ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book deals with global governance futures from the viewpoint of the planet in its entirety as well as the primary elements of human organization. It explores a critical dynamic that is crucial to understanding the kind of global governance and world orders that could – and are likely to – emerge in the near and not-so-near future. The book argues that humanity’s impact on the environment, particularly during the last half century, has been profound and has resulted in a significant deterioration of the global environment. It argues that the pandemic accelerated three trends very much in evidence before 2020: a global sustainability crisis, an explosion of new technologies, and shifts in the balance of power.
