ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the history of economic growth, and its relation to issues of natural resources and the environment. Economic growth over time reflects both population and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth. This growth depends on increases in capital stock and technological progress, as well as increased supplies of energy, natural resources, and the capacity of the environment to absorb waste. The ecological economics perspective focuses on three other factors as essential to economic growth: energy supply; supplies of land and natural resources; and absorptive capacity of the environment. The chapter draws upon the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO) reports and other sources to present an overview of environmental trends. A review of global environmental trends in five areas—air, land, water, biodiversity, and chemicals and waste—reveals a mix of successes and ongoing challenges. Finally, the chapter presents a more detailed discussion of sustainable development, and what its policy implications are for various environmental issues.
