climate; energy; water; hunger; agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:2:y:2010:i:8:p:2626-2651:d:9336

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