ABSTRACT
Fundamentally the most pressing issue of the 21st century is that of managing ‘growth’. The problem is that for the last three centuries the levels of growth in the consumption of resources (particularly oil, coal, water and timber) have steadily increased, in line with levels of economic growth. This has of course resulted in associated increases in the level of a range of environmental pressures, to the point that the environment's response to such pressures may actually impact on economic growth, now and for the foreseeable future. This is particularly the case for human-induced climate change. In the summary of the conclusions from the Stern Review it states that:
Our actions now and over the coming decades could create risks of major disruption to economic and social activity, on a scale similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century. And it will be difficult or impossible to reverse these changes. So prompt and strong action is clearly warranted. 1
