ABSTRACT
The entire edifice of economic globalization rests upon a fragile natural eco-system. The demands that humans place upon their natural environment have risen to unprecedented and destructive levels in recent decades. Global population will continue to grow through this century, while rising incomes fuel increased consumption. These trends raise questions about whether nature can accommodate ever-increasing resource demands for food, water, energy, minerals, and timber. Already, scientists warn that our massive appetite for fossil fuels may have altered the earth’s atmosphere and set in motion an irreversible pattern of global warming, with dire consequences for future generations.
