Summary

This Handbook demonstrates the well-established body of thinking on sustainable development which now exists, and its tighter focus today on limits to current economic growth patterns. But while there have been lots of big global debates on planetary boundaries, and thresholds for critical resources, there has been little progress on the ground and in getting the politics right. Contributing authors show that many of the models we use to understand and manage relations between planet, people and profit are hopelessly mis-specified. But better tools exist, such as sustainability indicators, national environmental accounts, and the ecological footprint to help bridge this gap. '
- Camilla Toulmin, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), UK

' There is now wide recognition that current patterns of economic development are already putting great strains on resources, environment and the climate and that, if continued, the consequences could undermine or reverse past development gains and, possibly, lead to catastrophe. In other words our current paths are unsustainable. This Handbook provides a very thorough, thoughtful and valuable contribution to our understanding of the possible meanings of sustainable development, how it can be understood and calibrated, and characteristics of and choices around alternative paths. This is a subject that should be at the centre of the study of development and encompasses many disciplines. And it should be a subject that commands the attention of all those who think carefully about our future well-being; they will find this Handbook fascinating and essential reading. '
- Lord Nicholas Stern, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

This timely and important Handbook takes stock of progress made in our understanding of what sustainable development actually is and how it can be measured and achieved.

This fully updated and revised second edition captures recent developments in the field, including 14 new chapters by internationally renowned authors from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. The authors explain that the gap between public commitments to sustainable development and real-world action towards achieving it is still significant, but not insurmountable, and that opportunities do exist to reduce that margin. Contributors synthesize the established knowledge and clearly present cutting-edge concepts from the frontier of sustainability research with direct relevance to theory and practice. Topics covered include: the fundamentals of sustainability; equity within and between generations; the capital approach; green growth; measurements and indicators of sustainability; climate change and wellbeing.

This accessible, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to exploring the theory and practice of sustainable development will prove an invaluable reference tool for researchers, students, academics and practitioners with an interest in the field of sustainable development.

Contributors : W.N. Adger, S. Afionis, J. Agyeman, M. Agarwala, J.A. Allan, G.B. Asheim, G. Atkinson, R.M. Auty, E.B. Barbier, A. Bowen, C. Carraro, M.A. Cole, G. Cranston, S. Dietz, L. Dupuy, O. Edenhofer, P. Ekins, S. Fankhauser, T.J. Foxon, A. Galli, G. Gosnell, A. Gouldson, R. Green, K. Hamilton, G. Heal, C. Hepburn, J. Hodbod, T. Jackson, S. Kadner, B. Kristr m, G.-M. Lange, P. Lawn, A. Lucchesi, G. Luderer, J.A. McGregor, G. McNicoll, J.C. Morales, Y. Mulugetta, E. Naikal, E. Neumayer, B.G. Norton, D. Pearce, A. Randall, Y. Rydin, G. Schwerhoff, R. Sullivan, A. Thompson, C.A. Tisdell, J.C.J.M. van den Bergh, J. Vogler, C. von Stechow, M. Wackernagel, A. Winkels, G. Yohe, Z. Zhang

Choice Review

Titles on sustainable development continue to proliferate. This collection of almost entirely new, tightly edited essays is authored by leading internationally known scholars. As a whole, it thoughtfully reflects upon and elucidates the fundamental ideas and contributions that have taken root in the 20 years since publication of the Brundtland Report. Contributors offer a comprehensive survey of the field as it stands today, starting from basic principles, through inter- and intragenerational equity, to questions of growth and development, concluding with international perspectives. The papers cover a variety of spatial scales and offer the standard practical approaches to sustainable welfare measurement that are prevalent today. The individual essays, many written by economists, are largely free of complex mathematical presentations, but are nonetheless carefully structured and reasoned. Similarly, empirical information is used sparingly but thoughtfully. This is not light reading, as the authors present work full of insight, precision, historical perspective, and complete referencing. By not attempting to focus on the cutting edge of current thought, editors Atkinson, Dietz, and Neumayer (all, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK) have produced a volume that defines clearly the important thinking on sustainability as it stands today. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. J. Booker Siena College