Eco-economy : building an economy for the earth / Lester R. Brown.

"Earth Policy Institute."

Includes bibliographical references (p. [277]-322) and index.

1. The Economy and the Earth. Economy Self-Destructing. Lessons from the Past. Learning from China. The Acceleration of History. The Option: Restructure or Decline -- 2. Signs of Stress: Climate and Water. Temperature Rising. The Ice Is Melting. Sea Level Rising. More Destructive Storms. Rivers Drained Dry. Falling Water Tables. Facing Water Scarcity -- 3. Signs of Stress: The Biological Base. Fisheries Collapsing. Forests Shrinking. Rangelands Deteriorating. Soils Eroding. Species Disappearing. Synergies and Surprises -- 4. The Shape of the Eco-Economy. Ecology Over Economics. A Monumental Undertaking. Restructuring the Economy. New Industries, New Jobs. History's Greatest Investment Opportunity -- 5. Building the Solar/Hydrogen Economy. The Energy of Efficiency Base. Harnessing the Wind. Turning Sunlight into Electricity. Tapping the Earth's Heat. Natural Gas: The Transition Fuel. Getting to the Hydrogen Economy -- 6. Designing a New Materials Economy.

Throwaway Products. Materials and the Environment. The Earth's Toxic Burden. The Role of Recycling. Redesigning the Materials Economy -- 7. Feeding Everyone Well. A Status Report. Raising Cropland Productivity. Raising Water Productivity. Restructuring the Protein Economy. Eradicating Hunger: A Broad Strategy -- 8. Protecting Forest Products and Services. Fuel, Lumber, and Paper. Forest Services. Sustainable Forestry. Lightening the Load. The Role of Plantations. Reclaiming the Earth -- 9. Redesigning Cities for People. An Urbanizing Species. Car-Centered Urban Sprawl. Urbanization and Obesity. Urban Rail and Bicycle Systems. Planning Cities for People -- 10. Stabilizing Population by Reducing Fertility. Breaking Out or Breaking Down. Africa Breaking Down. Filling the Family Planning Gap. The Role of Female Education. Using Soap Operas and Sitcoms. Stopping at Two -- 11. Tools for Restructuring the Economy. The Fiscal Steering Wheel. Tax Shifting. Subsidy Shifting.

Ecolabeling: Voting with Our Wallets. Tradable Permits. Support for Fiscal Restructuring -- 12. Accelerating the Transition. United Nations Leadership. New Responsibility of Governments. New Role for the Media. The Corporate Interest. NGOs and Individuals. Crossing the Threshold. Is There Enough Time?