Review: World in Transition: Fighting Poverty through Environmental Policy by German Advisory Council on Global Change

摘要

Review: World in Transition: Fighting Poverty through Environmental Policy By German Advisory Council on Global Change Reviewed by William Ted Johnson Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona, USA German Advisory Council on Global Change. World in Transition: Fighting Poverty Through Environmental Policy. London: Sterling, VA : Earthscan, 2005. 268 pp. ISBN: 1-85383-883-7 (hardcover) $US115.00. Produced by the German Advisory Council on Global Change, this technical report is written with a European-centered view, though the principles set forth apply internationally to developed and developing regions alike. It is quite refreshing to see the intermingling of environmental issues and economic policies. Published in the USA and UK by Earthscan in 2005, it is presented to the Western world with a plethora of the conditional should. Without a more engaging demonstration of successful case studies or tangible benefits, such a report may fall on deaf ears. The report's organization is impressive. The detailed contents lay out the report so any section, almost down to the individual paragraph can be found with ease. Boxes, tables, and figures are listed with a substantial collection of acronyms and abbreviations. A summary for policy makers offers a comprehensive overview at the outset so that the reader is thoroughly prepared as s/he encounters specific topics. The following hypothesis is presented: Global environmental policies are prerequisite to global poverty reduction. While focusing on poverty rather than peace, this hypothesis echoes the most fundamental relationship between the environment and the quality of life set forth by Gifford Pinchot as he called for a UN conference on the environment and peace early in the 20 century. Whether it is peace, prosperity, or politics, the environment plays an essential role in achieving economic or health goals. The environment is the underlying foundation for any regional or international policy, yet, it is so often neglected or taken th